Pencils down, Hammers up

Students get hands-on PR experience on a construction site

Humanitarians:
Joan Ziegler (Communications ’85) and Gladys Hernandez (Public Relations ’05) go over some details of a Habitat project.

In late 1996, Joan Ziegler (Communications ’85) heard about Habitat for Humanity of Orange County from a friend and decided to volunteer with the public relations committee. Her first assignment was to interview a single mom who had been living in her home for a couple of years.

“I did the interview, heard her story of how her new home had already changed her life and was changing the lives of all her children, and was immediately hooked,” Ziegler said.

Ten years later, Ziegler became the vice president of communications.

While a volunteer, Ziegler began taking interns from Cal State Fullerton and Gladys Hernandez (Public Relations ’05) became the first intern this organization had in 2005. She now is manager of public relations.

In 2006, Eleecia Barksdale (Communications ’08) joined the organization as a PR volunteer. In her time, Barksdale was featured in her local newspaper for her work with this organization.

“Habitat for Humanity provides a different sitetype of experience,” Barksdale said. “I am able to see the results of my efforts in real time – seeing the smiles on the faces of a Habitat family when they get the keys to their new home, watching the last tile being placed on the roof of a completed home or even seeing the first wall go up.”

In 2007, David Warsaw (Communications ’07) did his internship with Habitat and Tri Le (Communications ’09) is currently volunteering with the organization. “Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity of Orange County is life-changing, not just for a family but for the person who volunteers,” Ziegler said. “How many organizations can say that?”

Contributed by Gladys Hernandez
Public Relations ’05