The train hums me awake in the morning as it zooms under my window each day. It used to be something that jolted me awake, but now it is a part of my morning routine. In the always moving city, I have become used to the sounds, crowds, and lights. Each day as I head to work with my backpack, work shoes in hand, tennis shoes on, I am constantly surprised that in one of the largest cities, how many people I repeatably see each day, on the train and on the street.

The pace in the office of Ingenuity, like the city, is fast. Printers are printing. Meetings are in session. People are talking. I have worked at Ingenuity, the leading arts non-profit that works with getting quality arts education into every Chicago Public School for every student, for about four weeks now, as the Partnerships and Professional Learning Intern. I have already learned so much. With this position, I am tasked primarily with managing, facilitating, and implementing one of Ingenuity’s institutes called The Partner Starter. This institute is designed as a “how to” for new arts partners to Chicago Public Schools. At this event, they will learn the tools of how to form a “shared language” with Chicago Public Schools. Forming that language requires many conversations, and understandings about what it means to work within the school. This requires a multitude of conversations and voices on different levels, between teachers, school administrators, arts partners and teaching artists, arts administrators, and arts liaisons. I have learned how important listening to these different voices are to the work that Ingenuity does and the teamwork between the community, arts organizations, and surrounding schools.
It is really an amazing feeling to see my previous experiences leading me and helping me figure out the ways around this new experience. I see the conversations that I have had in classes, and the skills I have learned from previous jobs help me with this internship. The threads of my own narrative—my own life—that did not always make sense to me at the time are now coming together in interesting ways—in ways I never expected. My eyes are opened to a whole new world beyond my almost four years at Valpo.

Sometimes as I leave work, I wonder what students in schools are getting to play an instrument for the first time, or getting the opportunity to step into the museum and see a whole new way of thinking. Being able to be part of the back-bone of arts partnerships has left me with good conversations, important questions, and different narratives that are all coming together in meaningful ways. I am excited to see how this experience continues to stretch me.

Millennium Park

Lastly, at the end of these four weeks I have reflected on many things, but also noticed some funny details. One, Millennium Park is not called Millennial Park even though a lot of us millennials go there. Two, it is important to always be ready for surprises like running into your co-workers at a random coffee shop in the middle of this very large city. Finally, and most importantly, I have realized that home can be many different places, people, and moments. Right now, Chicago, with all its sounds, crowds, and lights, seems like a good home to be at with other CAPS Fellows to share the experience with as we grow together this summer.