My name is Isabel Volpe, and this fall semester, I have been working as a Sustainability Intern
for the Maryland Book Bank. I am a senior at Loyola University Maryland, majoring in Global
Studies with minors in Environmental Studies and Writing. Over the past four years at Loyola, I
have become deeply invested in learning about sustainability practices and exploring their
benefits for businesses—or, in this case, a nonprofit organization.
This semester, my goal was to highlight the positive impact the Book Bank has on the
community and identify opportunities to enhance its sustainability practices. In the spring of last
year, I worked as a Writing Intern for the Maryland Book Bank. During that time, I became
fascinated by the intersection of the organization’s mission and sustainability, which are closely
intertwined. The Maryland Book Bank redirects thousands of books from landfills to children
living in book deserts across Baltimore, making its work both environmentally and socially
impactful.
To begin my internship, I conducted research surveys with staff and interviewed my manager
using an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) questionnaire to better understand the
nonprofit and its existing sustainability efforts. These interviews and surveys provided valuable
insights that informed my work throughout the semester. I also wrote blogs to raise awareness
about the organization’s sustainability initiatives, which often go unrecognized.
In exploring ESG principles, I sought to emphasize the social impact of the Maryland Book
Bank’s mission. I wrote several blogs on Baltimore's history, addressing topics like the "Black
Butterfly," redlining, and how structural racism contributes to the existence of book deserts
today. Another blog focused on equity, explaining how the Book Bank promotes literacy and
equity by distributing books to underserved communities in Baltimore.
One of my major projects was drafting a sustainability addendum for the Maryland Book Bank’s
guidelines. Drawing on my experience as both an intern and a student, I created a document
that outlines sustainability development goals, future objectives, compliance information, and
implementation procedures. This resource is intended to guide the organization in expanding its
sustainability efforts, building on initiatives it has already prioritized in its warehouse operations
and mission. The addendum will soon be incorporated into the organization’s official guidelines.
Additionally, I created a video for Instagram to showcase the organization’s mission,
sustainability efforts, and a behind-the-scenes look at the warehouse—an aspect donors and
volunteers rarely get to see. I also developed educational resources to explain the donation
process, illustrating how books are donated, sorted, and responsibly recycled if they don’t meet
quality standards. These materials aim to promote the Book Bank, streamline the volunteer
experience, and deepen understanding of its mission and impact on the community.
Working at the Maryland Book Bank as a sustainability intern has equipped me with valuable
skills for my post-graduation job search. The creative freedom I was given allowed me to pursue
work that genuinely interested me, while also deepening my understanding of sustainability in
the nonprofit sector and its potential for meaningful impact. This internship provided me with an
opportunity to apply the skills I’ve developed as an Environmental Studies minor to real-world
situations.
I would like to thank my manager, Kim Crout, and everyone at the Maryland Book Bank for
making this such an incredible experience. It has been an amazing year working with the
organization!
Comments