First Week at The History Colorado Center (Franco)
My first week here at the History Colorado Center(HCC) has been wonderful to say the least. The difference in the work I've done here and with anywhere else is amazing. The education team here at the History Colorado Center has given me a degree of Independence that has made it easy to get some strong ideas coming through my head. Of course I want to make sure I'm doing all I can to help the team out here so I've taken up more regular working tasks as well.
The smaller projects I've been assigned are part of a "Lending Library" that the HCC and Education department. The HCC sends out small historical artifacts to classrooms in Colorado so that students can have a taste of the museum in their own classroom. Some of the artifacts I've worked on include Native American Beaded Gauntlets (which actually inspired Frontier Fashion, Cowboy gloves, and the 2018 winter Olympic gloves), a very tiny and adorable copy of the Rubaiyat, a Mexican straw adorned cross, and a japanese Hakata souvenir.
But The real highlight of this week, and my biggest project, is the brainstorming I'm doing for an incoming exhibit.The incoming Civics exhibit (as it is currently called) revolves around highlighting extraordinary Coloradans to inspire teenagers to be both proud of Colorado, and to work to improve this wonderful state. The education department seems to really value my input and really pushes for me to be a part of various conversations within the department. They have also encouraged me to go forward with ideas I've had for the exhibit. The biggest of which was actually inspired by my time in D.C. When I was posed the question "what superpowers DO you have", I had to take a second to really think about what I felt I could use to help others. With an exhibit like the Civics Exhibit, where the goal is inspire youth to give back to the community (much like a certain internship I know of), I thought the question would help get these teens to realize their own worth. The idea I'm posing as of right now is going to involve the patrons taking a personality quiz similar to the 4 temperaments test (credit to Sam for that) where kids will find out what their "superpower" is or rather what change-maker trait they have. They can then look at displays of famous Coloradans who made an impact in our community and how they used the same superpower to make positive change. This would show kids how they already have what it takes to be a hero for Colorado. Over this week alone this has become my own pet project, and I hope it will make a positive contribution to the exhibit.
It was quite surprising how perfectly what I learned at the Washington week applies to my work here at the HCC. Exhibit development, inspiring youth, learning about various cultures that impacted Colorado History. Washington week really did give me everything I needed for this internship and I'm real grateful for it.
The smaller projects I've been assigned are part of a "Lending Library" that the HCC and Education department. The HCC sends out small historical artifacts to classrooms in Colorado so that students can have a taste of the museum in their own classroom. Some of the artifacts I've worked on include Native American Beaded Gauntlets (which actually inspired Frontier Fashion, Cowboy gloves, and the 2018 winter Olympic gloves), a very tiny and adorable copy of the Rubaiyat, a Mexican straw adorned cross, and a japanese Hakata souvenir.
But The real highlight of this week, and my biggest project, is the brainstorming I'm doing for an incoming exhibit.The incoming Civics exhibit (as it is currently called) revolves around highlighting extraordinary Coloradans to inspire teenagers to be both proud of Colorado, and to work to improve this wonderful state. The education department seems to really value my input and really pushes for me to be a part of various conversations within the department. They have also encouraged me to go forward with ideas I've had for the exhibit. The biggest of which was actually inspired by my time in D.C. When I was posed the question "what superpowers DO you have", I had to take a second to really think about what I felt I could use to help others. With an exhibit like the Civics Exhibit, where the goal is inspire youth to give back to the community (much like a certain internship I know of), I thought the question would help get these teens to realize their own worth. The idea I'm posing as of right now is going to involve the patrons taking a personality quiz similar to the 4 temperaments test (credit to Sam for that) where kids will find out what their "superpower" is or rather what change-maker trait they have. They can then look at displays of famous Coloradans who made an impact in our community and how they used the same superpower to make positive change. This would show kids how they already have what it takes to be a hero for Colorado. Over this week alone this has become my own pet project, and I hope it will make a positive contribution to the exhibit.
It was quite surprising how perfectly what I learned at the Washington week applies to my work here at the HCC. Exhibit development, inspiring youth, learning about various cultures that impacted Colorado History. Washington week really did give me everything I needed for this internship and I'm real grateful for it.
That is our mission! Washington Week prepares you for what is to come in the future. Once you begin college, the skills you learned in DC and your internship will also help you.
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