Our Daily Show! With CJ: Vitality, Coco + Oak, and More!
GODFREY - As much as Vitality Women’s Clinic hopes to support individuals experiencing unplanned pregnancies, they’re also determined to lift up the next generation of students.
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Vitality is a pro-life, faith-based pregnancy center in Godfrey. They recently welcomed a new high school-aged intern, and Executive Director Jackie Duty is excited to share more about the clinic’s internship program and support for local students.
“They really are the future,” Duty said. “What are we doing if we’re not passing down wisdom and passing the torch so they can carry it and step into a brighter tomorrow?”
Allison Pruitt is a rising senior who worked with Duty to market the National Memorial of Military Ascent in Grafton. As that project wound down, Duty decided she wanted Pruitt’s help marketing Vitality, as well.
Pruitt said working with Vitality has been “an amazing opportunity.” The internship will officially start when the school year begins, as Vitality is partnering with Alton High School to offer this experience to students.
But Duty invited Pruitt to “hang out with us for the summer” so Vitality could learn about her needs and build their internship program accordingly. Duty is determined to make sure Vitality’s interns are supported both in their work at the clinic and beyond.
“[We want to] make sure that, as we’re building out our internship, we’re doing it in the most effective way so that she can start the school year with building her portfolio,” Duty explained. “It’s really about building internships where students have the opportunity to lean in and build something effectively from where they’re at that is actually going to help them and propel them into scholarship opportunities…How can we look at each individual student and the path they have and build a system for them?”
Pruitt is excited to jump in. Her goal is to grow Vitality’s social media presence over the next few months.
She shared that she has already learned a lot. At this point, she is interested in pursuing civil engineering, but she’s open to the idea of changing her plans depending on what happens next. She is eager to engage with Vitality’s marketing campaign and see what she can do to help.
“I’m still thinking about civil engineering, but working with Vitality, I kind of just see so much more. I could also do something that involves talking to people or selling or marketing or whatever. Just giving more,” Pruitt said. “I’ve definitely learned just how to communicate and how to put myself out there. In the classroom, you learn the facts. But when you’re actually doing it, you learn so much more because you have to learn to adapt, too. It’s kind of just rolling with the punches.”
As Vitality expands its internship opportunities, they haven’t lost sight of their main mission, which is to support new parents and people experiencing unplanned pregnancies. To continue this work, they are seeking donations.
Duty noted that their capital campaign is off to a strong start. But they need more donations if they hope to complete all of the projects on their roster, including repaving the parking lot and updating their security system and nursing technology. Duty encourages people to visit Vitality’s ambassadors’ website for more information about donating and volunteering.
“I’ll take the penny to the million dollars and anything in between. I feel like every dollar helps and every dollar makes an impact,” she said. “If everyone in the region gave $10, it would have a huge impact to get us to where we need to be.”
To schedule an appointment with Vitality Women’s Clinic or learn more about their work, check out their official website.
This featured article is sponsored by Vitality Women’s Clinic. To get your business or organization featured on www.RiverBender.com, contact us at sales@riverbender.com.
