The Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) is excited to announce the 2019 Arts Workforce Initiative interns!

The Arts Workforce Initiative (AWI) is a paid internship program administered by the CT Office of the Arts. AWI provides Connecticut college students, emerging creative professionals and military veterans an opportunity to gain engaging, hands-on work experience at arts and cultural organizations throughout the state. Interns selected must complete 250 hours during the time with their organization and are paid at a rate of $15 per hour.

AWI launched in 2017 with 12 interns. This year's AWI successfully placed 51 interns at host organizations! To date the Arts Workforce program has provided 80 young creative professionals, some of whom are military veterans, with engaging, hands-on work experience. 
MEET THE AWI INTERNS!

ABIGAYEL BRYCE PHILLIPS, Orange

Host Organization:
Pilobolus , Washington Depot

ADAEZE DIKKO, Milford
Tufts University

Host Organization:
Site Projects, New Haven
ALEXANDRA CASIANO , Bridgeport
University of Connecticut

Host Organization:
Stamford Downtown , Stamford

ALEXIS ABBOTTS , East Hampton
University of Connecticut


Host Organization:
ALMESA SABOVIC , Waterbury
University of Connecticut

Host Organization:

ANNA RICHARDSON , Southbury
New York University

Host Organization:
Main Street Ballet, Woodbury
ANTOINETTE NASTRI , Seymour
University of Connecticut

Host Organization:

ANTOINETTE SPADA , East Hartford
Manchester Community College

Host Organization:
ASHLEY D. MONDESTIN, Stamford

Host Organization:
INTEMPO, Stamford
ASHLEY WALTON, Hampton
Eastern Connecticut State University

Host Organization:

BRIANNA WILLIAMS, Hamden
Gateway Community College

Host Organization:

BRIELLE CAYER , Middletown
Fordham University

Host Organization:
Goodspeed Musicals, East Haddam
CHAD BROWNE SPRINGER, Hartford
Manchester Community College

Host Organization:
Night Fall, Hartford
CHARLES BROOKS , Darien
University of Michigan


Host Organization:
Stamford Symphony, Stamford

CLAIRE NEWHALL, East Granby
Saint Anselm College

Host Organization:


CHRISTINA (CORI) DIAZ , Vernon
New York University, Tisch School of the Arts

Host Organization:

DEAN JAIR ANDRADE, Naugatuck
Connecticut College

Host Organization:


EUMIR ABELA, Stamford
Eastern Connecticut State University

Host Organization:
INTEMPO , Stamford


GABRIELLE FERRELL , Manchester
University of Connecticut

Host Organization:
Goodspeed Musicals , East Haddam

GABRIELLE KUNZIKA , Vernon
University of Connecticut

Host Organization:
Night Fall , Hartford

GEONNA KLINE , Middletown
Manchester Community College & Lincoln College of New England (Graduate)

Host Organization:

GINA PELLIGRINELLI, Glastonbury
Central Connecticut State University

Host Organization:

GINA WHITE , Goshen

Host Organization:
Music Mountain, Lakeville

GRACE HAGER, Branford
Maine College of Art

Host Organization:

JAMES JOHANSEN , Durham
Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Host Organization:

JARED TURNER , Ellington
University of Connecticut

Host Organization:
Style Tinaliah, New Haven

JEREMY SANTIAGO , Meriden
Central Connecticut State University

Host Organization:

JULIA RAFFETRY, Plantsville
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Host Organization:
Shubert Theatre, New Haven

JULIAN MARKESE , Guilford
University of Connecticut

Host Organization:
The Kennedy Center, Trumbull

KAYLEE S. CROCKETT, New Britain
Central Connecticut State University

Host Organization:
Cuatro Puntos, Hartford

KELLY RAFFERTY , Newtown
University of Connecticut

Host Organization:

KHEPERA-MA'AT BROWN, Bridgeport
Gateway Community College

Host Organization:
Style Tinaliah , New Haven

LAURA BOCCADORO , Hamden
Quinnipiac University

Host Organization:

MADELINE OLDHAM , Brookfield
Hofstra University

Host Organization:
1214 Foundation, Newtown

MARY BIBBEY , Woodbury
Brown University

Host Organization:

MARY MYERS, Darien
Tulane University

Host Organization:
Bruce Museum, Greenwich

MIA SAGE KRIKSCUIN , Middletown
Wellesley College

Host Organization:

MILENA ALVAREZ, Norwalk
Norwalk Community College

Host Organization:
Bruce Museum, Greenwich

NICOLE HOOKS, Bloomfield
Newcastle University (Graduate)

Host Organization:

NINA YILMAZ , Coventry
Eastern Connecticut State University

Host Organization:

PATRICIA BRUHN, Windsor
*Military Veteran

Host Organization:

QUIANA STANLEY , Naugatuck
Eastern Connecticut State University

Host Organization:

SAMANTHA BECHARD, New Haven
University of Hartford

Host Organization:

SAMIRA JALLOW , Hartford
University of Connecticut

Host Organization:

SEAMUS MCKEEVER , Bolton
University of Connecticut

Host Organization:
Seven Angels Theatre , Waterbury


SYDNEY WYATT , Southbury
High Point University

Host Organization:

TAYLOR JASMINE , Naugatuck
Naugatuck Valley Community College

Host Organization:


THOMAS E. MARTONE , East Haven
Albertus Magnus College

Host Organization:

THOMAS VALENTI, Weston
University of Miami, Frost School of Music

Host Organization:
1214 Foundation , Newtown

TINGZHU PAN , Hartford
University of Connecticut

Host Organization:
TheaterWorks , Hartford

TREVER ROGERS, Plantsville
University of Connecticut

Host Organization:
iQuilt, Hartford
Thank you to the host organizations for offering professional development opportunities to these dynamic individuals!

COA sends best wishes to all the AWI interns!

For more information about the program, contact AWI Program Manager Adriane Jefferson at adriane.jefferson@ct.gov.