When Gurdas Sandhu moved to the area to begin his research fellowship with the U.S. EPA, he knew there was another scratch he needed to itch. He always had an interest in giving back to his community and assisting people about general education and getting out of poverty, but he had no background in social work and wasn’t sure where to get started in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area. He spoke with a friend who works in the School of Social Work at the University of Michigan and that friend gave him a few options of places that might meet his interests. Circles stood out to Gurdas immediately.
He attended a meeting about the Ally-Leader program, but due to the uncertainty of his future when his fellowship program ends, he wasn’t able to give the 18-month commitment required to enter into the program. So in June 2019, he joined the Big View team, which researches and presents issues that are affecting the community to increase awareness and provide options for those who may not otherwise have any. A recent town hall on predatory lending is a great example of the kind of event the Big View team commits their time and energy into organizing.
Gurdas and his fellow team members typically meet every other Tuesday night to discuss upcoming projects and ideas, but in the weeks leading up to an event, they meet every Tuesday night, sometimes for up to three hours. As is the case with most of the Circles volunteers, Gurdas says his favorite part of the experience is the people he gets to meet and work with.
“This group is really motivated, and they are here for a good reason. They all know why they are here. Everyone is proactive in giving suggestions, but they’re also very humble in taking suggestions from the rest of the group.”
Gurdas says the organization’s purpose aligns with his overall philosophy that people usually need a mentor to get them out of a sticky situation.
“A long-term solution requires more than just financial help—you need to actually train people. It’s like the old saying about teaching a man to fish versus catching the fish for him. This is about so much more than money; it’s about being there so someone can call and talk to you if they need to.”
While Gurdas is unsure of where his next job might take him, if he’s able to stay in the southeastern Michigan area, he fully intends to stay on board with Circles.
“To be a part of an organization that is focused on providing long term solutions to people is really special. Everyone here knows to ‘keep the mission bigger than themselves,’ and I think that is the true sign of a good team.”