Carol joined our team as a Development Intern this September 2020 and will be working to support Development this semester. Get to know Carol!
In what neighborhood do you live?
Fredonia, NY
How did you first become connected to The LP, or hear about The LP?
I learned about The LP during my time as a DIAL intern this past summer with Americans for the Arts. One of the program supervisors, Ami, shared the development intern notice with our cohort. At the time, all I knew was that they were “an amazing POC led organization.” I was immediately intrigued and began following the organization on Instagram to find out more about them.
What attracted you to The LP? How does working here relate to your professional goals?
I was initially attracted to The LP because it is a POC centered arts organization. I am so grateful for how the arts has affected my life and for the opportunities it has provided me. I know I want to continue to build spaces for others to express themselves and learn about the arts. I plan on going to graduate school to study arts administration in hopes of one day working for an arts organization full time but I think there is no better teacher than actual experience so I can’t wait to learn all I can during my time with The LP.
Do you have your own creative practice? If so, tell us more!
I love crafting and making things with my hands. Whether that’s painting a canvas, making a tie blanket, or trying to make DIY soap. I like to keep busy and find new ways of expressing myself! My motto is, “You never know what you can do until you do!”
Can you tell us about an artist or project that has inspired you?
One piece of art that inspires me is Alfredo Jaar’s Ellis Island, 2024. This piece depicts Ellis Island, but instead of it being a historical site, the artist envisions it as it might appear in 2024, completely transformed into a park with no traces of what exists there today. Just like the island changes from what it once was, the values represented by Ellis Island are vanishing before our eyes.
What is your favorite… film? …album? …food?
My favorite film is either Spiderman: Homecoming or Tangled. Currently, my favorite album is These Two Windows by Alec Benjamin. My favorite food is tacos (Al pastor tacos are my favorite but any taco is amazing) or my mom’s homemade ceviche.
Where do you do your laundry?
I do my laundry in my dorm laundry room!
In your opinion, why does art matter?
I think that the arts matter because it helps us to see the world through a different lens. We’re able to leave our reality and immerse ourselves in another place, time, or culture. Art helps us to connect with others, it’s a universal language of understanding when words aren’t enough. The arts outlive us as artists. They are an imprint we leave for future generations of how the world was or how the world could be.
What LP value do you most relate to and why?
Be Propelled By Love. This value is most relatable to me because it is how I strive to live my life each and every day. The world we live in today is constantly filled with hatred and negativity. Sometimes that can overwhelm you and it can be easy to think that there is no good left. I like to think that by showing kindness and compassion whenever I can, it can ignite a light in even the darkest of times.
Carol Loja (she/her) is a senior at The State University of New York at Fredonia majoring in Business Administration-Management with a minor in Arts Administration. A proud Ecuadorian-American she discovered her passion for the arts in high school through stage management. She currently serves as the President for her school’s chapter of the American Society for Quality, Secretary for her school’s branch of the American Cancer Society, and is an Executive Board member for her sorority, Sigma Gamma Phi. Carol hopes to help expand the representation of traditionally marginalized groups in the arts, particularly in musical theater. Though she currently resides in Western New York she grew up in Jamaica, Queens surrounded by a diverse community that helped to shape her view on the world. She can’t wait to learn more about the arts and explore the social change the arts can create!