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Katie Grim '04

Katherine J. Grim (Katie to all her friends and colleagues,) a New Jersey native, majored in Religion at Princeton. One of her professors described her as "surely among the most impressive students I have known in many years. . . . a very bright young woman of many talents. She is a sure winner." She also had a broad musical background, ranging from opera to being Performance Manager of the Princeton Katzenjammers a capella singing group.

Prior to her Fellowship, Katie had served (through a Princeton Project 55 program) as a summer intern in a youth arts employment and training program in Newark called Studioworks, a project of the New Jersey affiliate of Communities in Schools National – one of the nation's leading community-based organizations helping disadvantaged kids succeed in school and prepare for life. Katie enjoyed the work, and Studioworks thought the world of Katie and needed her badly – but they didn't have the resources to hire her on a year-round basis. That's when ReachOut '56 rode to the rescue. Listen to Katie tell about it.

"Through the Class of '56 Fellowship, I was able to design my role as Project Manager of Studioworks, a program that engages underserved youth in Newark Montclair, and Orange through learning in the arts. Studioworks fulfills CISNJ's mission to help kids stay in school and prepare for success in life by providing students a safe place to learn and grow, fostering one-on-one relationships with caring adults, teaching marketable skills to he used upon graduation, and providing youth the chance to give back to their community."

"During my year as a fellow at CISNJ, I exercised a remarkably high level of autonomy for a recent graduate: I set my own schedule, brought my personal vision to the maintenance and evolution of the program, and implemented the Studioworks Vocal Performance Component (the program had formerly offered training and employment solely in the visual arts). The Vocal Component took off with untold popularity and now comprises the Studioworks Singers, who perform at events such as CISNJ's annual benefit and Continental Airlines' Black History Month Showcase at the Newark International Airport.

"My supervisors/mentors offered guidance whenever needed, yet also granted me ample freedom to direct my course throughout the fellowship. As a result, I learned to write grants and earned my salary's worth in grant funding for the program; cultivated and strengthened lasting partnerships with area galleries, universities, and municipalities; and recruited young singers and vocal artists to participate in the Studioworks Vocal Component. I am so grateful to have made a significant impact on the Studioworks program, which will continue to help young people build the skills and self-esteem to succeed later on in life."

The Katie story still goes on. "Following my year as a fellow, CISNJ hired me as the full-time manager of Studioworks. Currently Program Director of Studioworks, I am focused on improving and updating our methods of program evaluation to render qualitative and quantitative results that better reflect programming and areas needing improvement. We are in the process of developing the new Multimedia Component, in which students will learn elements of videography, photography, digital imaging, spoken word, music composition and arrangement, and sound production to create a dynamic multimedia performance. This component combines the emerging trends of multimedia collaboration we observe in the arts world with our students' demonstrated interest in graphic arts, spoken word, and digital media. The Multimedia Component is the quintessence of Studioworks' holistic approach to arts training and employment, wherein all students are exposed to various arts disciplines and self-select to determine the roles each will play in creation of the final product. Honored two years in a row by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities' Coming Up Taller Awards Program for excellence in youth arts programming, Studioworks sets a national example of a program working to change young lives."

The founding director of Studioworks, directly attributes several major accomplishments to Katie's performance. "First and foremost, Katie strengthened Communities in Schools' relationship with the Township of Montclair, an essential programming and funding partner of the Studioworks summer program. This was an important step toward institutionalizing the program. Secondly, Katie expanded Studioworks programming to include its first performing arts component, Vocal Performance. The component was offered in the spring and summer sessions, and was so successful that it yielded a CD and vocal group scheduled to perform at CISNJ's fundraising event on October 6th. This will be their first paid performance. And lastly, Katie successfully secured funding from the Newark Arts Council, an important community organization who had never provided financial support to Studioworks before."

The director goes on to say that "Katie is a joy to work with. She accepts challenges nearly on a daily basis. Everyone she touches through her work loves her. . . . from the founders to the artists, from the parents to the kids. We feel so fortunate to have benefited from the ReachOut '56 Fellowship program. Please know how critical this program and Katie have been to the development of the Studioworks program. We have many more mountains to climb, but we're on our way. We thank you for your very generous support."

Here's what the Fellowship has meant to Katie. "The ReachOut '56 Fellowship has allowed me to try my hand at management, finance, social work, curriculum development, and youth arts programming, among other fields. With this experience, I plan to make the transition into the private sector and join a consulting firm that specializes in helping non-profits to gain efficiency through more effective management practices and fundraising tactics. The Class of '56 has granted me an invaluable opportunity to enter the work world on a management level, assume extensive responsibility, and challenge my weaknesses while building upon my strengths."

And she concludes with this invitation to any Princeton seniors who are "passionate about making a difference." Katie's advice: "I would unreservedly recommend applying for a ReachOut '56 Fellowship."

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