SLUPIC: Empowering North Country Connections
Every summer, several students work alongside local organizers, advocates, artists, and educators and make an impact in the North Country thanks to the St. Lawrence University Public Interest Corps (SLUPIC).
The program provides funding and on-campus housing so students can immerse themselves in the work of non-profit organizations striving to combat food insecurity, preserve local history, or promote transformational learning experiences for school-aged children.
Derek Sherrange ’22, Shedrack Bogonko ’22, and Eve DuBois ’22 were on campus this summer working with North Country partners. They shared a little bit about their day-to-day projects, and the new things they learned about the place they call home for four years.
(Note: responses have been edited for length.)
Derrek Sherrange ’22
Major: Global Studies; International Economics—Multi-Languages (Spanish and Swahili)
Hometown: Argyle, New York
SLUPIC Internship: GardenShare in Canton, N.Y.
Why did you apply to work with a nonprofit organization in the North Country?
I was inspired by past research I conducted on agriculture and food justice in Akwesasne as well as my work for a Weave News series related to the North County Art, Land, and Environment Summit that took place last fall. Both made me more aware of the radical work on issues like food sovereignty and environmental justice happening in the North Country.
Food justice is something that I have become really passionate about. It’s about more than just getting food to people. Everybody should have the right to eat the food that they want. They should have access to food that is both healthy and culturally appropriate. We must also account for issues like sustainability and ownership when we look at who is farming the land that supplies our food and how it came to be in their hands.
What was an average day at GardenShare like for you?
My main project was interviewing and writing profiles on individuals who work in the local food system. For example, I had the opportunity to travel to Akwesasne to interview someone living and working there.
How did this experience enrich your understanding of the North Country community?
People care so much about each other and they would go to very long lengths to show it. Also, I talked to somebody recently who is the only volunteer at her food pantry. If that person leaves her position, who will be there to take up their work? This internship also made me realize how fragile the systems in place are and how more support is needed.
What did you learn about yourself through this experience?
I'm a lot more open to talking to people than I thought. I can be really extroverted but I can also experience social anxiety. This internship, however, has shown me that I like speaking to people I've never met before.
Is there anything that you were able to do on campus over the summer that you can’t do in the fall or the spring?
Yes! When I have classes, I just don’t find time to do many of the activities that I hear other people talk about. I went to Hart’s Falls for the first time and before that, I went to the Potsdam Juneteenth event. I also allowed myself to take a break on the weekends, which is not something I generally do when the semester is going on.
Ève Dubois ’22
Major: Global Studies
Hometown: Quebec City, Canada
SLUPIC Internship: North Country Children’s Museum (Potsdam, N.Y.)
Why did you apply to work with a nonprofit organization in the North Country?
I felt like it was a good opportunity for me to branch out and see what I could learn about the region that I live in. I wanted to get off campus to learn more about others living in the area.
What was an average day at the North Country Children’s Museum like for you?
My schedule changed everyday. Sometimes, I’d do some grant writing in the morning and, in the afternoon, I worked with kids in the classes we were hosting at the time I also helped manage the day-to-day assignments of our high school student volunteers. Sometimes, I'd manage the front desk or conduct outreach with other businesses in the community.
How did this experience enrich your understanding of the North Country community?
I met people from more backgrounds and I got to see that the community is actually more diverse than I originally thought. This program has also helped me learn more about the challenges to education in St. Lawrence County, especially in terms of budget and resources, and exposed me to the people working hard to address them.
What did you learn about yourself through this experience?
I had to visit businesses in Potsdam and surrounding towns to conduct outreach, and I learned I’m more outgoing than I thought. I’m also capable of taking on more projects and learned I’m really good at project management.
The entire group of interns met up weekly for dinner with SLUPIC Coordinators Ashlee Downing-Duke and Geoff Falen. What role did these dinners play in your overall experience?
The dinners were a good way for us to reflect on our experiences. Without them, I don't think I would have necessarily stopped at the end of my day and thought “What did I like?”, “What did I not like?”, “What should I maybe tweak next week or discuss with my supervisor?” Also, everyone shared events and resources from their different community partners, so it was great to be able to learn about more nonprofits in the area.
Major: Government and Business in the Liberal Arts Combined
Hometown: Nakuru, Kenya
SLUPIC Internship: Traditional Arts in Upstate New York (TAUNY) Center (Canton, N.Y.)
Why did you apply to work with a nonprofit organization in the North Country?
It’s partially because of my major, and partially because of my personal interests. As a St. Lawrence student, I’m active in a lot of clubs and most of them have had some involvement with the North Country community. I already had a relationship with this place that I was curious to explore.
What was an average day at TAUNY like for you?
I did digital archiving at TAUNY, which meant I mostly worked with videos and audio clips and managed their website content. For example, I worked on an archival project about the Gunnison Memorial Chapel, and it was so special.
There were days where my schedule changed based on events taking place. One week, we had a “Food to Table” event where we were cooking together. There was a mix of desk duties and hands-on activities like that.
How did this experience enrich your understanding of the North Country community?
The people here are really close, and many things are interconnected. I’ve gotten a deeper sense of community. Residents of the North Country genuinely care about its culture and want to see it preserved for future generations.
What did you learn about yourself during this experience?
I learned the value in exposing yourself to things you don’t know much about or have never done before. Before, I wasn’t into folk music or traditional art, but learning about it intrigued me and now I’ve developed an interest in it.
