Each summer, we recruit a few unterns (yeah, you read that right) to help us in the work of building community, one house at a time. This year, we’re pumped to have Lauren, Madison, and Trevor on the team.

We asked each of them to share a bit about who they are and what they’ll be working on this summer. Here’s what they had to say!

Lauren Rasmussen
Lauren is a junior at Texas Christian University, studying Marketing and Nutrition.

Why did you want to be an untern with 1MISSION?
During high school, I got to personally experience 1MISSION’s radical impact on communities. Through various build trips and doing a birthday campaign, I got to see firsthand how 1MISSION truly helps build communities by empowering people in poverty, giving them the opportunity to earn a house by serving their community. I completely believe in their mission, and I just wanted to be a part of it! 1MISSION does really good work and I love marketing – so getting to use and develop my skills to help further the mission is a dream!

What are you working on this summer?
This summer I am working with Tim, the communications director, to create marketing materials and learn how to better tell stories. Our goal is to help more people see 1MISSION’s real-life impact: families restored, homes secured, communities built. Additionally, all three of us unterns are working together to audit the current website and explore new VR experience opportunities.

What’s your dream job?
One day soon I hope to create my own community-centered gym. I love community and the ripple effect that a thriving, loving group of people can have on everyone around them. In this gym, people will be empowered, loved, and strengthened both physically and mentally. It’s crazy the good we can do when we all come together, and I hope to empower people, giving them strength to see themselves as beautiful just the way they are – giving them the freedom to choose workouts and nutrition they love.

What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
As a baby, I used to eat lemons whole, and as a little kid, I LOVED dancing to Spanish music even though I didn’t understand any of it.

Madison Blackmon
Madison graduated from the W.P Carey School of Business at Arizona State University in December 2016 with two bachelor degrees, in Management and Supply Chain Management.

Why did you want to be an untern with 1MISSION?
It is my dream to have a career in the nonprofit sector helping others. 1MISSION will teach me the professional skills necessary to acquire a position within a nonprofit organization. Being able to have hands-on experience planning, coordinating, and promoting fundraising events is the opportunity of a lifetime. I will gain exposure and knowledge of the nonprofit sector through real-life experience.

What are you working on this summer?
I am the special events untern, which means I will be doing a lot of work surrounding our Gala event this October and our annual Bikes Fight Poverty charity ride. I will also be collaborating with the other unterns on ways to improve our website and stay current.

What’s your dream job?
Being able to make a difference in someone’s life is what I’m truly passionate about. I have spent my life volunteering and trying to be a positive change in our community. Growing up, I would go to the André House with my family as well as Feed My Starving Children to help the less fortunate and to make a difference. Having a career with a purpose and a job that benefits others is my dream.

What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I am an Arizona native and it shows! I have come across javelinas and coyotes. As if that’s not enough of an Arizona experience, I have also been stung by a scorpion!

Trevor Short
Trevor is a sophomore at Texas Christian University, majoring in Finance with a double minor in Accounting and Spanish. He is also taking courses in Real Estate.

Why did you want to be an untern with 1MISSION?
From a young age, mission trips have been a large and impactful part of my life. Having served in the past, I feel very closely tied to the cause that 1MISSION stands for, and I admire their holistic approach to community development. Naturally, from my previous involvement and interest in this organization, it was my goal and is now an honor to work with this incredible team.

What are you working on this summer?
This summer I am working closely with Greg and Nate to assist in the operations of the organization, as well as partnerships like the House To House program. To begin my time here, I joined the team in Mexico for the purpose of filming content for an upcoming event, and I assisted in translating for our group and the local family.

What’s your dream job?
My dream job is to be in the field of commercial real estate. I wish to make an impact on that industry and show compassion and honesty in whatever project I engage in, and with any clients or partners I interact with. Ultimately, I would love to live in the Dallas area and serve as a tenant representative or possibly work with selling multi-home complexes.

What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
I created a book of over thirty elaborate backyard games when I was 12 and I still have that book today. These games, both aquatic and land-based, were all completely original concepts, and I detailed them with specific rules and objectives for each game. I believe they included intricate diagrams as well.

MEET THE REST OF THE 1MISSION TEAM