The Community Engagement department at Newfields works to develop genuine and mutually beneficial relationships with non-profits across the city. One of Newfields’ closest neighbors, about a mile from Newfields, is the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood.

L to R: Amanda Dietz Brooks (Director of Exhibition & Planning Administration), Madison Adams-Bailey (Community Engagement Summer Intern), and Suni Gooch (Human Resource Specialist) at Catch the Stars Back to School Celebration

The MLK Center strives to engage neighbors to practice radical love and build Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community. Newfields engages with the MLK Center on a consistent basis, attending neighborhood associations at the center, sponsoring the center’s annual block party, and attending the center’s annual fundraiser.

Recently, the Community Engagement department was approached to host an intern from the center’s Career Pathways Program. Newfields hosted intern Madison Adams-Bailey from the beginning of June through the beginning of August 2025. Madison recently graduated from Shortridge High School and is attending Butler University in the Fall to study Psychology. Madison describes her experience interning for Newfields and the MLK Center below.

How did you get connected with the MLK Center?

I became an intern for Newfields through the MLK Center, which has a specific program with Best Buy called the Best Buy Teen Tech Center. Inside the Tech Center is another program for teens, Pathways, run by R’Quiya Ruffin and assisted by Tech Center coordinator Seth Allen and wellness coach Jalen Sultzer. I was enrolled in this program, and through it, I was able to receive the internship position at Newfields. The Pathways program has set me up for real-world situations such as making a resume, going to interviews, learning what to wear for said interviews, getting my headshot taken, and so on. I am forever grateful for the opportunities that the MLK Center has given me.

How would you describe interning at Newfields?

Having a 10+ year age gap with most, if not all, of my coworkers is something I’m not used to. Yet that didn’t stop them from making me feel extremely welcome in this new environment. I have connected with so many people here in ways I didn’t even know were possible. The energy here is amazing—there is never a dull moment—and I want to personally thank Clarence Cannon and Julianne Miller. With their bright, enthusiastic, and welcoming personalities, they lead the Community Engagement team at Newfields, and I interned with them from the beginning of the summer through the end.

The work environment at the museum is exceptionally warm and supportive. The staff are not only knowledgeable and professional but also incredibly kind, compassionate, and welcoming. There’s a strong sense of community and mutual respect, which creates a positive atmosphere where collaboration and creativity thrive. It’s a place where everyone feels valued and encouraged to grow. So, what does working at Newfields mean to me? It means being a part of an unconditionally loving family.

What did you enjoy most about this internship?

To me, what makes this museum different from others is its involvement with the community around it and how much they care about engagement with their partners. I enjoyed the offsite engagements the most. Partially because these events were a lot of fun to participate in but also because of how much we engaged with the community. Whether it was joining the museum for the Pride Parade, chatting with guests at the Indy Juneteenth festival, or handing out water bottles at the Catch the Stars Back to School Celebration, summer was a great time to engage with the community.

While that's the entire point of the department, to engage with the communities around us, this department goes above and beyond when it comes to engagements. I have never seen people so dedicated to making others feel seen and heard before. To be a part of a team that is this influential and caring was such an honor. I was so lucky to have gotten this position and I’ll forever be grateful for all the things I’ve learned while working at Newfields.

Learn more about Community Engagement at Newfields.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Newfields