Political Science Major Finds Passion for Innovation Through Enlight Fellowship

Hannah Martin, a political science major, embarked on an impactful experience through the Enlight Fellowship, a program that opened doors to the world of entrepreneurship and social impact.

Before the fellowship, Hannah's exposure to entrepreneurship was limited. She describes her understanding as vague, lacking a clear picture of what it truly entailed. However, she was drawn to the fellowship's focus on social impact, an area she was already passionate about. The opportunity to learn more and contribute to a cause she believed in was highly appealing.

Funding a Transformative Journey

The $10,000 stipend offered by the Enlight Fellowship proved crucial for Hannah's participation. Living expenses in Boston were a significant barrier, but the funding allowed her to stay and immerse herself in the innovation ecosystem. She acknowledges that without this financial support, she wouldn't have been able to seize the opportunity presented by the program.

Through the fellowship, Hannah was placed with Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) in their Housing and Homelessness Prevention Department. She worked closely with the Mobile Homeless Outreach team, engaging directly with unhoused communities. This hands-on experience ignited a passion within her, leading to further exploration of homelessness issues in her senior thesis on encampment sweeps in Boston and Los Angeles.

Initially, Hannah aspired to work broadly in education within low-income communities. However, as she progressed through the Enlight Fellowship, she narrowed her focus to her home region in central Massachusetts—a rural, low-income area. The program helped her refine her goals and develop a more tangible impact strategy.

Hannah's perspective on entrepreneurship underwent a significant transformation during the fellowship. She realized that it was far more multifaceted than she initially perceived, encompassing innovation and social impact. The program director, Katie, played a crucial role in helping her understand how companies can balance financial success with positive community impact. This realization changed the trajectory of Hannah's career path.