As a small (but mighty) team, we rely on the contributions of paid interns to accomplish our work. This week, we’re excited to welcome our new Council intern, Alexa!
Alexa (She/her) is a student in her final year at the College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota, where she is studying Art and Peace and Justice Studies. She joined Charities Review Council in May 2021 as a Nonprofit Services Intern. Prior to interning at the Council, Alexa was the Communications Director for her college’s Student Government Association and had an internship with Public Art Saint Paul. After graduation, she hopes to go on to obtain a master’s degree in Art Administration. She also enjoys reading and watching Netflix during her downtime. Her favorite color is teal.
As a Nonprofit Services Intern at the Council, Alexa will serve as a supportive partner to our donors and nonprofits, helping donors make smart and informed giving decisions to strong and accountable nonprofits. As a member of the Nonprofit Services Team, Alexa will also be the first point of contact for new and renewing nonprofits learning about the Accountability Standards® and Accountability Wizard® nonprofit review process. Read on to learn more about Alexa, her interests, favorite nonprofit causes, and more.
What excites you about joining the Council team?
Getting to meet and work with new people! I’m looking forward to learning more about the operations of a nonprofit to obtain a better understanding of how they may play a role in the community that they serve. I am also excited to bring my artistic talents to the Council in any way that I can. As an Art major, I am interested in learning how the Council will continue to engage with people in new and creative ways.
What is your favorite nonprofit cause?
My favorite nonprofits are Black Table Arts and Public Art Saint Paul. Black Table Arts is a community driven arts cooperative located in Minneapolis that creates gatherings of black communities through the arts toward better black futures. They also have a bookstore, shared workspace, and performance space in their building.
Public Art Saint Paul is an arts nonprofit with a working partnership with the City of Saint Paul to imagine and create a more just, sustainable, and beautiful city. By placing artists in leading roles, they help shape public spaces, improve city systems, and deepen civic engagement. When I interned with Public Art Saint Paul, I really enjoyed learning more about the origins of my favorite public art pieces that I had seen all my life.
How have you seen nonprofits play a role/show up in community?
Over the past year, I have noticed many nonprofits show up by continuing to create safe and meaningful spaces for the people in the community. They allow everyone to show up as their whole selves in order to process the craziness that was 2020 and share their hopes for 2021. I think bringing people together in this way has been extremely healing and beneficial for nonprofits and the community.
When you’re not connecting with donors and nonprofits, what do you like to do for fun?
I enjoy reading and watching Netflix. I currently have a summer reading and watch list that includes books and movies that I did not have time for during the academic school year — Assata: An Autobiography and Hamilton are two on my list. I also enjoy painting, photography, and seeing my friends and family. Although I am not creating anything specific at this moment, I hope to paint more as the summer goes on.
Something fun! If you were a potato, what way would you liked to be cooked?
I would like to be fried. For example, French fries or potato chips.
We’re so excited to have Alexa with the Council team this summer! Please join us in welcoming her by sending a quick note to alexa@smartgivers.org.
