LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes - Jazzlyn Gonzalez Week 4

Week 4 was bittersweet as I spent my last week with the other interns and supervisors I grew to love. The week started off with Gema (another intern), Liz (my supervisor), and I traveling to the flower district in L.A. We began gathering data there on the different prices of cempasuchi flowers and other materials that would need to be purchased in the future for the Ofrenda that will be put up during Día de los Muertos. This includes fake candles, cloth, cardboard, tree branches, and paint that will be used to build the Ofrenda.  Contact cards with merchants' names and phone numbers were also collected so in the future they could be contacted about La Plaza's purchases. All the flowers were so beautiful, and I learned that it is sometimes necessary and easier to discuss in person prices with others to collect more materials. I viewed this as a form of networking in a way as we talked a lot with the merchants, and I was reminded once again how beneficial it is. 

Most of this week other than finishing up my research, appeared to focus on networking. On Wednesday, I had lunch with my supervisors, my fellow intern, and a friend of my supervisor Erica who used to work at the Chinese American Museum. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of other museums and how different they can be. I then conducted my interview with Leticia, the CEO of La Plaza, on Friday where I had the opportunity to ask about her past experiences in different fields of work. It was interesting to see how she took on different challenges and as a Latina was able to provide new viewpoints that the companies she joined could see to make things more welcoming for a broader range of people. Once my last interview ended I began to draw patterns across all the answers of these inspirational women of color. A main point that all interviewees highlighted when I talked with them was the importance of networking. All three explained that the opportunities they came across to arrive to the places they are today was through building their reputation, talking with new people, and staying connected. They all encouraged me to keep doing exactly what I was doing while interviewing them, networking with others. All three women also explained to me the different challenges they faced as women of color. Luz and Ellie discussed how often times because of their younger age some older individuals would hesitate to take their opinions seriously. All three noted the microaggressions they faced and how they always felt like they needed to work harder than others to prove themselves. They all encouraged me by saying I likely will face such challenges as almost all women of color do, but to reassure myself that I am there for a reason and let my work speak for itself. All three interviews were incredible and they all offered to provide help in anything I need in the future. It was truly a pleasure to meet them! 

Other than these different networking opportunities I finished up everything I prepared in relation to the different potential organizations to invite to the family day event as well as research done on the theme of the event, the monarch butterfly. Overall, my word document included research on organizations focused on immigration and protecting the now endangered monarch butterflies. Additionally, I provided mission statements in both English and Spanish, contact information, articles illustrating the importance in protecting monarch butterflies, articles for children to read in which they can learn more on monarch butterflies, and a sample email that can be sent to these different organizations in order to ask if they would like to be involved in the family day event. Once this document was finished, I then wrote a reflection on everything I learned at La Plaza and what how I believe I benefited. 

By my last day, today, I had finished all my assignments and helped Gema in preparing for the event as much as I can. The rest of the day was spent learning about resumes from Liz my supervisor and receiving advice from all the people I've been working with for college. We also celebrated my last day with Starbucks, the Donut Man, and eating lunch at the Central Market. All the people I have worked with have been nothing but kind and caring. I actually received a poster signed by my fellow intern and supervisors that wishes me best wishes in college as well as a card from Gina, the Director of Education who has been helping in overseeing my internship. 

I’ve been so thankful to have the opportunity to have this internship that has truly opened my eyes new things and has allowed me to meet so many amazing and kind people. I’ve enjoyed the close-knit community of La Plaza that is so different from anything I’ve been involved in before and I’ve loved how much La Plaza feels like home. During this month, I discovered how comforting it is to be working surrounded by people like you who you can go to with any advice or help you need. Being surrounded by so many intelligent and impressive women of color who I have gotten to meet and talk to has also been so motivating and truly inspiring. I’ve been very lucky to work here and I’m so glad I have been able to experience these things at La Plaza right as I begin my journey into college!