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New Semester, New Interns! Meet Carrie...

2/11/2017

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It's another introduction to another great intern who we are very excited to work with this semester.  Carrie brings a wealth of experience and excitement to the position, and we're looking forward to her helping us to develop our website and create our newsletter.

Hello, my name is Carrie Spring. I’m 28 years old, and I’m finishing my senior year at Iowa State University. I have been in and out of college for 10 years, and I’m stoked to finally be finishing up in December. I’m graduating with a double major in Public Relations and English. I was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. Once people figure out I’m not from Iowa, (I blend in, what can I say?), they usually ask me why I came to Iowa, of all places. It’s a complicated story, but once I was 18 I wanted to be independent, so I moved 1,600 miles away. I have loved every minute of it here. There is no other place like it.

Over the past 10 years I have worked my way up from being a cashier at Kohl’s in 2007 to being a manager and a jewelry sales associate at JCPenney. My job is mostly sales and part manager, but doing retail has definitely given me some valuable skills I am going to need in Public Relations.

When I’m not working, my hobbies include playing video games. I’m a gamer at heart. There is nothing quite like being able to hop on a game  and play with your friends while releasing all of your pent up frustrations by playing World of Warcraft. It’s a great way to take yourself out of your own life and be transported into an entirely new one. Being a gamer can get you a bad reputation from time to time, but to me video games are art. It’s one of the reasons I love them so much. Before I was a gamer, I was really into performing arts. Throughout my childhood and teenage years I was active in choir and drama. I even picked up color guard for my high school marching band, McQueen High School Lancer Marching Band, my junior and senior year of high school.

In no particular order, my performing arts activities have included being in a large choir, being in a small women’s acapella choir, drama, and marching band. My marching band highlights have included marching at the Fiesta Bowl in 2006 and winning fifth place in the nation, and winning first place at the Nevada State Marching Band championships in 2005. It is something I miss every day.
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There is nothing else quite like art. It’s how you represent yourself to the world and I have noticed throughout my life that art really speaks to people. It’s not only something you enjoy, but it’s also something that helps you through hard times. You can really connect with art on a personal level, and this is what makes it so appealing. It’s why I joined the Ames Community Arts Council as an intern. My goal is to help people connect with art so they can bring meaning, healing, and passion to their own lives. 

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Five Reasons You Should Attend "Toast Your Local Arts!"

2/5/2017

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Our members are Artists and supporters of the arts, non-profit organizations and businesses that have come together as the Ames Community Arts Council since 1976. We are dedicated to building a sense of community and helping artists succeed. We believe that participating in the arts--as audience members, musicians, actors, dancers, writers, makers, volunteers, and more--enriches our lives and our community. There is a place for everyone in the Ames Community Arts Council.

By attending the Toast Your Local Arts Council! fundraiser on Friday, February 17, you are helping us to continue to live our mission of celebrating the arts in Ames.

Here are just a few of the reasons you should be there:

1. Your financial support of the Ames Community Arts Council is critical to our success. It’s no secret that in our current political climate, truly local support of our artists, arts organizations, and arts advocacy groups is increasingly important. By pledging your support, you will assure that we can continue to build more resources and opportunities to support the incredible creative community we have in Ames.

2. A strong arts presence is good for your community. University of Pennsylvania researchers have demonstrated that a high concentration of arts in a city leads to higher civic engagement, more social cohesion, higher child welfare, and lower crime and poverty rates (1). As such, the Ames Community Arts Council strives to assure that artists thrive in Ames. Your financial support allows us to do what we do.

3. The arts drive economic growth. Nationally, the typical audience member spends an average of $27.79 per person, per event, beyond the price of admission (2). The Ames Community Arts Council promotes the events of our members to over 600 individuals each week through our e-newsletter and other social media outlets. By spreading the word, we are helping to build audiences, and increasing the success of the individual events while also increasing economic impact. Your engagement in our social media outlets, the events of our members, and this year’s fundraiser, assures the continued positive economic influence of the arts in Ames.

4. Our members are your friends, family, and neighbors, and they are incredibly talented, too. While we won’t have any live performances this year, we will be highlighting our members throughout the evening and giving you just a taste of what they, as individual artists, ensemble members, and local businesses, add to our cultural fabric. Your presence proves that what they do is important to you.

5. It will be a lot of fun! The planning committee has been working hard to create an event that is laid back, and quirky, and that will be a good time for everyone! We’ll have food, drinks, crafts, music, and well…TOAST. Carb loading for the arts is always good, right?


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This event is supported by the Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau Community Grant Program and the City of Ames Commission on the Arts (COTA). Additional promotional support has been provided by KASI-AM – News Talk Radio, Ames.
If you would like more information, please contact the Ames Community Arts Council by calling 515-233-6110, e-mailing [email protected], or visiting the website, www.amesart.org.
 
(1) http://blog.americansforthearts.org/2016/03/04/10-reasons-to-support-the-arts-in-2016, pt. #8
(2) www.americansforthearts.org/sites/default/files/pdf/information_services/research/services/economic_impact/aepiii/national_report.pdf, pg. 9
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New Semester, New Interns! Meet Erin Parro

2/5/2017

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Join us in welcoming a new crew of interns to the Ames Community Arts Council!  These amazing students assist with everything from publicity and marketing to website design and crafting.  We couldn't do what we do without their help!  Today's intern is Erin Parro.  She is a Junior at Iowa State, and we are thrilled to have her!
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​Hi my name is Erin Parro. I am a junior studying public relations and international studies. I am from Grayslake, Illinois, which is about 45 minutes north of Chicago. Some of my favorite things to do are running, cooking and traveling. Traveling is by far my favorite thing to do. I think some may say I’m addicted to it. So far I have been to 13 countries over four continents in a little over two years. In the fall of 2015, I studied abroad through the program Semester at Sea. Through this program, I was able to travel around the world visiting a number of countries all while living on a ship. Before my study abroad in college, I was able to take a trip to Europe my senior year of high school and again right after my freshman year of college. Through traveling, I have been able to broaden my horizon to the vast cultures and customs around the world. It is interesting to travel to all of these places and learn about the history, savor the food and talk with the locals about what makes each country so unique. As I have come home from my travels, I always get the question, “what is your favorite place you have been to?” I think through my open-mindedness, I have enjoyed something about every place I have ever been. It is about finding the beauty and the good in all places and people. Two of my next adventures I have planned is to study abroad my entire senior year, one semester in Europe somewhere and Thailand the other semester. 

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The Ames Community Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization funded through memberships, donations, and grants, including the City of Ames Commission on the Arts (COTA).

© 2025 Ames Community Arts Council
Our Mission:
The Ames Community Arts Council is dedicated to celebrating the arts in Ames. To this end, we strive to bring people together through the arts, and to increase arts awareness, collaboration, participation, and education.​

Mailing Address:
PO Box 1842, Ames, IA  50010
Email Address:
[email protected]
Phone:
515.259.0494
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