Community Partner : Station North Arts District Intern : Sigrid Edson Site Supervisor : Maura Dwyer
What is Station North Arts District ?
Station North Arts & Entertainment , Inc supports and advocates for a thriving and diverse arts community by promoting civic and cultural engagement , harnessing and directing resources , and preserving and enhancing the creative vibrancy of the district .
Researched and prepared material for information sessions connecting artists working in Station North with current grants , work opportunities , and additional resources Planned and executed Station North Arts District ’ s first youth and family event , coordinating workshops led by four different arts organizations , canvassing with print materials to promote registration , and collaborating with host venue Led orientations for community members holding events at Station North ’ s outdoor event space and served as an oncall resource for troubleshooting
While I would absolutely describe this summer as a learning experience , what exactly it is that I ’ ve learned has been hard for me to put my finger on . I ’ m walking away having done dozens of things I had never done before : formatting a grant report , booking a DJ , ordering professional quality print materials , opening a shipping container … the list goes on , and I ’ m grateful to be carrying those skills forward . But when it comes to some overarching lesson or new understanding , the most significant thing I have gained is the knowledge of how little I know . From tidbits of local knowledge to practical skills to entire social issues I had never heard of , for each thing I learned at my placement I discovered two things I had yet to learn about .
Although my knowledge of the district has increased almost infinitely since the start of CIIP , and I have become very fond of the neighborhoods and the people in them whom I ’ ve interacted with , I feel in many ways that I am still a stranger there . However , this isn ’ t a bad thing — having let go of the naïve idea that I can become part of such a rich , complex community in two months is itself growth , not failure . From where I stand , knowing the community well means knowing how opaque much of it still is to me , while having developed enough of a framework to be able to continue learning . Similarly , an awareness of the gaps in my knowledge comes along with an awareness of what kinds of questions I should be asking and what I should be curious about .
My internship at Station North Arts District has been a humbling experience . I am leaving with new awareness of the field and practice of community development , a more critical eye on my own assumptions , and an expanded horizon for all there is to learn about and from this city . I am extremely grateful to my supervisor and our community partners for being so generous with their time and expertise , and I hope to follow their lead in becoming a more active and thoughtful participant in my communities .
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