Working at 901 Arts this summer was an experience. No two days are the same and
this made my summer the most fun. When I first started at 901 Arts, we mostly fo-
cused on the administrative side of the non-profit and getting prepared to have the
campers and YouthWorks interns. These included getting the proper trainings com-
pleted and making sure everyone would be fully engaged throughout the following
weeks. At the start, I was nervous to be managing people that were so close to my
own age. However, as I slowly got to know the people in the internship, I was able to
realize that they were really cool people, and they all offered insight into their lives
in Baltimore City and the larger county. I was able to learn about the blending and
mixing of cultures in Baltimore due to the large immigrant populations, as well as the
influx of people from different parts of Maryland and the world. I learned about the
education system in Baltimore and how an outsider-looking-in perspective without in-
put from the community can change things for the worse. Additionally, I learned that
it takes a lot of work to run and operate a non-profit, but it is worth it when the com-
munity can benefit from the hard work. My overall experience at my internship was
wonderful and I can see why the previous intern had such great things to say about
it. At times it could be challenging, don’t get me wrong, but working at 901 Arts was
an enjoyable adventure. Working with the interns and talking with them about their
interests and lives happened to be one of my favorite parts of the whole time. They
all have such passion for what they are tasked to do, and I believe they’ll do great in
anything they set their minds to. Although I did not paint as much of the mural as I
thought I would, the times I did were very fun and it’s nice to know my work will have
a lasting presence. I can’t wait to see the mural when it’s done!
• Constructed youth development workshops based
around their interests and structured topics
• Performed administrative tasks assigned to me such as
creating business accounts, check request forms, and
event summaries
• Managed organizational social media presence with posts
to inform the public about ongoing projects
Community Partner: 901 Arts
Intern: Zakiya Carter
Site Supervisor: Sarah Tooley
What is 901 Arts?
901 Arts is a community-based
youth arts center dedicated to
providing art and music pro-
grams to the children and teens
of the Better Waverly neighbor-
hood. We are a supportive and
community-focused space for
developing one’s creative and
leadership abilities. 901 Arts was
founded by parents and adults
in the neighborhood for all the
children in the neighborhood.
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