“Being part of the PULSE community has pushed me to ask more challenging questions within my work space about bringing social equity to what my nonprofit does.”
A graduate from Carnegie Mellon University, Tina Goparaju has a combined major in Ethics, History & Public Policy and Fine Arts. While at CMU, Tina served with Start on Success, a community project in partnership with Pittsburgh Public Schools. In this role she used intersubjective mentorship methodology to mentor high school students with divergent learning abilities and to lead student-centered workshops. This project speaks to Tina’s passion for education, arts, social services, health, and community development, just to name a few. Tina’s hobbies include drawing, crocheting, sewing, and reading works of fiction and cultural theory. Tina is a part of the South Hilltop cohort and serves at the Green Building Alliance. Tina was interviewed by Bonnie Evans.
Bonnie: How has PULSE inspired you to live/think/act differently?
Tina: Being a part of the PULSE community has pushed me to ask more challenging questions within my work space about bringing social equity to what my nonprofit does. It also pushes me to take these initiatives outside of service.
Bonnie: What have you enjoyed most about living in community? How have you and your housemates pushed/encouraged one another?
Tina: I really enjoy having company when we all get back from service and being able to have dinner conversation together. I’ve spent a lot of time living alone, and it’s really uplifting to have friends around.
Bonnie: What have you enjoyed most about your nonprofit partnership?
Tina: I really enjoy that they [Green Building Alliance staff] are receptive to my feedback and I have impact on programs that are just starting. I like that I get to go to a lot of events in and outside of Pittsburgh too!
Bonnie Evans: What’s your favorite “family meal” recipe for the house?
Tina: I really like Erin’s pot pie! It’s delicious.
Bonnie: How do you like to spend your morning and evening commute?
Tina: In the morning, I’ll take the 48 [bus route] and listen to a podcast or music. Then I take the “T” back home. Sometimes I’ll walk through East Carson Street!
Bonnie: What is the most interesting/fun adventure you’ve had in Pittsburgh so far?
Tina: I went on a kayaking tour with Ellen Conrad, who is a former PULSE fellow working at GBA. We got to look at all of the green buildings downtown with some grad students from Chatham University. We also went to the Pittsburgh Climate Strike that day!
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: