Volunteers at Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center (CUARC) come from different backgrounds and work in different areas in their day-to-day life. Their interests are different and thus their roles at CUARC can be different as well. The work ranges from gardening to technology or architecture to grant writing. Some volunteers only volunteer for a day and others stay a little longer. Nonetheless, volunteers enjoy working at CUARC because of the many opportunities available. If you are interested in reading about the many opportunities at CUARC, click here.
Since opening in 1991, Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center has been welcoming volunteers of all shapes and sizes to work in whatever they are interested in. Now, with the help of technology, volunteers are able to work virtually and still be a part of the team. Students are especially drawn to volunteer at Chicago Urban Art Retreat Center since they enjoy the free learning experience. Below is a volunteer statement of a foreign student named Coco who really enjoyed volunteering at CUARC.
I had a really good time in UAR during the summer of 2008. I really appreciate the hands-on experience on marketing the insightful art workshops and programs. You gave me so much support in improving my communication skills as well as English skills. It was really helpful to a foreign student who came to the States for her first time. Also, working with other volunteers and artists made me feel like we were a big family together. I learned a lot from people at CUARC, such as how to get others motivated and interested in your presentation. In particular, as a Chinese, I used to be rather indirect and inhibited, but the internship experience helped me become more direct. I remember Dianna once said she never judged people for where they are from or how they look, she always give herself a chance to get to know a different person without biased by the first impression. I believe that’s also at the core of UAR’s culture, an open heart. CUARC is such a welcoming place to artists from all over the world. In fact, by helping Dianna conduct art workshop for children and elders in the neighborhoods, I realized that everyone can be an artist and everybody has the talent to create beauty. I’m really grateful to Dianna for inviting foreign students to work as interns at CUARC. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience for me. I will definitely visit Chicago and CUARC again in the future.
— Coco
