ariel smoke

4-h program representative

About

Someone recently asked me what my passion and main skill set was. After thinking for a moment, I replied "bringing order out of chaos." I enjoy any kind of work that involves taking diverse elements and tinkering with them until I end up with an organized and efficient result. Event planning, logistical arrangements, bookkeeping...all of these will keep me happily glued to my desk until the task is complete. I feel that another of my strengths is my experience in cross-cultural environments. I lived in Japan for a total of four years, and during that time I really learned what it is like to be a minority struggling with a language and cultural barrier. These experiences honed my ability to communicate, both verbally and in writing, with people from all sorts of backgrounds. As for my objectives, I want to continue to work in an environment where I feel challenged and valued. Ideally, I would like to continue to work in some area of youth-development, but any career where I felt I was constructively improving the world around me would be wonderful.

Country

united states

City

stockton

Industry

non-profit organization management

Skill

nonprofits, event planning, community outreach, youth development, management, public speaking, international relations, leadership, time management, logistics, cultural awareness, cultural diversity, bookkeeping, japanese, office administration, youth leadership, accounting, project management, international project management, youth programs, technology, youth engagement, community organizing, event management, japanese culture

Experience

consultant

labo international exchange foundation

2013-12 - 2014-9 · 10 mos

I provide support and expertise to the staff at Labo's North America Liason Office. I also act as the go-between with Labo's financial and legal counselors to ensure that the organization is in compliance with all US regulations.

operations manager

labo international exchange foundation

2010-3 - 2013-11 · 3 yrs 9 mos

I managed Labo's (a Japanese nonprofit) North America liason office. Since I was the only employee in the US/Canada, I was in charge of keeping the office running and in compliance with US laws in addition to overseeing our business activities on this side of the Pacific. Labo sends approximately 750 Japanese youth to the US/Canada for month-long homestays every summer, so the majority of my job was working with volunteers to recruit and orient appropriate host families. I also oversaw the pre-departure logistics for the 50+ American/Canadian youth that travel to Japan each summer.

exchange coordinator

labo international exchange foundation

2007-7 - 2010-2 · 2 yrs 8 mos

I managed all of our In-Japan exchange programs for participants from the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. This required a massive amount of logistical planning before the participants arrived, and often a lot of mediation between the delegates and their host families when cultural or language issues cropped up. I also supervised a team of six college-aged interns who worked with Japanese youth over the course of a year.

intern

labo international exchange foundation

2004-9 - 2005-8 · 1 yr

There were three major components to the internship: work, study, and homestays. The work component consisted mostly of traveling around Japan to present cultural workshops to Japanese youth ages 1-20, but I also acted as a counselor to English-speaking exchange students in Japan. The study part of the program included intensive Japanese lessons and a cultural project; I chose Japanese religion as my topic. Finally, I stayed with eight different host families throughout the year, which gave me a deep and varied look into Japanese home life.

4-h program representative

university of california cooperative extension san joaquin county

2013-12 - Present · 12 yrs 10 mos

I oversee all 4-H Youth Development Program activities in San Joaquin county, which currently has approximately 700 youth members and 250 adult volunteers. These activities can range from facilitating committee meetings to collaborating with afterschool programs on enrichment activities to providing volunteers and youth leaders with practical training. Each day is a little different!

Education

occidental college

2001-1 - 2006-1 · 5 yrs 1 mo

Graduated with a BA in Diplomacy & World Affairs and a minor in Biology. Activities and Societies: Master Choral, Vantuna Marine Research Group, Newman Club, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship