The Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence (WRC) is a nonprofit organization devoted to helping women and children who have experienced domestic violence. Located in Atlanta, the WRC provides a supportive community for survivors to ensure that no one confronts the effects of domestic violence alone. The WRC works to help survivors find a safe place to stay, exercise their legal rights, explore their options, and create accountability for batterers. 

As an intern, I worked in the Safehouse managing the domestic violence crisis hotline. Each day I fielded approximately 6 emergency situations by providing support, resources, and advocacy to clients in distress. My daily work was rewarding and helped me to build my adaptability and problem-solving skills. 

Over time I started to notice that certain rooms in the Safehouse were in disrepair. In the laundry room and utility closet specifically, I saw that the paint on the walls was peeling, the ceramic sinks were rusting, and parts of the floor were rotting. As I continued to manage the crisis hotline, I catalogued all of these repairs in my mind. 

After working in the house for several weeks and learning the environment, I realized that I could help. I proposed a revitalization project to my supervisor along with a packet detailing the timeline, supplies, and budget. I pitched my project and she gave me the green light.

Before

Project Management

In carrying out the project, I planned, executed, and monitored many individual tasks. I was mindful to stick to the timelines and budget that the WRC staff and I had set. I have listed the different elements that made up the renovation project below.  

  • Repainted laundry room
  •  Repainted utility closet
  • Removed failing linoleum tile
  • Removed and air dried rotting wood floors
  • Laid new plywood floors and tiled protective layer
  • Removed rust from ceramic sink utilities and re-glazed.
  • Installed organizational hardware for brooms, mops, and dustpans

After

Take Aways

This project ignited my interest in the field of project management. I saw a problem in my workplace and designed a proposal to fix it using the five stages of project management, listed below: 

1. Initiating

2. Planning

3. Executing 

4. Monitoring & Controlling

5. Closing

Completing these renovations as an intern taught me how to manage a project from inception to completion. I learned how to articulate the project to other people through the documents like the proposal, timelines, budget, supplies list, and update reports. This experience really set the foundation for my skill base and interest in project management.

Related SUMMIT Learning Outcomes

Articulate and appraise problems and solutions from multiple perspectives, critically considering diverse sources of information 

Practice or interpret creative expression or probe fundamental questions of value and meaning 

 

Related Women's Studies Learning Outcomes

Apply understanding of the relationship between women’s studies applied and corresponding theory