Empowering Youth Through the Arts
Milwaukee Recreation’s award-winning Arts Internship Program is a paid summer opportunity designed to give high school students hands-on experience in arts-related fields while building essential 21st-century job skills. In partnership with MKE Recreation, we hire interns and provide access to job training and career exploration resources. The program offers a meaningful way for youth to explore the arts in a practical, immersive setting that supports both creative and professional growth.
Meet our Summer Arts Interns
Jaida McCoy
Dance Production Assistant
“I want people to know that I’m a well-rounded person and performer.”
Jaida McCoy shared that her biggest artistic inspirations are Beyoncé and Sasha Colby. Beyoncé’s versatility and excellence as a performer have motivated Jaida since childhood, while Sasha Colby’s presence as a trans drag performer has shown her that there’s space for everyone in the dance world. Jaida hopes to be known not just as a dancer but as a well-rounded performer with skills in makeup, hair, and fashion. She also emphasized the importance of self-care in her creative journey, especially while managing Sickle Cell, and is working on maintaining her health to support her dancing.
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Bre Taylor, Program and OutReach Manager:
What artist(s) influences you the most and why?
Jaida McCoy:
One of my biggest inspirations is definitely Beyoncé. I feel like that’s obvious lol, cause it’s Beyoncé, but she does it all, and that’s kind of where you want to go, especially as a dancer. Whether you’re a back up dancer or someone who goes on to perform for her. I’ve always listened to her since I was younger, and I remember having her Single Ladies video downloaded and I would watch and study it. I feel like that really boosted my desire to dance.
Another one of my inspirations is Sasha Colby, she’s a trans drag performer and she’s one of my favorites. She paved the way for trans people in being able to dance and perform, letting us know that we have a place, and overall she’s so talented. I would say those are my main two inspirations.
Bre Taylor:
If you were famous, what would you like to be known for?
Jaida McCoy:
I’d like to be known for being a dancer, but I really want to be able to do it all. From dancing, to makeup, hair, fashion sense, just everything. I want people to know that I’m a well-rounded person and performer.
Bre Taylor:
What could be an area of growth for you right now in your creative process?
Jaida McCoy:
I’d say taking better care of myself, especially in my condition of dealing with Sickle Cell. That would include drinking more water, eating, and more opportunities to reset my body. This way, it wouldn’t be that much of a struggle when dancing and performing.
India Payne
Summer Arts Camp Intern
‘I would like to get out of my shell more and open up. I would like to experience more than what I’m used to.”
India Payne expressed that she enjoys spending time at home dancing and creating TikTok videos, which allow her to be creative and share her work. Her inspiration often comes spontaneously through conversations, and she credits her teacher Mr. Graff—who recommended her for the internship—as someone she’d love to collaborate with. Through the internship, India hopes to step out of her comfort zone, explore new dance styles beyond majorette, and grow both creatively and professionally. She finds it challenging to articulate her creative ideas to others but aspires to begin her journey as a journalist, writing personal stories about her life.
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Bre Taylor, Program and OutReach Manager:
What’s your favorite hobby or activity outside of school/work?
India Payne:
I’m at home a lot and I enjoy being in my room, but when I am, I enjoy dancing and TikTok. I get to be creative and put my dancing on TikTok and have other people see.
Bre Taylor:
Where do you find inspiration?
India Payne:
It just comes to me. I could be talking to someone about something and ideas just pop up. I don’t think too hard about it. I just think about what I want to do.
Bre Taylor:
Who are the artists in your current community that you would want to work with?
India Payne:
Probably my teacher, Mr. Graff who recommended me for the job. When I took his class, I thought he was a good teacher. The way he does things, I thought it was interesting.
Bre Taylor:
How do you hope to grow creatively or professionally through this internship?
India Payne:
I would like to get out of my shell more and open up. I would like to experience more than what I’m used to. For example, I’m a majorette dancer so seeing the other dancers do things that I haven’t seen before, it’s interesting.
Bre Taylor:
What is the hardest thing to do when you’re trying to be creative?
India Payne:
Having to tell other people what I’m doing can be hard. Sometimes it feels like I don’t have the right words to describe it.
Bre Taylor:
What would be your artistic goal for the next year?
India Payne:
Whatever happens, happens, but I would like to move into my journalist journey and begin to write stories. I’d mainly want to write stories about my life, I’ve always wanted to write about my life.
MKE Rec Intern Celebration
MKE Recreation recognized the amazing work of high school students that participated in their Arts Internship Program! TBEY staff were there to celebrate the work of the two incredible interns we hosted this summer — Jaida and India. They be shared what they’ve experienced and accomplished over the past few months. It was a great opportunity to witness their creativity, growth, and the impact of their time with us.
What: MKE Rec Intern Celebration
Date: Thursday, August 15
Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Radio Milwaukee, 2200 East Pittsburgh Ave