Natalie Griffin was with us as an undergraduate fellow from Northwestern University from April to June 2019.

What project work were you involved in during your time at the Civic Consulting Alliance?

I worked with the Chicago Public Schools’ Office of Early Childhood Education to implement Universal Pre-K (UPK), focusing on development of a tracking and reporting dashboard to bring together data from enrollment, facilities, and staffing.

What will you take away from your time at Civic Consulting Alliance?

It was inspiring to see people from a variety of professional backgrounds come together. It reinforced my belief in the power of building trust and relationships.

What was your most memorable experience during your time at Civic Consulting Alliance?

Our team problem solving sessions were incredibly enriching. As an undergraduate fellow, I never expected the opportunity to contribute to high-level strategy discussions, but I always felt that my opinion was valued and heard.

How has your time at Civic Consulting Alliance helped you develop professionally?

This has been a dream job for me, and has profoundly influenced my professional goals. I have grown immensely by understanding the types of problems I like to solve, the client work that fulfills me, and the skills I need to continue to develop as I start my job in Cook County Budget and Management next year.

In partnership with Northwestern University, we provide a semester-long Undergraduate Fellowship. Please visit our Fellowships page to learn more about our range of fellowship opportunities.