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Intern Feature

Blog featuring the DC Collaborative summer 2015 interns

The DC Collaborative team is so thankful for the hard work and dedication of our summer 2015 interns!  Their passion for equity and access to arts and humanities education for all students shows through everyday and we are inspired by their spirit and energy.  They are wonderful role models for other emerging leaders in the arts and continue to invigorate our work on a daily basis.  Hear from Ani, Jalessa, Emily, RJ and Conner as they elaborate on what inspires and drives them.  

Inspired by their stories? Apply to be a Fall 2015 Intern!

Ani Carlson

Growing up in Bethesda, Maryland, I was lucky enough to be a part of a public school system that not only valued the arts and humanities but also had the means to fund such programs, even through the turmoil of the economic recession. The impeccable choral program at my high school and the trips we were able to take are memories I will keep with me throughout my life, and have had a huge influence on who I am today.

After living in New Orleans for the past three years and witnessing the city’s huge economic disparity, particularly in the educational system, I can say with great assurance that I was wholly unaware of my privilege growing up in the notorious “Bethesda Bubble” until I left it. 

This was a hard pill for me to swallow at first--realizing how fortunate I was, and how so many students in this country simply do not have the same access to arts and humanities education that I had.

My desire to change this inequity is what brought me to the DC Collaborative. I want to be an active part of empowering young people and assisting them in realizing their potential.

There is a true whimsicality in experiencing art—whether it’s singing in a chorus, going to an art exhibit, or seeing the ballet. No matter who you are, these experiences allow one to depart from their personal struggle and experience—and maybe even love—the humanity in both themselves and others.  

If I can work in an organization like the DC Collaborative that enables the joy, imagination, and intellect that art inspires, I know that I am affecting change in an incredibly powerful way. Working with Lissa, Tracey, and my intelligent fellow interns has been such a rewarding experience, and I feel so grateful to have received this opportunity. 

Jalessa Hurd

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." For the longest time I thought my dad came up with this saying, which became my personal motivator. When I learned it was from Nelson Mandela, all I could do was smile and think to myself how wise Mandela was and how wise my father is.

Growing up in a town where most people's zip code becomes their destination, I knew I wanted something more. My parents were, and still are, my biggest fans, always cheering me on in my endeavors. They told me not to be a statistic of the environment I was in, to follow my heart, and to use the abilities I have to be a part of something bigger than myself. So I did.

When asked why I chose to work for The DC Collaborative, the answer is simple: this path let me be a part of something bigger than myself. I see myself in the mission The DC Collaborative lives by. I see myself in the children The DC Collaborative works to cultivate. I see myself in the dedicated members of The DC Collaborative who fight to improve education. I live by what my father and Nelson Mandela said. I whole-heartedly believe education is power and that the educated leaders of tomorrow can make the biggest change the world has yet to see. In my life, I want to be an activist for education and an encourager of all students from every background. I know what it is like to be from a lower-income family in an impoverished area. I know I can be that voice of encouragement to many kids in my same situation in years to come. I know that with motivated teachers, fostering communities, and non-profits like The DC Collaborative, education can become a way for every child to discover their deepest passions and ultimately become part of the change for something bigger than themselves.    

Emily Katz

Every part of the Collaborative’s mission touches on a subject I’m passionate about. The arts have always played an important role in my life, through classes in everything from ballet and violin to oil painting and photography. One aspect I love most is the ability for the arts to grow along with you. I was lucky enough to have early and frequent exposure to various forms of art, which I have built on throughout my life. The work of the Collaborative creates opportunities for thousands of students in DC to begin to build their own passion and appreciation for the arts, which can continue to grow with them. The arts and humanities experiences that the Collaborative makes possible can continue to benefit students long past the individual experience itself.

The Collaborative’s work is also important when viewed through a social justice lens. As a sociology student with a special interest in education policy, I believe that our education system has the potential to truly improve the equality of opportunity in America. By working to provide more equitable access to arts and humanities education across the District, the Collaborative plays an important role in increasing educational opportunities and building students’ social and cultural capital.

Growing up in the DC area, I have always been aware of the deep inequalities that persist in the District, making it so difficult for many children to have access to the arts organizations within their own city. It’s especially meaningful to me to be able to give back to the DC arts community by making sure that students have access to the same opportunities I was able to benefit from.

RJ Tischler

Passion for the arts has been an invigorating force in my life for as long as I can remember. Learning to read led me to my passion for novels and poetry. Learning to write led me to my passion for creative writing. Learning to play music led me to my passion for songwriting.  The pursuit of all these passions has energized my life and defined my identity.  I have come recognize that my own arts and humanities education has led me to discover these passions, and I wish the same for every child.  The DC Collaborative does not have to wish for this; they make it happen.  DC school children deserve exposure to a diverse array of arts programming that both engages and enriches them. 

Experiences in theatre, music, visual arts, and creative writing can open up brand new worlds of expression and imagination for a child.  This, I believe, is profoundly important to the overall humanistic development of every person.  It is heartwarming to see the impact that new arts and humanities programming has on local school children, and it is an honor to be a part of that effort. 

Working for the DC Collaborative has delighted me because I can contribute to the discovery of artistic passions for students throughout the district.While interning at the Collaborative, I have also had the honor to learn from my colleagues.  My fellow summer interns, Conner, Jalessa, Ani and Emily have each brought an inspiring enthusiasm and impressive diligence to the programming and daily operations of the Collaborative.  Lissa and Tracey have been tremendous role models as dedicated, intelligent managers of a successful non-profit, and I hope to eventually emulate their expertise in my own career in the non-profit sector.

Conner White

I have always been in awe of wonderfully creative people who are able to leave great works of art for all of the world to enjoy, so I was drawn to Washington by virtue of its amazing collection of art and creativity. It sends chills down my spine to walk into a museum and roam the halls, seeing the great legacies of some of the most creative minds who have ever walked the planet. Likewise, theater has the power to move me beyond expression, as I sit enthralled by the ways a dynamic group of people can have their combined efforts coalesce to create a memorable experience. These art forms, among others, have meant so much to me in my own life, so I was of course thrilled when I learned of the existence of the DC Collaborative. It can be too easy to become cynical about the state of arts education in America. Naysayers claim that artistic refinement is a lost quality in young people, but it is only too fitting that this wonderful organization in the nation’s capital is helping lead the charge in instilling young people with a healthy appreciation for the arts. In my position as the data intern, I often read accounts of teachers who would report of how rapturously their students received “La bohème” or an exhibition focusing on great artists, and take heart. I know of the amazing effects that exposure to the arts can have on a person’s life, and it excites me beyond expression to reflect that the Collaborative is helping make this available for young people. Every generation blossoms into the people who support, commission, and advocate the arts, and reaching them at a young age starts them on this path at a young age. Being a part of this effort has been incredibly meaningful for me, and I will be forever grateful.

Inspired by their stories? Apply to be a Fall 2015 Intern!