For 17 years, Path with Art has provided opportunities for arts engagement and community building for systems-impacted individuals, families, and communities. Our participant artists navigate recovery from intergenerational trauma, racism, homelessness, incarceration, gender-based violence, mental and behavioral health concerns, and substance use disorders.

Rooted in an expanding body of research on arts and health, our programs foster healing, empowerment, and community connection. We collaborate with over 60 social service partners, 55 teaching artists, and 34 cultural partners to create inclusive spaces for creative expression and belonging.

Our MSW practicum program is designed to provide meaningful, non-clinical social work experiences in community-building, program development, and strategic engagement. This practicum position is ideal for students in the Community-Centered Integrative Practice (CCIP) and Administration & Policy Practice (APP) specializations.

Position Overview

The Cohort Programs Practicum Student will support Path with Art’s Cohort Programs, which provide trauma-informed, peer-specific engagement for communities with shared lived experiences. These programs foster connection, healing, and leadership development within communities historically excluded from arts and cultural spaces.

The practicum student will play a key role in:

• Support and expanding cohort-based programming for:
  • Veterans
  • Gender-based Violence 
  • Indigenous communities
  • Latino or Hispanic communities (including Spanish-speaking participants)
  • Individuals reintegrating after incarceration
• Work with social service partnerships that support these cohorts.
• Coordinate direct service programming such as site-specific creative engagement workshops, class series, art kits, and Access Art experiences.
• Facilitate participation tracking and program assessment to strengthen community engagement.
• Identify and support teaching artists with shared lived experiences to lead trauma-informed creative programming.

This practicum is ideal for students interested in applied social work within arts, cultural programming and community-driven healing.

Anticipated Activities

Engage Communities

• Assist in the development of advisory committees for each cohort to ensure participant artists, community leaders, and relevant stakeholders have a voice in program design.
• Attend and support cohort-based programming
• Support in recruiting and retaining advisory committee members and establishing meeting structures.
• Help to identify and remove barriers to participation, ensuring programs remain accessible, inclusive, and community-centered.

Coordinate Partnerships 

Support a portfolio of cohort-specific social service partnerships, strengthening relationships between Path with Art and referral organizations.

• Coordinate direct service programming including:
  • Workshops and class series designed specifically for each cohort.
  • Art kits and creative supplies for community-based engagement.
  • Access Art experiences, ensuring that participants can engage in cultural spaces with reduced barriers.
• Support in developing outreach strategies to engage new and existing participants within each cohort.

Assess and Track Program Date

• Analyze referral trends to understand who is being referred, where gaps exist, and how to increase diverse engagement.
• Monitor participation tracking across cohort engagements, helping to assess program impact and areas for growth.
• Gather qualitative and quantitative data from participant experiences to help inform future programming decisions.

Teaching Artist & Volunteer Development

• Identify and support teaching artists and volunteers with shared lived experiences to lead trauma-informed programming within each cohort.
• Assist in developing onboarding and training materials for teaching artists and volunteers that incorporate culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and community-centered practices.

At the micro level, the practicum student engages directly with participant artists, teaching artists, and community members to foster trauma-informed, culturally responsive engagement. This includes:

*Attending and supporting cohort-based programming, ensuring participant artists feel welcomed and heard.
*Building relationships with individuals in the program to understand their experiences, needs, and barriers to participation.
*Supporting teaching artists and volunteers by helping them implement trauma-informed and culturally relevant practices in their work.
*Coordinating direct service programming such as site-specific creative workshops, art kit distribution, and Access Art experiences.
Tracking participation and gathering feedback from participants to ensure programs remain responsive and participant-centered.

At the mezzo level, the practicum student works to build community, strengthen partnerships, and enhance program structures by:

*Developing and supporting advisory committees for each cohort, ensuring that community voices shape programming.
*Recruiting and retaining advisory committee members and establishing effective meeting structures.
*Collaborating with social service partners that support veterans, survivors of gender-based violence, Indigenous communities, Latino/Hispanic communities, and individuals reintegrating after incarceration.
*Coordinating outreach efforts to engage new and existing participants within each cohort.
*Helping teaching artists and volunteers with shared lived experiences to integrate culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices into their work.

At the macro level, the practicum student contributes to systemic change, policy development, and long-term strategic planning by:

*Analyzing referral trends to identify gaps in participation and opportunities to increase accessibility for underrepresented communities.
*Assessing program impact through qualitative and quantitative data collection, informing strategic decision-making.
*Providing recommendations on de-institutionalizing creative engagement and increasing equity in cohort programming.
*Contributing to broader conversations about equity in arts programming, helping shape long-term strategies for decolonization and inclusion at Path with Art.

*Free tickets to museums, performances, and cultural events around Seattle.
*Opportunities for networking with professionals in the arts, nonprofit, and social service sectors.
*Access to professional development workshops hosted by Path with Art and partner organizations.

*Gain firsthand experience in multiple facets of nonprofit program management, community partnership, relationship-building, data acquisition and analysis, and strategic planning.
*Work both independently and collaboratively in a small team to fulfill the organization’s mission and create sustainable, lasting impact.
*Learn about the intersections of creativity, community, and trauma, exploring how the arts can foster healing and empowerment.
*Develop skills in radical hospitality, participatory leadership, and trauma-informed engagement.

We give preference to individuals with an interest or background in:
*Experience with or personal connection to one or more of the cohort communities (veterans, gender-based violence survivors, Indigenous communities, Latino/Hispanic communities, individuals reintegrating after incarceration).
*The intersections of arts and social services
*Working with adult populations from historically marginalized or system-impacted communities.
*Creative expression as a tool for empowerment, healing, and community connection.
*A commitment to social justice, equity, trauma-informed engagement and radical hospitality in nonprofit and community work.

Spanish language or other language skills a plus.

Send resume and cover letter to: jj@pathwithart.org