This winter, Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven had the pleasure of welcoming Naiserian Kyama as an intern with our Community Building & Organizing team, Stephen Cremin-Endes and Adam Rawlings. Naiserian joins us from Nairobi, Kenya, where she attends Strathmore University, studying data science. While in New Haven visiting her father, a professor at Yale Divinity School, she chose to spend six weeks completing a service placement of 250 hours with us, based on her interest in serving the community.
From her very first week, Naiserian immersed herself in learning the inner workings of community development. She attended planning meetings, met staff across departments, and contributed to a grant-funded proposal by creating a detailed map highlighting corner stores in the Newhallville neighborhood. She quickly observed that meaningful community impact requires thoughtful strategy and collaboration.
Hands-On in the Community
A highlight of Naiserian’s time with us was her weekly volunteer work at FreshStart Community Kitchen. There, she assisted with food preparation and distribution. Reflecting on her experience, she noted, “how food is a basic need that is needed by all of us. It was such a great reminder of how grateful I should be and how much I should contribute to the society in whatever way I can.”
She also participated in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day community clean-up event, helping prepare a storefront space that will one day become an agricultural center for children. Through these experiences, she began to see how interconnected efforts, such as community gardens, future agricultural education spaces, and community kitchens, collectively strengthen neighborhood well-being in places like Newhallville, the Hill, and Fair Haven.
Her reflections reveal a deep appreciation for grassroots organizing and for the people who dedicate their time to building healthier communities. She wrote about her hope that, over the next five to ten years, investments like these could meaningfully increase quality of life and life expectancy in historically disinvested neighborhoods.
Initiative
One of Naiserian’s most impactful contributions was developing a Volunteer Manual for future interns and volunteers in the Community Building & Organizing department. Drawing from her own experiences, she created a resource designed to be informative, accessible, and engaging. Her initiative ensures that those who come after her will have clearer guidance and structure as they begin their own placements.
Growth Beyond Borders
Naiserian’s time at NHS affirmed a belief she carried with her from Kenya, “that we are all human beings who should be treated with dignity and respect.”
As she returns to her studies at Strathmore University, we know she will carry forward the lessons learned here in New Haven. And we, in turn, are better because of the energy, insight, and global perspective she shared with us.
For her final day here, staff joined her in having Kenyan coffee and shared meaningful conversation, learning about how her life in Kenya differs from her experiences here in New Haven. We learned that she enjoys going to Nairobi National Park with friends and how she appreciates the walkability of New Haven compared to the perils of being a pedestrian in Nairobi. What struck our group the most was Naiserian’s parting words to the group: “This experience confirmed that wherever I go, I need to be involved in the community where I live.”
Thank you for your impact on our staff and the community, Naiserian – you’re always welcome back into the NHS family!
