internships
INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION
NEAR’s interns are an integral part of our team and NEAR projects that bring structured expressive arts events and counseling to underserved individuals, families and communities locally, regionally and nationally. Interns are creative critical thinkers and makers, who bring ideas and support to NEAR and her clients. Computer technology skills are a plus.
Hands-on Experiences
NEAR provides hands-on intern experiences via the ongoing development of an expressive arts response nonprofit, inquiries to underserved communities, creation of expressive arts workshops and classes, grant writing, fundraising, expressive arts responses to transitional developments and learning how expressive arts are interwoven in therapy and healing. If the intern is a college student, credit hours may be negotiated.
ResponsIbilities
• Maintain hours agreed upon in internship contract. Remote work is possible.
• Collaborate with NEAR executive director in the development of expressive arts workshops and classes. Help with workshops when able.
• Develop one expressive arts workshop in response to a community need (per college quarter, if a student) and facilitate the workshop with support from director.
• Explore and research how the expressive arts are applied in counseling. If internship is college credit bearing, write an essay on findings (if a college student, length based on internship credits).
• Office work as needed (filing, assist in grant proposals, etc.).
• Confidentiality.
meet our interns
Chloeanne Erickson
NEAR Intern 2022-2023
I am currently a Senior at Central Washington University. I am excited to be interning for NEAR where I help create and facilitate workshops in response to community needs. My primary focus is juvenile incarceration and youth homelessness in the Valley. I'm hoping to utilize my passion for creative writing and art to address these issues, provide resources and sources of funding, as well as contribute to helping confront and heal these matters through different modes of art. Youth homelessness and the toll it takes on those affected by it is increasingly prevalent in districts state-wide, and as someone who's experienced this in my own life, I am incredibly excited to be taking part in this, and to see how working with and learning from community members who are experiencing these issues will reflect in my own personal journey.
Katherine Camarata
NEAR Intern 2022-2023
Katherine Camarata was born and resides in Ellensburg, WA, granddaughter of Italian immigrants who moved here in the '50s. She is passionate about circus performance, dance, journalism, poetry, jewelry-making and sharing stories to destigmatize topics that dive into shame. They are a student in the psychology/philosophy/communication departments at CWU and current Lead Editor of the CWU weekly news publication, The Observer. She volunteers for Northwest Expressive Arts Response and helps organize community events centered around poetry, song and dance. They make up one half of the performance duo TwinSpin, helped create the Headlight Children poetry project during the pandemic, and hope to see art and acceptance continue to flourish in the valley.
Preston Mcneil
NEAR Intern 2023
Preston is currently pursuing majors in Anthropology and Philosophy at Central Washington University, with a minor in museum studies. He has experience tutoring English and Anthropology at the CWU Learning Commons. In his future career, he hopes to make a positive impact on his community through museums. In his spare time, Preston enjoys writing and poetry. In his studies, he has discovered a passion for art and for people. Preston believes art has the indisputable power to connect people, and the world is in desperate need of more connection; that everyone is an artist with the potential to make those connections. He sees it as an honor to be interning with NEAR and bringing the expressive arts to those that need it in our community, acknowledging that NEAR provides the tools necessary to facilitate connections and healing. He looks forward to the interactions he will have with the loving Ellensburg community.