UCLA Art & Global Health Center

Program Type

Domestic

Organization Name

UCLA Art & Global Health Center

Internship Location

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Organization

The UCLA Art & Global Health Center harnesses the power of art, storytelling, and community participation to advance health equity and human rights. Founded in 2006, the Center partners with artists, students, researchers, and communities across Los Angeles and globally to address urgent health issues.

Their work blends community engagement, arts activism, and research to advocate for comprehensive sexual health education, women’s empowerment, gender equality, LGBTQ+ inclusion, anti-racism, and mental health. Programs co-create artistic interventions that amplify lived experience, shift public narratives, and support evidence-informed policy and practice.

Position Overview

Interns contribute to arts-based global health projects advancing equity, storytelling, and community engagement. They work closely with staff on initiatives such as Through Positive Eyes, AMP!/Sex Squad, Up to Us, and Valentine Toya LeGrand—gaining hands-on experience in research, communications, and collaborative arts practice. The internship provides mentored engagement in arts-based, community-driven global health work while building skills in project coordination, creative practice, and research methodologies.

Project Details

Possible project assignments include:

Sex Squad & AMP!

• Peer-education programs transforming sexual health education through humor, theater, and storytelling.

• Interns may assist with program development, script writing, performance creation, video production, curriculum materials, and documentation.

Through Positive Eyes

• Global photo-storytelling initiative confronting HIV-related stigma.

• Interns may assist with media organization, outreach materials, website/archive support, and preparation for public programs.

Up to Us

• Fictional sex education films for youth impacted by the justice system, paired with workshops and leadership development.

• Interns may contribute to workshop preparation, communications, storytelling materials, and program documentation.

Valentine Toya LeGrand

• Poetic celebration of women heroes through comic books and film series.

• Interns may assist with research, story development, visual materials, and production coordination.

Assignments are based on project needs and student skills/interests, but all offer meaningful engagement in arts-based, community-driven global health work.

Intern Responsibilities

• Support arts-based global health initiatives including Sex Squad/AMP!, Through Positive Eyes, Up to Us, and Valentine Toya LeGrand.

• Assist with program development for summer theater intensive workshops, including youth engagement and facilitation.

• Contribute to script writing, story development, and performance creation.

• Organize and prepare digital media assets (photos, videos, narratives).

• Conduct background research to support arts-based health education and community pedagogy.

• Assist with communications, outreach materials, website content, social media, and program documentation.

• Support evaluation and documentation, including note-taking, organizing participant materials, and project archives.

• Participate in online and in-person meetings, creative sessions, and collaborative planning.

• Contribute to event preparation, including rehearsals, exhibitions, workshops, and community gatherings.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity.

• Punctual, reliable, and detail-oriented.

• Clear written and verbal communication skills; professional etiquette.

• Ability to multitask, take initiative, and collaborate effectively.

• Comfort addressing groups, especially high school students.

• Interest in sexual health and arts-based education.

• Experience with arts education, sexual health education, or community engagement is preferred.

Learning Outcomes

• Understanding of sexual health and HIV/STIs and how arts can impact health outcomes.

• Understanding of arts and theater in addressing global health issues.

• Professional etiquette, communication, and teamwork skills.

• Awareness of unique sexual health challenges in local and global communities.

Nature of Internship

Community Engagement / Arts-Based Practice / Research

Work Environment

Hybrid: staff work both in-person and via Zoom. Typically three in-person days per week with 3–4 team members in the office; interns have opportunities for collaboration and participation in both virtual and in-person activities.

Additional Onboarding for Selected Intern(s)

• Trainings on sexual and reproductive health topics and arts-based methods.

• Orientation to Center, community values, and ethical storytelling practices.

• No IRB registration or CITI training required.

Keywords

Advocacy, Anti-Racism, Community Engagement, Education, Health Equity, Infectious Disease, Mental Health, Sexual/Reproductive Rights, Arts-Based Practice, Creative Practice