During the 2026 Giving Challenge season, SPAACES had the pleasure of participating in a rewarding internship partnership through The Patterson Foundation.

We were fortunate to work with Rafiat Olamide Dabiri, a student at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, who oversaw SPAACES’ social media campaign surrounding our participation in the 2026 Giving Challenge.

From the very beginning, Rafiat brought enthusiasm, curiosity, and a genuine willingness to learn. Although she was new to the nonprofit contemporary arts world, she quickly adapted to the pace and spirit of what we do at SPAACES.

From December 2025 through May 2026, Rafiat coordinated and organized a social media campaign that highlighted our artists, collaborations, performances, exhibitions, and community programming connected to the Giving Challenge.

She approached every task with professionalism and openness. What stood out most was her willingness to listen, evolve, and respond thoughtfully to feedback. Social media for an arts organization is not simply about posting content. It requires understanding artists, audiences, color, design, tone, timing, collaboration, and the larger mission behind the work. Rafiat embraced those complexities with care and dedication.

Through weekly meetings and ongoing conversations, it was exciting to watch her confidence and understanding grow.

At the same time, SPAACES benefited greatly from her digital communication skills, organization, and consistency. Her support helped us maintain strong visibility throughout the campaign while better communicating the energy behind our programming. Partnerships like this remind me how valuable cross-disciplinary learning can be.

The nonprofit arts world has much to gain from young professionals entering the field with fresh perspectives and adaptability. Likewise, there is tremendous value in students experiencing firsthand how grassroots arts organizations operate and serve their communities.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this partnership was the exchange itself.

Rafiat learned about artist-centered nonprofit work, while SPAACES benefited from her insight, commitment, and enthusiasm.

The Giving Challenge is always an intense and meaningful season for our organization. Having Rafiat as part of that process made the experience even stronger.

We are deeply grateful to The Patterson Foundation for helping make this partnership possible.

And we are incredibly thankful to Rafiat for all of her hard work, positivity, and dedication throughout the internship!