Partner Starter Institute

“Artists have the power to see obstacles and create solutions and that is pretty beautiful,” an arts partner said to me when I met with him to talk about his partnership with Chicago Public Schools. There was a pause in the room. He continued. “Thank you for asking me to speak at the Partner Starter, it has given me the opportunity to pause and reflect on the qualities of partnership.” I smiled.

The arts partner told me that he used to be concerned with the outcome or “performance” of the students’ art pieces, but now he realizes the importance of the process for the students and that some students might not see how the arts influences them until later on in their life. You don’t always get to see the impact you have, but it is still important. Whether they consider themselves an artist or not, they are still thinking in a different way, creating in their own way, and accessing a new part of themselves.

I feel like I am accessing a new part of myself while recognizing how important reflection is in understanding my experience here. Sometimes in the constant movement of the arts non-profit world, it is easy for me to get lost in it all: that everything needs to happen now. That I don’t have time. That pausing would be a waste of time.

However, I realized in this thought process that taking a moment to pause and reflect is the key to quality work in this experience and making sure that every voice is heard in the community, in the arts sector, and in the schools.

A few weekends ago, I decided to go to the American Writers Museum that just opened in Chicago. I stumbled upon a writer’s talk that was in session with Deepak Unnikrishnan and his book Temporary People and cultural critic, Illan Stavans. The conversation circled around the diversity of voices that created and continue to create what it means to be American. I was really taken on Deepak’s perspective on language and the importance that the English language had in creating a bridge for him between all the other languages he knows, and keeping all of them alive.

I have been thinking a lot about the way language interacts with leadership and meaningful work this summer. The arts in a way is a language, a narrative, that can be shared with all, creating bridges among people, conversations, and places. Embracing the moments to pause has made me a better worker, and reflection has made me a more impactful creator, problem-solver. I have been able to make connections from what I am doing to the larger narrative that exists in my life, that what I am doing does not just end when the clock hits five, but the process of learning this summer will influence me today, tomorrow, and down the road in unexpected ways that I have yet to see.

There is an engagement in silence, in reflection, in pausing, in paying attention to the details, and I see that engagement working throughout Ingenuity, amongst each busy day. I see the way reflection and leadership are constantly intertwined in the work that each of Ingenuity staff member and it empowers me and the community.

While many things I have learned or experienced might be unique,  I have realized there is a connection to community. As I share  the details of my experience, and while some may be forgotten, and listeners might not completely understand, each interaction I had is important to understanding meaningful work. Each interaction with the world matters and the stories of the people around you are constantly in conversation with how we all experience the world. From the CTA driver who waited for me to get onto the platform before closing the doors so I could enter the train, to Judy who would always read Agatha Christie novels at the Art Institute on a Saturday, there is always an opportunity to make a meaningful interaction. I realized that sometimes you just need to stop for a little while, take it all in, and be open to the people around you. We have so many awesome opportunities as people of communities to build off one another, to listen to each other, to learn from others’ stories and when we become empowered by our own unique experiences as well as the people we interact with (on a small and large scale), we can find our strengths, our purpose, and calling.

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.