Intern Spotlight: Yusuf Finds His Place in Walla Walla
Some people arrive in Walla Walla by chance. Others come out of curiosity. For Yusuf, it was word of mouth and trust. A few close friends from high school were already attending Whitman College and spoke highly of the campus and the welcoming community. That was enough for him to take the leap.
Now, a few years into his economics major with a minor in finance, Yusuf is spending his summer interning with the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation.
Originally from Mogadishu, Somalia, he has long been interested in how economies affect daily life. Even before college, he was reading about economic systems and the impact of decisions, incentives and inequality. His goal is to find ways to make communities more equitable and sustainable.
When a professor shared the DWWF internship with him, he was immediately curious. Main Street is not something that exists in his home country, and the idea of a community centered downtown stood out.
“The idea of a community centered downtown was new to me, and I wanted to understand how it works and be part of it,” Yusuf said.
This summer, he hopes to work on a project that involves interviewing locals and sharing their stories online. He sees storytelling as a way to strengthen connections and elevate voices that reflect the character of downtown.
One of his favorite moments so far has been the summer concert series. The energy, the music and the mix of people coming together made a lasting impression. Each time he walks downtown, he discovers something new, a shop, an event or a neighbor’s story, that challenges the idea that small towns have little to offer.
By the end of summer, Yusuf hopes to leave a lasting impact. If he can help analyze data that supports future planning or highlight perspectives that help guide community decisions, he will consider the internship a success.
And as for a fun fact, he once fixed a torn soccer net with shoelaces. Not glamorous, but useful. And around here, usefulness goes a long way.
About Downtown Walla Walla Foundation:
Established in 1984, the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation is a nonprofit community organization dedicated to promoting the history, culture, and commerce of downtown Walla Walla. The Foundation manages the Walla Walla Farmers Market and produces many downtown events, including the Summer Concert Series, Sip and Stroll, the Wheelin' Walla Walla car show, Walla Walla Brewfest, as well as the annual Holiday Parade of Lights, and Veterans Day Parade.
