The Community Action Partnership (CAP) is Lancaster County’s largest anti-poverty organization, helping low income families move toward self-sufficiency. CAP’s service profile interrupts inter-generational poverty with programs that support families and individuals at every age and place in life, in the areas of education and child development, health and nutrition, household stability and safety and empowerment.

The organization offers volunteer and internship opportunities throughout the year to help not only build experience and develop connections, but make an impact in someone’s life.

We’re working on showcasing and  highlighting various individuals, programs and the hard work that is done on a daily basis. It’s time to get ‘Up Close with CAP’!

Meet Darby Lucius-Miliman ’20, F&M Intern 

The expert in everything was once a beginner. Darby comes to the Community Action Partnership as an intern from Franklin & Marshall College. She is currently majoring in Psychology & Business with a major in Spanish.

Since a young age, she knew she always wanted to do something in Psychology – whether it be a therapist, psychiatrist, or psychologist, she wanted to be there for someone.

However majoring in Business and Spanish was an unexpected yet pleasant surprise. College opens a variety of doors and minds to new ideas and perspectives.

Darby attended to Franklin & Marshall with the intent to major in Psychology.

One business class and a mind-blown college student later, Darby realized she liked business. She never really thought about the idea of the ‘Psychology of Business’ and vice versa.

Spanish came naturally to her as she has taken it throughout high school and continued it in College. Her love and enthusiasm for learning precedes her, she decided to major in both Psychology, Business with a minor in Spanish.

With your unique major, what career did you have in mind? 

Sophomore year in High School, I was doing research for fun into how Hispanix and Latinx communities have a stigma surrounding mental health – especially when coming to the United States.

There aren’t a lot of resources, especially bilingual resources that can help the communities find affordable care that they would allow them to reach outside their own communities even though the US is educated and open to mental health discussions.

What I want to do is, down the road, create a nonprofit clinic,  that caters to communities that are high population, Hispanix and Latinx people to their needs in an affordable way that doesn’t feel like it’s out of reach to them.

It would incorporate all of my majors!

What made you intern at CAP? 

I wanted to get the experience to learn how to put that dream into action.

I’m part of a program through Franklin & Marshall that places students in nonprofits in Lancaster. I applied with CAP in mind. What drew me to CAP was the presence the organization has in the community. They were one of the few nonprofits I’ve heard about through their work prior to me being in the nonprofit field.

The Community Action Partnership is putting people first and helping them through various programs such as Head Start, Utilities Assistance, WIC, Domestic Violence Services and more.

I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself.

What was your experience like at CAP and what have you learned? 

I was really afraid my first week to speak, at all, or really introduce myself to people. I’ve learned to not be afraid to be a go-getter and not step on anyones toes.

It took some time, but I’m no longer afraid to talk to people or set up meetings. I’ve managed to schedule a meeting with Andrea from United Way of Lancaster County because I introduced myself and she gave me an opportunity to understand our [CAP] involvement in not only the City but also the County like the Northern Lancaster Hub.

These people want to talk to you, they want to share their vision with you, you just have to show that you want to hear it. And I don’t think you’ll find anyone that doesn’t want to express their ideas to you and give you their perspective and understanding of what CAP does. In short, don’t be afraid!

What would you tell other individuals who are unsure of what they want to do or considering in interning?

What I can say that I have learned – don’t sweat it so much.

I didn’t know I was going to intern at a nonprofit like CAP this summer. I don’t know what I’m going to do next summer, but at the same time after hearing and learning from people’s stories and asking others how they found themselves in this field, in this work, and they had no idea either!

They thought they were going to start their business, or working for some major corporation.

Having a plan is great, but not having a plan doesn’t mean you’re not prepared. You just have to be able to adapt to whatever circumstance or job you find yourself in.

You’ll look back in five years and ‘ I was terrified at the time, but it led me to where I am today’ you can never predict the future, but at least enjoy the moment.

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About the Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County

The Community Action Partnership is Lancaster County’s largest anti-poverty organization, helping low income families move toward self-sufficiency. CAP’s service profile interrupts inter-generational poverty with programs that support families and individuals at every age and place in life, in the areas of education and child development, health and nutrition, household stability and safety and empowerment. For more information, visit www.caplanc.org.