This summer, Cooro Harris ‘19 has secured an internship with Asian Arts Initiative through its partnership with both the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship and the John B. Hurford ‘60 Center for the Arts and Humanities. Founded in 1993 in response to growing racial tensions, the nonprofit is a multidisciplinary arts center that uses art as a vehicle to explore the experiences of Asian Americans and their  diverse communities.

Harris commutes to the office in Chinatown from Haverford College Apartments and works for the operational facilities department. Her daily tasks span everything from creating organizational layouts to researching potential donors. (Fellow Ford Miles Lee '18 is also interning at the Asian Arts Initiative, working on projects assigned by the programs office.)

“I really appreciate being able to work in this environment because it grants enough guidance so as to not be extremely stressful, but enough freedom so that I feel able to complete my work in my own way at my own pace,” Harris says.

A student of the Bi-Co East Asian Languages and Cultures department who is planning to study abroad in Japan in her junior year, Harris is finding that her internship is enriching her classroom studies. But, she admits, her decision to apply for it was grounded in something other than a desire to enhance her academic experience.

“Honestly, my main reason for pursuing this opportunity is because of the non-intellectual reasons,” says Harris. “I understand that improving my studies and academic abilities are important, but I believe that life experiences and wisdom gained from living with different responsibilities and routines are as equally important, if not more so.”

-Katya Konradova '19

"Summer Centered" is a series exploring our students’ Center-funded summer work.