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CCO staff worker Alaina Cronkright makes her mark in Philly

cronkright_web.jpgGraffiti-marked buildings, neglected sidewalks and fenced-in heaps of construction debris are unlikely allurements to any city. With a population of 1.5 million and a nickname reflecting benevolent affection for visitors and natives alike, sometimes Philadelphia can seem anything but enticing. Then why has Alaina Cronkright willingly spent the past four years of her life here?

Because of Whitney, Nelson, Zakiyyah and many more.

Alaina works as a CCO staff worker at Eastern University in the City (EIC) where she serves as the Student Development Coordinator. EIC is a one-year, urban undergraduate program that is an extension of Eastern University in St. David’s, PA. EIC focuses on providing an affordable, faith-integrated education for students with the goal of increasing their global competency.

“My role in the program is to facilitate student growth through service-learning opportunities, student organizations and activities, spiritual life formation, conferences and overseas trips, “ explains Alaina, “I strive to empower student leaders on our campus.”

Alaina travels with her students around Philly where they’ve coordinated after-school programs to reach out to younger generations by tutoring them. She inspires students to become involved directly in communities close to home and those around the world.

“Last year I traveled with six students to Cairo, Egypt—none of whom had traveled outside of the country before. I recently traveled to Haiti to lay groundwork for future courses and service-learning there,” says Alaina, “This semester I am traveling with 10 students to Puerto Rico.

“Students’ lives are greatly impacted by these trips as they see the world through a different lens, understand issues of poverty in a new light, and meet God in new ways.”

As Alaina endeavors to equip college students to empower others, she confronts daily challenges.

“Most of my students are balancing a lot—full-time jobs, families, and much more. Students come into my office with concerns about family life, time management, cross-cultural understandings, academics, and church. While their struggles are abundant, so is the hope that Christ offers us in this broken and hurting world,” declares Alaina.

Over the past four years, Alaina’s imprint on students’ lives has been profound; she embodies Philadelphia’s mantra: the city of brotherly love. Her realistic optimism amid a dimly lit culture allows her to attend to the ache of a hurting world while acknowledging healing found only in Christ. It is for this end that she works, serves, worships and lives in Philadelphia.