My apprenticeship!

Two weeks ago I started my apprenticeship in the marketing department here at the CJM, it’s been awesome! On my first day I was a bit nervous, but The Marketing team have made me feel right at home. I’ve mostly been working on the new signs for the CJM café tables. My mentor, Melanie Samay has been teaching me how to use the program InDesign. So far I’ve made the Public Programs sign for March, and the Upcoming Exhibition sign for Dada to Surrealism coming this June. I’m interested in studying graphic design next year in college, so this apprenticeship is the perfect fit for me. I’m familiar with the program PhotoShop so using InDesign has been pretty easy to pick up, I’m exited to keep using it and to learn more!

TAC Attack!

Hello again! It's Haleemah and Zoe here to talk about what some of us Teen Art Connect interns have been up to lately, and to share some photos of TACs hard at work at the Museum. We're right past the halfway point of our Teen Art Connect internship here at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, and we just wanted to check in to keep you all updated on what's been going on.

Zoe: I've really enjoyed the whole TAC program so far. I've learned a lot and the people are amazing. What about you, Haleemah?

Haleemah: Yeah, me too! It's really cool here. I love working in coat check and helping out around the museum.

Zoe: I'm so excited for our new exhibit to open this Thursday, Do Not Destroy: Trees, Art, and Jewish Thought.

Haleemah: Yeah, I can't wait for Preschool Gallery Hour next Sunday as well!

Zoe and Haleemah: We hope you enjoy the pictures and hope to see you at the CJM soon! 

 Moises is #1 at coat check!

 TACs Anthony and Francesca staying hydrated (and making silly faces!)

Zoe giving the thumbs-up at work.

Evan working with a new volunteer.

An attempt at a high five by Anthony and Francesca.

Success! Teamwork is fun!

Francesca talking to a museum visitor.

Nina hard at work in drop-in art-making.



Great Apprenticeship !!!

Hey Everyone!!!

It's me Haleemah again and I'm here to talk a little about my apprenticeship here at the Contemporary Jewish Museum. I have recently started working in the development department with Aliza Aronson, manger of Individual Giving and my mentor. On the first day of sitting and talking with her I was pleased to see how joyful and enthusiastic she was to work with me; [making me feel very welcomed]. 

Going in I had no idea of how the Museum obtained money from donors and I thought only rich people gave money, but boy did Aliza put me on game. She told me how the development department was categorize into six sections; Individual Giving, Institutional Giving, Membership, Database, Events, and Circle of Friends (those that donate over $1,000). Each section helps contribute and make the development department possible in their own special way, but we can get to how another time.

I learned that she makes a lot of phones calls to members and non members and gives information on the Museum, and the programs we offer for example, my Teen Art Connect Internship. I learned that she has to do research and remember a lot of names and information about people, which for me can be very difficult (so I have no clue how she does it). The most significant thing I learned from her was that people who have less money seem to donate more. I found this amazing, because I always thought it were the better-off people who made all the donations. Through, this apprenticeship I hope to obtain some communication skills and learn some office skills (like working with database) to help me with my future career; entrepreneurship. Overall, she is really kind and heart warming and I am very excited now, though at the beginning I was unsure to work with her.

                                                                    Always busy...

What's up with all these apprenticeships? Let me tell you!

Hello!
This is Zoe again, another one of the Teen Art Connect interns here at the CJM. As you've probably noticed from the previous few posts, it's that exciting time of the TAC program when we all start our apprenticeships with a certain department in the Museum. This apprenticeship component is something that begins about halfway through the program, in January. There are many different departments in the Museum, such as marketing, public programs, curatorial, and education. The members of these various departments are the driving force behind the Museum, and they're really what makes things happen here (even if they're behind the scenes!). Each TAC has a choice of which department they would like to apprenticeship with, and almost everyone got exactly what they wanted. Personally, I knew all along that I would love to work with Public Programs, and that's where I ended up! The chance to work closely with a mentor, while learning so much about the musem, is arguably one of the most valuable parts of the TAC internship (and maybe one of my favorite parts!). These apprenticeships continue on until the end of the program, and from now until then, I know all my fellow TACs and I will learn, grow, and help out around here a lot. All this new responsiblity also means we're working a few more hours a week, which is exciting because it usually means we get to come upstairs where all the offices are and work at our own desk!

