Internships

Part of our collaboration with local educational institutions is through resume-building internships and short-term projects. To date, we have worked with students from Mt. Mercy College, Coe College, University of Iowa, Hamilton College and Kirkwood Community College.

Established in 1994, the African American Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa is a dynamic, cutting-edge non-profit institution whose mission is to seek out and preserve the rich African American heritage of Iowa.

Because the Museum has a small staff and is growing rapidly, interns have the opportunity for invaluable hands-on professional experience tailored to fit their individual talents and interests.

Internships are offered year-round. While internships are unpaid, they offer invaluable professional experience.

Majors/Minors who might be interested:

History, Museum/Archival Studies, Education, Marketing/Tourism, Journalism, Non-Profit Management, African American Studies, Women’s Studies.

Interns may gain professional experience in the following:

History/Museum & Archives:
History/Museum & Archives interns will do historical research for upcoming exhibits, assist staff in managing museum collections and archival work; collect oral histories and assist in the design, fabrication and installation for temporary exhibits. History/Museum & Archives interns will also be required to write one grant.

Marketing/Public Relations:
Marketing/Public Relations interns will write articles for the Museum's quarterly newsletter, The Iowa Griot. They will assist the staff in all aspects of marketing and promotion for Museum special events, fund-raisers and educational programs. There will also be opportunities for interns to meet and network with local marketing/tourism groups such as the Cedar Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance.

Education:
Education interns will have an opportunity to help plan annual events such as the Martin Luther King Day Service Project, Black History Month programs, Juneteenth and Kwanzaa. Interns in the education department will also be required to attend docent training and give at least one tour during their internship.

Fundraising:
Fundraising interns will assist staff in planning fundraising events such as the Annual Celebration of Education and Achievement and the Legacy Golf Classic. Interns in this department will also write grants and identify funding sources.

Non-Profit Management:
Management interns will gain some experience in all of the categories listed above as well as handling personnel; working with boards and committees; facility design and management; legal aspects and other unique aspects of running a non-profit organization.

To apply for an internship, fill out and return the internship application to Joan Blackmon at jblackmon@blackiowa.org.

Here's what our past interns have said about their experience:

“My time at the African American Museum has been very exciting and rewarding. This experience has helped me build a stronger portfolio stocked with mailings, press releases and more. I also have had the chance to network within the greater Cedar Rapids community, and form contacts both in non-profit and for-profit organizations. I have had the pleasure of working within many wonderful staff members and volunteers and would encourage anyone to begin an internship here. ”

Intern Heather Reicher
Marketing Major
Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, IA

“While working here I have developed many important skills, such as research development, archives, verbal and written communications, and basic everyday procedures of the museum business. I would recommend the AAHM to anyone wanting to work in or experience a small museum. ”

Intern Todd Tomkins
History Major
Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact: Joan Blackmon- Tel: (319) 862-2101 Ext. 25 - Email: jblackmon@blackiowa.org