Community Immersions

Community Immersion was a class taken during my sophomore year. Through this class I had the opportunity to meet with and learn from professionals from across the community in the for-profit, non-profit, and government sectors. This page includes my learning and reflections on some the presenters I found most significant.

Me and my class observing one of the banana storage units

For-Profit Sector: Food Lion

I had the opportunity to meet with employees from the supply chain, warehouse, and IT at Food Lion. My class was invited to visit one of Food Lion's warehouses. While there, it truly set in just how complex the inner workings of such a large company like Food Lion really can be. For example, there was a whole facility dedicated solely to bananas. Our guide at the warehouse shared the whole process of how the bananas were obtained, transported, and were stored safely within multiple large containment units.

Johnathan Prater and Candace Mcknight came to visit us

Map of Food Lion building across the east coast

After hearing from all the different groups within and partnered with Food Lion, I had a better understanding of how Food Lion connects to many other stakeholders in the community. For example, the products produced by other businesses go through a waitlist and eventually ends up on Food Lion shelves, where business owners can make their products more widely available to a large base of consumers. Both the local governments regulations on food quality and the rate they determine for taxes play an important role in the profit Food Lion makes, as well as the cost of the products sold to the consumer.

Kyna Grub talking with my class about RHM

Non-Profit Sector: Rowan Helping Ministries

I had the opportunity to meet with Kyna Grub from Rowan Helping Ministries. Kyna provided my class with a tour through the headquarters for RHM. It was very intriguing to see all the housing units and offices, like the Crisis Assistance Network, that are dedicated to helping out those in need. I was excited to hear about their upcoming $5.6 million plan to expand their transitional and permanent supportive housing for the homeless called "Miracles on the Horizon".

Looking at the wall of RHM's big supporters

Rowan Helping Ministries's very own "Garden of Eaten"

After my visit at Rowan Helping Ministries, I had was a tad bit surprised to see just how many connections they had to many other stakeholders within the community. For example, it was really neat to see the Food Lion was a sponsorship with RHM. It was really interesting to hear about the complexity of communtiy and government officials that played a role in something as simple as the location of the RHM parking lot.

Baxter and I are sitting in the cockpit

Government Sector: Airport

I had the great pleasure to meet with Valerie Steele at the Mid-Carolina Regional Airport. We visited the airport and went through a tour of both the buildings and aircraft. I personally was really excited to hear all about the aircrafts. It was interesting to learn about all the policies and the true cost of purchasing an aircraft. We also learned visited the Food Lion hanger and saw their private jet. It was also fun to observe the Highway Patrol helicopter up close and hear about how they support various law enforcement agencies like the Rowan County Sheriff's Office.

Baxter, Kylie, and I are sitting in the back of one of the private jets

We are sitting in one of the conference rooms talking with Valerie Steele

Examining the state trooper helicopter

I really knew nothing about the Mid-Carolina Regional Airport. I honestly didn't fully know that we had an airport so close by. Because of this, I was very interested to hear about the airport and how many different people, businesses, and other areas of city government used it. For examples, a friend of my parents has a private vehicle that they use at the airport. Food Lion, as already mentioned, has two private vehicles there, and the police have their helicopter that is stored there ready for any emergency.

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