Read and Write Kalamazoo

Interdepartmental Intern

June - August 2020 • Kalamazoo, MI

What I liked

It was a great experience working with the staff at Read and Write Kalamazoo. Working with the kids there was always fun and exciting, and I ever needed help with something I could have always reached out to someone.

What I wish was different

I wish that I was working in-person but, I had to work remotely because of COVID-19.

Advice

Embrace the opportunity. This experience will teach things about yourself, the Kalamazoo community, and how these organizations are working towards bettering the communities.

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Executive Assistant Intern

June - August 2019 • Kalamazoo, MI

What I liked

Most of my internships and jobs leading up to this point have primarily required me to interact with other adults. Through my internship at RAWK, where I was interacting with youth five days a week, I discovered a new side to a passion I already had. I already knew I was invested in advocating for and providing access to education for all; in the past, I have designed curriculum and worked to plan education programming/events, all of which positioned me at a distance from the actual implementation of those programs with the youth they involved. However, this summer made it clear how impactful direct one-on-one interactions with youth can be and how important it is for adults to guide, affirm, and support youth -- even by simply remembering their names and what story they were working on or by pointing out a book that aligns with their interests.

What I wish was different

I enjoyed connecting with other organizations whose missions align with RAWK's and I wish I had the time to pursue those connections further by collaborating with other organizations to create joint programming.

Advice

Say yes to opportunity. By becoming more involved in unplanned opportunities that present themselves throughout the course of an internship, you could end up connecting with another person or organization whose mission aligns with your academic and professional interests and you will learn more about the various elements that go into the everyday operation of your internship organization. That being said, be sure to plan your time accordingly and recognize if you are spreading yourself too thin (between internship, work, academics, etc). Use discernment to say yes to the most interesting and relevant opportunities to you to ensure that you have the energy to commit to them.

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Teaching Artist

June 2019 • Kalamazoo, MI

What I liked

I enjoyed that I had the freedom to lead the summer drop-in writing workshops, yet the support to brainstorm ideas with the Director of Education and to be supplied resources/tools to plan.

What I wish was different

I wish I would've been able to do more summer programs such as also helping with the week long creative writing camps.

Advice

Don't hold yourself back from diving in and voicing and defending your ideas.

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Executive Assistant Intern

June - August 2018 • Kalamazoo, MI

What I liked

At RAWK, I loved the people I worked with whether they were part of the actual staff or volunteers. I learned so much from people who were curious, kind, humble, creative, and thought-provoking. Spending the summer with them fostered so much growth within me and I am incredibly thankful for that. I also loved being able to work so much with the youth and see their creativity and energy flow during different workshops and camps. Each student had something different to offer and it was humbling to be a part of their writing journey during the summer.

What I wish was different

I came during a transition period where the current Executive Director was stepping away and the newly-hired one was coming in in the middle of the summer. The shift made things a bit more chaotic and challenging as a lot of learning had to happen for all parties and changes had to be made to best fit the new Director. However, although it posed some challenges, I believe the organization will only continue to grow and improve as she serves as the Director there.

Advice

I think I would like to tell the next Intern that works with RAWK to go to as many community events/workshops as they can. I found these to be a great way to learn about the city of Kalamazoo and the people in it even though it's a city I have lived next to my entire life. RAWK's community partnerships allow you to see how the community interacts with each other and how they are able to aid each other with their own work which is very fascinating.

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Writing Coach

June 2018 • Kalamazoo, MI

What I liked

I loved being able to work with youth and write stories with them all summer long. The staff are also very friendly and accommodating to everyones needs.

What I wish was different

Advice

You don't have to be a superstar writer to volunteer with RAWK. All you need is a love of kids and the ability to work with them and be silly when creating with them.

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