I am a young professional with a passion for applying economics to solve problems. I believe that most challenges facing our society today can be solved by better utilization of these developing tools of data analysis.I have always had a passion for macroeconomics, quantitatively measured institutional quality, and its impact on economic and social outcomes. During COVID-19 I have had a unique opportunity to feed these passions through giving back to my small community. From a qualitative perspective smaller communities’ institutions’ strengths and weaknesses are more obvious. In my position at the Islesboro Community Center I have stood in a unique position; able to approach the small town issues compassionately and qualitatively, due to my personality and familiarity with the community, while also using my skills with economics and data to work towards quantifying the necessary ingredients for institutional success.I have had success applying the data and information collected to steer the community in a more robust direction. In the days of social distancing, my clear and concise counsel is more important than ever, as in person meetings have been traded for emails and Zoom calls. I have had a direct impact on the ability of the school, community center, and township to interface with the greater Islesboro community and it’s needs.Through my experience during COVID-19 I have learned over and over again the value of community, and the positive impact of a quantitative approach. I am eager to grow my understanding of community and economic institutions on a larger and more complex scale. I enjoy connecting with new people, and am actively seeking new employment opportunities, contact me on LinkedIn or email me at jacob.howell207@gmail.com.