"Local connection, no matter how small you think it may be, is sometimes the most powerful connection when trying to get something accomplished."
Loyola: What can you tell us about your internship experience?
Catherine: For my summer internship, I worked at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. I got hands-on experience on how to apply for large grants, and into the research required in finding possible patrons. There were a number of activities I participated in that enhanced not only my experience interning with the Jazz & Heritage Foundation, but my business education as a whole.
First, I participated in the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival. I did many preparation activities for the festival, and throughout the day I met a lot of wonderful people and was able to get them to sign up as members with the foundation.
Additionally, I attended the Association of Fundraising Professionals conference, compilied a list of all of the blues preservation societies around the world, and helped my supervisor write a Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities grant.
Interning for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation was the best opportunity I have ever been offered. Everyone at the foundation seemed so excited to see me every day, and I developed relationships that I would not trade for anything in this world. It also gave me new hope for this city, and made me want to be even more involved with our rebuilding efforts.
Loyola: If you were asked to speak to a group of peers about the internship program, what advice would you have for them?
Catherine: Find an internship where you will not feel like you learned nothing from your time there, but one where you can walk away feeling accomplished and with a sense of pride in your work. One concept I learned was the importance of good managers. My supervisors stayed consistently involved with me and really guided me along my path.
Loyola: What advice would you give them regarding what they should do once they are working at the internship location?
Catherine: Make sure that you treat everyone fairly. In every aspect of life, those above or below you in position are still equal to you. Whether you are an intern, a custodian, or the CEO, you are each working for the greater good of the company. For every one non-profit, there are a thousand others trying to survive. Support a cause that you feel strongly about.
Loyola: What did you learn about working “in the real world” that surprised you or that you did not know before your internship?
Catherine: I thought that writing a grant would not be that hard, and I was quickly proven wrong. I learned so much about how to actually answer questions, provide income statements, and how to sell your foundation so that you can win that grant. I got experience in helping my supervisor write a grant, and then had the opportunity to do a grant application by myself.