Most college aged students get a boost in experience by becoming an intern in their future field. Most interns are beginners. Not Oak Park resident Camille Gallo.
For someone as young as Gallo, she brings a plethora of meaningful experiences to her internship at the Oak Park Arms such as her time as an after-school program counselor for By the Hand Club for Kids in Chicago. In addition, she has been a therapist intern at the Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago, a volunteer with Opportunity Knocks, and a manager of Wild River Adventures in West Glacier, Montana.
“Camille is dedicated to contributing to society by serving seniors and those that are differently abled,” said Moses Williams, executive director of the Oak Park Arms. “I have collaborated with Camille on upcoming projects, and her enthusiasm and authenticity are evident and offer assurance of her ability to be the change she wants to see.”
Gallo is pursuing a master’s degree in social work (MSW) at Dominican University in River Forest. She will be hosting events, connecting seniors to community-based resources, collaborating with community partners, and facilitating individual and group counseling at the Oak Park Arms.
“I thoroughly enjoy counseling and cannot wait to lead groups at the Arms,” she said. “I encourage residents to come talk to me whenever they see me. I am committed to fostering meaningful relationships.”
Gallo has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Dominican University, and she expects to earn her master’s degree in the spring of 2025.
“I first visited the Oak Park Arms in 2023 with the nonprofit Opportunity Knocks,” Gallo said. “I fell in love with the atmosphere and the sense of community, so I applied to be an intern for the 2024-2025 school year. I just started on August 26th.”
“I am confident Camille will do well and be a leader in her generation,” Williams said. “The residents and management staff of the Oak Park Arms are eager to support Camille in her endeavors.”
She has numerous family members in the Oak Park area. Her father is Peter Gallo, and he teaches economics at Fenwick High School. Her grandfather went to Fenwick High School as well. His name was Vito Gallo; today he is named Robert Gallo.
“The Oak Park Arms feels like community because it is,” Gallo said. “As resident Louise Snyder told me, ‘There is a lot of love here.’”
Oak Park Arms Senior Living is a rental retirement community that provides senior housing in the form of independent living. A licensed home care agency is onsite to provide support services for seniors. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month, or longer.
For more information, call 708-386-4040
