In the summer of 2013, I had the incredible fortune of being chosen as the first L.A. County Arts Commission Arts Internship Program intern at the California Alliance for Arts Education. As someone who had benefited deeply from the performing arts in high school, I was moved by the Alliance’s work to make sure every student got the opportunities that I did. Little did I know it was the beginning of a long and treasured relationship with the Alliance.
It was that hot summer in a tiny, poorly lit office (the Alliance has since moved to a delightful bungalow with lots of natural light) which provided me with one of my first opportunities for professional growth. At the same time, I saw the courage and empathy with which our team faced even the most difficult personal challenges. I had little with which to compare the experience, but I could tell I had stumbled into a very special space.
One of my favorite assignments was preparing a highlights reel for the...