Paige Wall

Who was your community partner, and can you describe the project objectives?

My community partner was the Aquatic Biosphere Society of Canada (ABSoC). My project focused on developing onboarding materials to support new board members, student interns, and volunteers as they join the organization. The objective was to create clear, accessible, and professional resources that introduce people to ABSoC’s mission, values, structure, expectations, and ways to get involved, while also helping strengthen continuity and knowledge-sharing within the organization.

What was the biggest takeaway from your CSL project?

My biggest takeaway was seeing how important strong onboarding and clear communication are to the long-term success of a nonprofit organization. Even behind-the-scenes work, like creating guides and internal resources, can have a meaningful impact by making it easier for people to feel welcomed, informed, and prepared to contribute. This project also showed me how much thoughtful organization and planning can support community-based work.

How can you apply any newly gained knowledge and skills to your future endeavors?

This project helped me strengthen skills in professional writing, organization, communication, and translating information into practical resources for others. I can apply these skills in future leadership roles, community-based work, and professional settings where clear communication and strong organizational systems are important. It also gave me more experience working with nonprofits and thinking about how governance, onboarding, and community engagement all connect.

Why should students consider being involved with CSL?

Students should consider being involved with CSL because it gives them the opportunity to apply what they are learning in a real-world setting while making a meaningful contribution to a community organization. It helps build professional skills, confidence, and connections, while also giving students a better understanding of how their work can create practical value beyond the classroom. CSL is a great way to gain experience and learn through doing.