Partner Story: World Affairs Council

The PULSE partnership has been a game changer for us. Isaac has helped us develop our after-school program by laying the foundation and creating a framework that will have permanence. This has been instrumental in getting our project off of the ground and making it successful. In addition, we have benefited from the connections we’ve made with other PULSE fellows and partner organizations.

The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting a deeper understanding of key contemporary international issues throughout Western Pennsylvania. Established in 1931, the Council is committed to informing opinion leaders and decision-makers about developments around the world as they unfold – and to educating them about the relevance of such developments to the region.

Annie Prucey is the Vice President of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh. In the following interview she talks about the experience of partnering with PULSE.

CC: Why did your organization decide to work with PULSE?

AP:  This is the first time that the World Affairs Council has partnered with PULSE, and the experience has exceeded our expectations! We had heard positive things about PULSE through our nonprofit colleagues. We decided to apply as a partner organization when we were given the chance to develop our Global Leadership Certificate program in the out-of-school-time space. One of our goals is to bridge the global education gap in Pittsburgh. Given PULSE’s commitment to community service, we thought that this would be a mutually beneficial way of adding a service-oriented, thoughtful young leader to our team. We were thrilled when we learned that we were matched with a PULSE fellow!

CC: What is the most rewarding part of working with PULSE?

AP:  It has been a joy to work with our PULSE fellow, Isaac, and to see the transformative impact that he is making upon our local high school students as they begin viewing themselves as part of a global community. Isaac serves as a wonderful role model and mentor – he is kind, nurturing, and compassionate. He has made strong connections with his students, as well as with his colleagues at the World Affairs Council. We had a vision of how this partnership could be successful, and to see it unfolding pretty much the way we envisioned is really exciting and rewarding.

CC: How has your partnership with PULSE impacted your organization?

AP: The PULSE partnership has been a game changer for us. Isaac has helped us develop our after-school program by laying the foundation and creating a framework that will have permanence. This has been instrumental in getting our project off of the ground and making it successful. In addition, we have benefited from the connections we’ve made with other PULSE fellows and partner organizations.

CC: What do you like most about your current PULSE fellow and/or other fellows you’ve worked with?

AP: In just a few months, Isaac has become an integral part of our team. Honestly, it feels like he has been with us for years! He is extremely motivated and has a ton of initiative. His creativity has encouraged us to rethink the way we have been approaching some of our programming – this has been extremely helpful and eye-opening. He is down-to-earth, personable, and humble – and has a fabulous sense of humor!

CC: What would you tell other Pittsburgh nonprofits about PULSE?

AP: PULSE provides a wonderful way to build capacity in your organization by engaging high quality, dedicated, and compassionate young leaders. The PULSE team is terrific to work with as well – it’s a great organization!

Listen to Isaac’s Experience at the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh.

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Check out more great Partner Stories.

This is part of a series of posts about the Nonprofit Partner experience with PULSE. If you would like to learn more about a Nonprofit Partnership, please visit our Partner Page.