Putting the “I” in Indy

As I write this final blog post, I am bombarded by many feelings…the two most prominent being confusion and denial. I’m in a constant state of Wait, I’m sorry—what did you say the date is again? and No, that can’t be right…it’s still June, isn’t it? If summer mercilessly flew past you at full speed, and if you are shocked by the date on your calendar every morning, then you might be experiencing symptoms of End of Summer Whiplash. I have coined this condition with the hopes that it will help many of us place a name to the whirlwind of emotions we are feeling about the end of our summer as CAPS Fellows. We are nearing the end; what a strange thing to say.

Just for the sake of recap, I am an intern at ArtMix, a nonprofit in Indy which provides access to the arts for people with disabilities, while also practicing and promoting inclusion. For me, which may be unlike many people in my CAPS cohort, I went into this position with no experience in the nonprofit sector whatsoever, and into a position that (on the surface) is not directly connected with my major. Now, I am typically not the type of person who throws caution to the wind and enjoys going into situations with little to no knowledge. But, that’s what made the CAPS program and ArtMix such a unique and fulfilling experience. In my nine short weeks here, I have learned an incredible amount about the nonprofit sector, what it means to really serve people, and how much elbow-grease it really takes to keep an organization spinning.

Linda, Kathy, Me, Katy, & Gayle

The President & CEO of my organization once asked me to think about my Aha! moments during my time here, so that I may reflect on them and take them with me as I find my way in life. One of those moments was the moment I realized that small nonprofits run much like how I imagine start-up businesses running. There is such an enormous emphasis on presence: getting exposure, putting your name and mission out there, and connecting, connecting, connecting. For me, this translated to a lot of experience in marketing and social media management that I previously had never been involved with. I have a renewed appreciation for the strategies and planning that go into building a presence online and in the community. Along those same lines, I knew fundraising was important; that felt like common knowledge to me. However, before this position, I had no experience with fundraising. Here, I learned the practical steps for educating people about our mission, gathering financial support, and maintaining relationships with the people who are gracious enough to donate their money (and time!) to our organization. Cultivating those relationships is extremely important to ArtMix, because the people who give to us are who make it possible for us to serve the community, and to transform the lives of people with disabilities.

As I reflect on what I will miss most, it really is two-fold: the ArtMix staff and the ArtMix students. I am extremely fortunate to have a staff surrounding me this summer who have been nothing but supportive, helpful, and kind to me. Above all, I felt like staff while I was here. Surely we’ve all heard an intern horror story or two, usually involving an intern who was always reminded of their intern status, whether it be through interactions or task-assignment. This could not be further from my experience. The ArtMix staff made sure I was always involved in the events, meetings, and camaraderies as much as any other person in the office. They are a group of truly phenomenal people, and I will miss them after my return to Valpo.

Meghan (middle), Ivey, & Me

Finally, I will miss the students who come to ArtMix day after day, dedicating time and energy to our programs and their own personal growth. I have especially become friends with people in the Urban Artisans program: I attended my new friend Meghan’s dance recital with her family and my coworker, received the nickname “Trouble” from the comedian of the group, Jordan, and was invited to join David at his church service on Sundays. Serving their lunches also means I know which students will eat the chicken sandwich and which won’t, I know everybody by name, and I get to ask each one of them how their day is going. These people are so kind and welcoming, and their lives have all been touched by the hard work of the ArtMix staff and teaching artists. For me, that connection between the service and the served was the end-all-be-all: ArtMix was the perfect placement for me.

Two Saturday’s ago, I left the comfort of my home (and bed) to make the trek to Indianapolis to start at ArtMix—a new, albeit short, chapter in my emerging adult life. While I was sad to cut my time short with friends and family, I was extremely excited to get going on this new adventure. At this point, we have likely all moved ourselves in or out of a space at least once—not the most fun part of the experience. Nevertheless, I packed the next nine weeks into one car and headed south. I am extremely fortunate that my parents and two best friends were spirited and supportive enough to help move me in; that made the transition much easier. From there, I said my goodbyes and looked around at what is now my space for the next nine weeks.
 
 

As quickly as I found myself moved into the apartment, my roommate Kate moved in. A few days later, my third roommate Regan joined us. If there is anything I have learned in the past week, it is that this experience would be drastically incomplete without people to come home and vent to. Whether it be about a terrible night’s sleep, first-day jitters, or exciting accomplishments, my roommates are proving to be vital resources in my reflection process. It may be our unique and laid-back dynamic, but I consider myself living with friends rather than having roommates. We give each other an open space to say everything there is to say about our days—the good, the bad, and the ugly—and quickly found genuine solace in having people who listen and engage.
 
 

On top of all of this, there is also a social component to the experience that cannot be overlooked. While I am here to embark on a new professional journey, I am also simultaneously and inseparably creating a social life with my roommates and with Indianapolis itself. I will say that the transition from small town to city is not a necessarily easy one—it’s surprisingly easy for the logistics of parking and one-ways and finding a grocery store to put a damper on diving into a city’s culture. As I reflect on the obstacles I have encountered trying to make Indy my place, I realize it is more an illustration of the growth I have yet to do as a person rather than the limitations of Indianapolis itself.
 
 

My first week at ArtMix has been relatively eventful; I have learned quite a great deal about the organization, the upcoming events and future plans, and the staff. One of my first tasks was to memorize the company’s mission: ArtMix transforms the lives of people with disabilities through the creation of art. This is, in a nut shell, what the organization does. Beneath that umbrella, there are many programs, events, and opportunities ArtMix organizes that helps them optimize their commitment to that mission. ArtMix provides community art classes, paid internships to young adults of all abilities that work on vocational skills through the production of art, and more. A large part of what I have been working on so far deals with outreach and development, including designing advertisements for an upcoming fundraiser, cross-checking donor and email lists, and placing phone calls to previous attendees at fundraisers to elicit their continued support. Through these tasks I have already gotten a large taste for what it means to be a nonprofit, from fundraising to community development to directly engaging with those we serve. I’m also getting the opportunity to be surrounded by art and artists every day, which I am so grateful for! There is a lot coming up quickly at my internship, but the staff is very supportive of myself and everyone around them, so I’m confident the coming weeks will be equally as rewarding as they are challenging–that’s the goal!