“I never would have made the connections I did if it hadn’t been for my nonprofit partnership through PULSE. “-Alisha Rinefierd, ’08-’09 Alumnus
Alisha Rinefierd is a 2008-2009 PULSE alumnus. Before PULSE, she had never been to Pittsburgh and never considered working in the public sector. PULSE gave her the space to explore what she wanted in life. Turns out, what she wanted was to call Pittsburgh home with her husband and work in public radio. What she is doing right now.
What about the PULSE program was attractive to you?
I was very pleased that PULSE aims to match your interests with nonprofit organizations. Reading about PULSE’s connections to diverse organizations in the community, I felt confident that my year would be time well-spent.
What was the best part of your PULSE experience?
Definitely hanging out with my housemates and playing games and throwing theme parties.
What did the PULSE experience teach you about yourself?
Often, my PULSE housemates had discussions about questioning or challenging the status quo. I heard different viewpoints, different stories. I realized some of the values and beliefs I had accepted had been accepted because I never saw another side to various issues. These discussions helped me refocus the lens through which I saw the world.
How were you impacted by your PULSE experience?
Before PULSE, I had never been to Pittsburgh and I had never considered working in the public sector. It could have been a rough and daunting experience, but the PULSE program gave me a safe space through seminars, service and my nonprofit partnership to explore what I wanted out of life. Turns out, it’s being able to call Pittsburgh home with my husband, and working in public radio!
How did PULSE prepare you for what you are doing now?
My nonprofit partnership was at 91.3fm WYEP. I spent a year doing production work and learned a lot about the format of radio. After my PULSE year, I kept my foot in the door doing various contract jobs in WYEP’s education department while I had another full-time job out of my field. I kept hoping that this was going to lead somewhere, and couldn’t have been happier when I was offered a full-time job after WYEP and fellow radio station, WESA, came together. I never would have made the connections I did if it hadn’t been for my nonprofit partnership through PULSE.
What kind of work do you do now?
I do scheduling work for WYEP and WESA.
Story by PULSE. Read more Alumni Stories.