Shelby Pauka, Fellowship Class of 2019, has experienced El Pomar through more lenses than most: as a community member, an intern, a Fellow, and now as a staff member. Her story is one of growth, adaptability, and a deep commitment to serving communities. From navigating the work of her initial Internship to helping send funds to non-profits during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shelby’s experiences highlight the importance of embracing change and staying true to one’s passion for community service.
Shelby grew up in Colorado Springs and attended the University of Colorado, Boulder to study strategic communications and business administration. As she searched for summer opportunities during her sophomore year, she stumbled upon El Pomar’s Internship program. Shelby learned about the Foundation, and although she was unsure of the specific components of the Internship, she knew she wanted to make an impact.
“I was focused on supporting and serving communities. I grew up with many people in my family who are lifelong servants working for nonprofits, serving kids, things like that. I connected with the purpose of the work, even if I didn’t totally know what I was getting into.”
During the summer of 2017, Shelby worked with El Pomar’s Elevating Leadership Development program as their outreach Intern. Though she enjoyed learning about the logistics and event planning side of the Foundation, she was still curious about the other work being done at El Pomar.
“I didn’t feel like I left knowing much about the Fellowship or the rest of the Foundation’s programs and people. So, after my third year of college, I spoke to one of the Fellows who was the Internship director when I was an intern, and said ‘Hey, is there any chance that I can apply again?’”
Shelby spent her second Internship summer working with the Awards for Excellence (AFE) team and learning as much as she could about El Pomar. She spoke to each Fellow individually, gathering information about what they were learning and taking away from the Fellowship experience. Once Shelby understood the type of work Fellows did, she knew she wanted to apply and have the chance to try the work out herself.
After graduating from CU Boulder in 2019 and getting ready to start her position as a Fellow, Shelby felt the common nerves before her first day. Although she felt confident that she would love the work, she was meeting eight new Fellows that she would be working alongside for the next two years and hoped that they would get along.
Shelby soon learned that some of the themes of her Fellowship experience would be change and growth – and the discomfort that often accompanies the two. She explained that Fellows learn an enormous amount in a short period of time, ranging from skills like writing memorandums to understanding grants and how to partner with communities across the state. Fellows’ roles adapt and change quickly as their 2nd year Fellows move on, Interns come and go, and new Fellows join, giving each Fellow the opportunity to learn new roles very quickly.
“You essentially spend 22 months getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
Partway through the Fellowship, the COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down, and El Pomar had to quickly adapt. With shifting to remote work for the first time in the Foundation’s history and doing everything possible to support nonprofits around the state, Shelby experienced firsthand how quickly change can happen. One of the most memorable moments at El Pomar was when she was able to help distribute more than $1 million in emergency grants to non-profits around the state that were struggling through the pandemic. From these experiences, Shelby has learned the importance of finding a system to stay organized, communicate work boundaries, and be open to new ideas in times of change.
As her Fellowship came to an end, it was important to Shelby to continue making an impact on her communities through her work. She worked as a program coordinator for a military serving organization supporting military families in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, and Idaho. While she was passionate about the cause as a military spouse, the work often hit too close to home and was not serving her at that time. Shelby returned to El Pomar for the Fellowship Reunion in 2022 and heard about the opportunity to apply for a position with the Regional Partnerships program team. Excited about the prospect of coming back to El Pomar, Shelby jumped at the chance and soon began working for El Pomar as a full-time staff member.
One thing Shelby enjoys most about the Regional Partnerships program is how much it changes and adapts to the current needs of the state and each community within it. She has worked closely with four regions throughout her time with the Foundation and appreciates how each is so different. Shelby has found that listening with an open mind over time has helped her learn how to best support each region’s nonprofits and communities.
When she talks of advice for her younger self, Shelby says not to be worried about not having a clear career path in your mind. Take things as they go, and you will find out what work you enjoy along the way.
