History Colorado Center Internship (Week 1)

 07/05

If I were to describe my first day at my internship in one word I would say it was invigorating. My day started with a stressful drive to downtown Denver but once I was able to acquire a parking spot off I went to begin a new chapter and experience of my life.

Once I found the Museum and was given a very friendly introduction to Emily Dobish, who is the Director of Volunteer engagement. We got to know each other and she explained to me the basics of what my internship would entail and let me know she would be there for me for support and questions that came up throughout my internship.


Then, I was introduced to Ani Steele who is my advisor. She is a very caring, intelligent induvial who I am looking forward to working with this month. She has a background in therapeutic services which is what I am interested in after college, so it was nice to have that connection. She is the main person I am going to be working with who will help me along the way. After introductions we spoke about what I wanted out of this internship and then I was able to explore what possible projects I wanted to be apart of.

It was very exciting to see what different projects and programs I could aide with in the museum. I wanted to do everything on the list but I did narrow down to wanting to be apart of the Blaxplanation program which Ani mainly works with. It is a programming serries that seeks to inform those are are unaware, and to acknowledge and promote the achievements of the Black diaspora in Colorado. The term "Blaxplanation" is a play on the film term Blaxploitiation which comes from socio-political conditions of the Civil Rights Movement. 
     
    With this program I am going to be helping develop events for next year that could bridge the Black and Latinx community. Some skills that will be taught through this project are independent research, translating the research into an education program for young/adult audiences, leadership skills and more. I will be able to use the skills I learned during the YAP Washington Week throughout this assignment.

    Other programs that I will hopefully be assisting that I will meet with next week to get to know them and what they do, are the Museum of Memory Projects, event planning for the Bold Woman project, and assisting with work for the Center for Colorado's Woman's History. 

 After learning more about Blaxplanation and what my assignment was going to be with Ani I was able to explore the museum, which I had so much fun doing. 

There was so many cool pieces of artwork and so many facts about Colorado I never knew about. I enjoyed this interactive exhibit piece where depending what small lenses you used you saw different motivational quotes. This was in my favorite exhibit the "What's your story?". 


A lot of the interactive pieces that I saw in this exhibit reminded me a lot of the project me and my group came up with during DC week because there was two exhibits that allowed you to share your own story and then be presented on the wall for others to read. 

Throughout my time at the Smithsonian museums and at this museum I really got to know all the hard work that happens behind the scenes for events such as field trips, summer camps for kids, tours that the museum does, setting up exhibits, and more. This has helped increase my appreciation for museum staff and all their hard work. 

Finally, I am happy to see what these next few weeks will bring for me. Here are more fun pictures of exhibits I took and a funny Lego guy that was in storage that was used for Pride month.









Thank you! See you next week ;).

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