ARTS Care Interns - Spring 2022

Hello, I’m Ada!

I am a Programs Assistant at ARTS and recently took up the role of Internship Coordinator. As a former Community of Care intern who supported Teaching Artist (TA) Leo Francisco during the pandemic as part of ARTS @ Home programming, I was shown the importance of creating an environment that was fun, flexible, and friendly even in a virtual setting. Creating socio-emotional check-ins every day and witnessing the kids open up to Leo, each other, and me was extremely emotionally rewarding and demonstrated how arts education can benefit from healing-centered practices.

Ada prepares for the Care Intern Orientation, this will be the first time the interns visit the ARTS Center!

I moved to San Diego from Cerritos during the summer of last year to continue supporting and contributing to ARTS’ mission of building the socio-emotional skills of South Bay youth -- this time not as an intern but as a Teaching Artist’s Assistant (TAA) for ARTS’ summer camps. With TA Yvette Roman and fellow TAAs, I prepped the creative space, shared ideas for activities, and even helped curate the end-of-the-week exhibitions! The amount of creative freedom she gave the assistants in addition to the youth made me feel as if I was a part of the community ARTS dedicates itself to serving.

As a current Programs Assistant and point of communication for our team of nine interns, I make sure interns feel confident in their abilities to connect with the youth and enhance our programs with their educational and artistic knowledge. Under the guidance of a TA, interns assist with material preparation, creating check-ins based on the PEAR Clover educational model, and motivating youth throughout their artistic journey.

My experiences at ARTS as an Intern, TAA, and Programs Assistant/Internship Coordinator has broadened what “community” means to me and demonstrates how it doesn’t necessarily have to be where “home” is. ARTS’ internship program, community programs, and events prioritize the needs of every person involved in them, and I am proud to be a part of the team!