SUMMER 2026 - WV Creative - Creative Connector: Community Engagement Coordinator

Name of Organization

West Virginia Creative Network

(Tamarack Foundation, Inc. for fiscal purposes)

Organization Mission Statement

The West Virginia Creative Network (WVCN) works to build a vibrant and prosperous arts community in West Virginia through resources, connection, and advocacy.

Name of Internship Role

Creative Connector: Community Engagement Coordinator

Mentor Name and Contact 

Cassidy Dickens 

cassidy@wvcreativenetwork.org

Preferred Semesters of Internship 

Summer 2026

Fall 2026

Number of Interns Needed for this Role per Semester

1

Average Hours per Week of Internship (10, 15, 20)

15-20

Mode of Internship (in-person, remote, hybrid)

remote

Internship Projects/Tasks/Assignments

• Community engagement outreach to increase arts community awareness of the West Virginia Creative Network (WVCN) Membership Program, resources website and local WVCN outreach and networking events throughout 2026weWork with mentor to identify primary geographic targets for outreach, especially small, rural, underserved communities
  • Work with mentor and additional staff to develop digital media outreach strategies (email and social media) to engage with WVCN’s primary audience, i.e. artists in WV looking to start, grow, and/or sustain their small businesses and entrepreneurial pursuits
  • Implement outreach strategies
• Data Tracking
  • Work with mentor to identify quantitative and qualitative metrics to track
  • Work with mentor and other staff to develop data tracking strategies, methods, and tools to document outreach and response efforts
  • Implement data tracking strategies and methods when conducting outreach and/or supporting outreach efforts of WVCN staff
  • Work with mentor to identify geographic gaps and underserved areas, and to coordinate outreach efforts focused on those areas
  • Regularly communicate progress, successes, and challenges with mentor; take initiative to share possible solutions to challenges
• Resource Development
  • Work with mentor to identify gaps in digital resources as our network expands
  • Research, curate, and/or create new resources as needed
  • Work with mentor to organize and manage resources in Resource Library spreadsheet
• Analyze data and develop reports
  • Periodically review numerical and qualitative outreach and response data for storytelling opportunities around stakeholder needs, program success/impact, and areas of improvement
  • Periodically draft data summaries and reports to submit to mentor; when prompted, work with the Communications Manager to revise reports for public consumption

Skills Intern Should Develop

• Marketing
  • Top of funnel marketing strategy
  • Lead generation
  • Conversion outreach strategy
• Community engagement
  • Place-based community engagement research and outreach
  • Relationship building, particularly through media initiatives
• Management of online community, members, and membership program
• Curation and development of digital resources for a virtual community
• Effectively use social media platforms (especially for digital outreach) from the stance of a statewide nonprofit organization
• Collecting, inputting, and analyzing data; report development

Previous Skills Intern Would Need to be Successful

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with an eagerness to grow these skills by working with others
• Works well as a team member
• Comfortable working independently, especially with remote work
• Basic experience using spreadsheets and entering numbers and data
• Basic social media skills, internet literacy, and general online etiquette
• Basic understanding of WV geographic landscape OR an eagerness to learn about WV’s landscape for outreach efforts