Although I've only had two meetings with the Public Programs Manager and my mentor, Gravity Goldberg, I've already been put to work. We started out with an initial meeting where we got to know each other better, discussed my duties, and came to some agreements about my apprenticeship. Gravity also asked me what skills relating to my apprenticeship I was confident about, and if I had any skills I wanted to work on. I mentioned that I enjoy talking to the public and working with people, and I'm also quite organized. However, I wanted to improve my overall confidence in striking up a conversation with someone at a public event, for example. Also, much like other TACs in their respective apprenticeships, I wanted to work on general office skills. After this helpful meeting, I began working on organizing and categorizing all the papers and information for all the past events in 2011. It amazed me how much thought and work went into every single event. For example, a previous event at the Museum like the concert with Alicia Jo Rabins and Girls in Trouble required months and months of planning, and hundreds of papers to rent instruments, secure media releases, etc. I then went on to learn about all the upcoming events for this year, such as the opening of our new exhibit, Do Not Destroy: Trees, Art, and Jewish Thought (on February 16, this Thursday!), and I have to say, I'm beyond excited to help out with them!

Anyways, I know all of us TACs are going to have a fun journey along our apprenticeships, and I hope to check in again soon.

My Apprenticeship!

Hey everyone, it's Evan.  I am a TAC here and this is my first blog post!  I've been working here for about seven months now and all of it has been a blast.  From meeting new people to working new jobs, I've learned a lot about the CJM and the people who make this museum such a great place to visit and work in.
  But that is just the beginning!  At the start of this week, I started my apprenticeship upstairs with Cecile, in Education.  Among other things,  I get to be a part of a new program where I will work and mentor a teen with a special needs here in the museum.  I am so excited to meet my colleague this week.  From what I've heard about him, he and I will get along great.  I haven't heard much else about my duties in my apprenticeship, but I can't wait to begin!

Apprenticeship!

Hey everyone!

It's Iedryn, one of the wonderful Tacs you can find roaming around the Contemporary Jewish Museum! So last Tuesday I started my apprenticeship in the Marketing department, which I was so glad I got! It was the one I was hoping to get out of all the possible apprenticeships. I was really scared and nervous about the first day, because I wasn't too sure about what I was going to be doing or how my mentors would be. Turns out I had nothing to worry about, in fact I should had been more excited than anything else! I remember feeling so intimidated, because I thought I was only meeting with one person instead I was meeting with 3 people! One of them told that I was going to get put straight to work, but he was just teasing me. They took me out for some hot chocolate at a nice little cafe about 2 blocks away from the CJM. When we got there a Japanese television show was doing a documentary about the cafe, and they asked if they could record us drinking our coffee and hot chocolate. IT WAS AWESOME! Kathy then used the Japanese Tv show crew as an example of marketing. When we got back to the Museum I got work a little bit on the Battle of the Bands flier, for the remaining time I had that day. A few days later my co-worker Lena and I finished the Battle of the Bands flier! When I asked to be a part of the marketing department I was not quite sure exactly what I'd be doing. I thought I would have to make fliers, and what not, which I did. However that is not the only thing they do in marketing. I am very excited to see what this apprenticeship has in store for me. Keep you posted! =D

  

I Love It Here ! ! !



Me in the Yud Gallery



First let me say I love it here at the CJM!!! Being able to work here has been more than a pleasure. Most of the time I feel like I am getting paid to have fun. The Teen Art Connect program here has helped me transform dramatically. I have gained patience and phenomenal communication skills since I have been here.

Before coming a part of this program I was very timid and shy, I had no idea how to start yet alone continue a conversation with others. Though, with time of being here I am now capable of entering a room full of strangers and exiting with tons of new friends. I am so proud and glad to say that I am a member of the CJM and I am very grateful for being able to participate in such a program.

In Fall 2012 I will be the first member of my family that will be attending college (Notre Dame de Namur to be exact) and I feel much more eager and prepare to attend after being a TAC. No matter what obstacles college might throw my way I will be able to overcome them, because I have been prep by the TAC program already. I now know how to keep on pushing and going even when days are tough, because here at the CJM they say, "Fake it until you make it". Which to me means that you have to keep on being positive no matter what negativity comes your way and in the end you'll get positive results. I have learned some significant virtues such as being open minded and having acceptance to others opinions. I will take everything I learned here and apply it to my general acts in life.

Overall, it brings great sadness to me that I will have to end my time here and I will sincerely miss all the staff and friends I made here and hope that we will all stay in touch. I honestly believe that our time here as TACs was way too short, and if I had one wish it would be that we could be permanent.