“I’ve been able to make connections in the non-profit space, among peers, and in the city in general.” -Chelsea Contino
Chelsea Contino grew up in Washington, Pennsylvania and attended Allegheny College where she earned a degree in Communication Arts, with a minor in Psychology. At Allegheny, she served as the Yearbook Editor-in-Chief, the Event and Logistics Director of St. Jude Up Til Dawn, the President of Animal Welfare of Allegheny, Service Committee Chair of Lambda Sigma Honor Society, and a teaching assistant. She also served as a research assistant and a Communications and Municipal Relations Intern at Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania/Maryland. In her free time, Chelsea enjoys dancing, reading, and listening to musicals. She is a part of the South Hilltop cohort, and is serving at Neighborhood Allies.
Anya Fredrickson: What has been the most valuable part of the PULSE experience so far?
Chelsea Contino: The most valuable part of the PULSE experience has been all of the connections I’ve been able to make. I’ve been able to make connections in the non-profit space, among peers, and in the city in general.
Anya: Tell me something you are learning about yourself through PULSE.
Chelsea: The biggest things I’ve taken away so far from my experience in PULSE are my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to working on a team. The professional development I’ve gained through my nonprofit partner and PULSE has given me more insight into my own work style, abilities, and passions. I think this new knowledge has helped me reflect on the path I want my career to take, as well.
Anya: What do you enjoy most about your nonprofit partnership?
Chelsea: I really love the work that my nonprofit partner does in the community. My role at the organization as a storyteller and marketer allows me to share the things I love most about the work they do. I also appreciate my coworkers and office culture.
Anya: What have you enjoyed most about living in community?
Chelsea: I like being able to come home and talk to my housemates about my day. We have really grown close over the past few months. I know that I can always rely on them for advice, friendship, and understanding!
Anya: Describe a typical day at your nonprofit partnership.
Chelsea: Because I serve in communications, I spend a lot of time maintaining our organization’s website, creating articles and content for social media, and carrying out other marketing tasks. That being said, I also get to learn about other community organizations that my organization supports and sometimes go out into the community and talk to community members about their neighborhoods and community projects.
Anya: What surprised you most about Pittsburgh?
Chelsea: Growing up 30 minutes south of Pittsburgh, I thought I knew the city but now that I live in a Pittsburgh neighborhood, everything is so different. I seem to learn something new about my neighborhood every single day. Becoming part of a community in the city is helping me to better relate to the residents my nonprofit works to serve.
Anya: What is the most interesting/fun adventure you’ve had in Pittsburgh so far?
Chelsea: Even with living so close, I had never attended Light Up Night, which is Pittsburgh’s kick-off to the holiday season. Enjoying this experience in the city, among other Pittsburghers, was really special.
Anya: What’s your favorite “family meal” recipe for the house?
Chelsea: Some of my housemates and I like to bake when the feeling strikes, even if that means its at 10 pm on a Wednesday. While that’s definitely not a “family meal” recipe, it’s a fun activity that we can look back on and laugh about doing. What’s even better is that we get brownies!
Story by PULSE Fellow Anya Fredrickson.
Read more Fellow Stories about their experience in PULSE. If you would like to learn more about the PULSE program, please visit our Serve with Us page.
Also, check out other Stories of Transformation: