IWF Internship Program Now Includes UIW

The following is an article from UIW’s “The Word” featuring Alejandra Escobar, a recent UIW graduate who completed an internship with Incarnate Word Foundation last July. Alejandra was joined by Alexa Ferrara and Joel Flores Maradiaga, two interns from Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM). The three of them added vitality to our lives and our office during their brief stay with us. You can read about their projects working with the Contemporary Arts Museum and St. Francis Community Services. You may recall, that in 2017, the Foundation hosted three interns from UDEM.   At the request of Mr. Kathleen Coughlin, we included at UIW student in 2018.   Our plan is to continue hosting dynamic young people like Alexa, Alejandra, and Joel.  They come with some understanding of our CCVI mission, deepen it during their time here, and bring it to life in new ways in St. Louis.   All who work with them benefit from their presence.   We are eager to share our positive experience with all of you.

I attached an article from The Word of UIW with Alejandra Escobar, a recent graduate of the University of the Incarnate Word who completed an internship at The Incarnate Word Foundation last July. Alejandra was accompanied by Alexa Ferrara and Joel Flores Madariaga, two interns from the University of Monterrey (UDEM). The three added vitality to our lives and our office during their brief stay with us. They can read about their projects in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art and Community Services of San Francisco. As you recall, in 2017, the Foundation hosted three UDEM interns. At the request of Sr. Kathleen Coughlin, we include a student from the University of the Incarnate Vero in 2018. Our plan is to continue to receive dynamic young people like Alexa, Alejandra and Joel. They come with a certain understanding of our CCVI mission, deepen it during their stay with us and make it a new life   in St. Louis. Everyone who works with them benefits from their presence. We look forward to sharing our positive experience with all of you.


With permission, the English text from The Word is accessible via the link below. The Spanish is translated here.

[button size=” style=” text=’Click Here to Read “The Art of Advocating for Community”‘ icon=” icon_color=” link=’https://incarnatewordstl.org//nas/content/live/iwfprod/assets/The-Word.IWF-Interns.10.18.pdf’ target=’_self’ color=” hover_color=” border_color=” hover_border_color=” background_color=” hover_background_color=” font_style=” font_weight=” text_align=” margin=”]


The Art of defending the Community

Two days before her graduation at the University of the Incarnate Word, Alejandra Escobar made a decision to do something. Escobar, a Bachelor of Art student, had been offered six weeks of internship with the Incarnate Word Foundation in St. Louis, Missouri, to work with the Hispanic population that does not have diverse services.

“And they wanted a quick response,” she said. While preparing to cross this, Escobar knew it was an opportunity he should take. “During this time I really wanted to do something that touched my heart, during this time when (some people have) feelings of prejudice against the Hispanic people.”

Two years working with the Ettling Center for Civil Leadership and Sustainability (ECCLS for its acronym in English) and social justice class, helped me prepare to make the leap. The Foundation is also a ministry of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and previously they have welcomed students from the University of the Incarnate Word of the campus of Mexico,   to have an experience. Escobar would be the first of the Incarnate Word University, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Ricardo González, director of the Ettling Center and Sr. Kathleen Coughlin, president’s advisor for leadership gifts and sponsored ministries.

In little order, she worked in St. Louis, meeting with local leaders, school administrators and advocates, and participating in community commitments. She personally saw how many people were interested in social justice. Escobar said she would be happy to work with an organization that would try to rebuild the social dynamics in the city and provide service for the Latino population, although relatively small, some said they were suffering to find a place in the city. “It’s inspiring to see how they overcome the basics day by day,” she said.

Al trabajar con líderes, investigando las necesidades comunitarias y escuchando, Escobar y el equipo de internistas vieron la colaboración entre el Museo de Arte Contemporáneo en St. Louis (CAM) Y la comunidad de Servicios del Centro San Francisco de la parte Sur, el cual provee campamentos de verano para niños entre 8 y 14 años. Los internistas ayudaron en el centro por dos semanas, ofreciendo cuidado y teniendo reflexiones diariamente.

“Somos un equipo que llegó con un plan para guiar a los niños en tours y guiarlos y que el personal del museo fuera al Centro para crear un mural con ellos” ella añadió.

The plan was the bridge between the museum and the local Latino population, and offered art exhibitions for the young participants. The museum employees designed a mural and divided the art work into four parts.   The children painted a section of the mural and joined   the parts, to create the final image of a tree rooted in the earth and under its branches   people on either side. “Seeing the final product was exciting,” she said. “Seeing the joy in their faces meant everything to me.” THE WORD Fall 2018.