Meet the Arts Workforce Initiative Class of 2020!
As part of the Arts Workforce Initiative (AWI) , twenty (20) individuals are gaining high-level professional work experience this summer at various non-profit arts and cultural host organizations throughout the state. Host organizations are required to provide a hands-on and engaging learning opportunity that allows the participants to gain relevant skills and work experience in the arts.
Anabell Pichardo, Bridgeport
Host organization: Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County, Bridgeport

Angel Bleggi, Seymour
Host organization: Creative Arts Workshop, New Haven

Alyssa Archambault, Torrington
Host organization: Northwest Connecticut Arts Council, Torrington

Amina Khokhar, East Hartford
Host organization: WORK_SPACE, Manchester

Cassandra Calabrese, Cheshire
Host organization: Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury

Chanel Ross, Windsor
Host organization: Arts Center East, Vernon

Brigid Pfeifer, Wethersfield
Host organization: Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children's Theater, West Cornwall

Corinna Santos, Trumbull
Host organization: New Haven Land Trust, New Haven

Courtney Klimak, Cheshire
Host organization: Masque Family Theater, Bethlehem

Danielle Wassmer, Newtown
Host organization: Brookfield Craft Center, Brookfield

Jeanne Bedard, Burlington
Host organization: ASAP! (aka After School Arts Program), Washington Depot

Luis Lopez, Bridgeport
Host organization: City Lights Gallery, Bridgeport

Madelyn MacBride, Coventry
Host organization: CAST (aka CAST children's theatre), Manchester

Rebecca Ilene Gatz, Stamford
Host organization: Ridgefield Independent Film Festival, Ridgefield

Roshane Stevenson, East Hartford
Host organization: Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition, New London

Sean Roach, Cheshire

Shuonan "Sage" Peng, Pomfret
Host organization: Artreach, Norwich

Sophia Thomas, Westport
Host organization: Suzuki Music School of Westport, Westport

Tyana Lopez, Columbia
Host organization: EC-CHAP (aka Eastern Connecticut Center for History, Art & Performance), Willington

Unique Davey, Windsor
Host organization: HartBeat Ensemble, Hartford

The  Arts Workforce Initiative (AWI) is a paid apprenticeship program that gives Connecticut college students, emerging creatives and military veterans from diverse and traditionally underrepresented backgrounds an opportunity to gain high-level professional work experience with non-profit arts and cultural organizations throughout the state. Selected participants work 25 hours of week at a rate of $15 an hour for 10 weeks. Visit www.ct.gov/arts for more information.