Favorite Parts of Being a Public Policy Manager at Global Health Non-Profit
Zeke, a Public Policy Manager at a global health non-profit, finds the most rewarding aspect of the role is "doing work that I really really care about," making a living while advocating for the homeless in Los Angeles and contributing to an organization that's "getting noticed." The work also connects Zeke with "really fascinating people" whose interesting lives stem from their passion for meaningful work, enriching the experience beyond financial compensation.
Nonprofit, Public Policy, Advocacy, Community Engagement, Social Impact
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Zeke Sandoval
Public Policy Manager
Global Health Non-Profit
University of Southern California, 2019
Not applicable
Political Science, American Studies
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Legal
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. Zeke finds deep fulfillment in working on a cause he deeply cares about and making a tangible difference in the world. He emphasizes that while the pay may not be high, the personal reward is significant.
2. Zeke highlights the collaborative nature of his work, emphasizing the impact of a dedicated team and the collective progress they've made in raising their organization's profile and advocacy.
3. Zeke enjoys the unique and interesting people he encounters in the nonprofit sector, drawing connections between passion for the work and fascinating life experiences. He emphasizes the opportunities to build relationships and personal connections through shared commitment to the cause.
Transcript
What do you enjoy most about being in your current role?
First and foremost, I get to do work that I really care about. I didn't think I'd be able to make a living doing this. Let's be clear, I don't make a *good* living, but I make a living that allows me to pay rent and buy groceries while working on a cause I find extraordinarily important.
I've been in my current job for a little over a year and a half. I'm frankly really proud of how I've been able to raise our organization's profile and improve our policy-making and advocacy capabilities. I'm really pleased with how far we've come.
This isn't just thanks to me; we have an incredible team of hundreds of people in Los Angeles alone doing this work every single day. It's getting noticed, and I'm really proud to work for an organization that's accomplishing that. I also get to make a living advocating for our staff and, of course, for the people we serve who are experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.
I want to caution anyone considering nonprofit work: it's not always enough to sustain you to be close to the mission. Meeting interesting people is a fantastic part of it. I think many interviewees say this.
I was thinking of another person with a similar role at a youth homelessness organization who has had many different adventures. He ran the field campaign for a South Carolina mayoral race, was offered a position on the Trump Campaign (which he declined), worked at an airplane mechanic school, and now coaches women's lacrosse at a local high school.
That's just one example of people doing really fascinating things. People who care about their work are naturally interesting; they have interesting lives.
Last week in Sacramento, a friend told me how she met her husband doing outreach to people experiencing homelessness. That's such a lovely story, and I love that. If you do work you truly care about, you end up meeting fascinating people, and that's a great feeling.