SUMMER 2022 APPLICATIONS OPEN - Applications accepted until 11:59pm March 25, 2022 - Vassar College ...
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SUMMER 2022
APPLICATIONS OPEN
Applications accepted until 11:59pm March 25, 2022
Now in its 24th year, the Community Fellows program is a unique partnership between
Vassar College and local non-profit and governmental agencies.
Community organizations in Poughkeepsie and the greater Poughkeepsie area are invited to
submit project proposals that address pressing issues relevant to their organizations.
Students choose organizations and projects that align with their learning goals and work in
partnership with the local organization to further these learning goals and to work on other
co-created projects. Students are given a stipend by the college to work in partnership with
organizations for nine weeks over the summer. This is a highly competitive program for
students and presents an exciting educational opportunity for them to gain more in-depth
experience with a community partner and learn from them.
The Community Fellows Program upholds the college’s mission by engaging students and
community partners in the following ways:
Providing students with an opportunity to experience meaningful work in non-profit and
governmental sectors.
Supporting capacity building with community partners by responding to community
needs.
Investing in the future of our community through public scholarship and civic
engagement.
Enhancing the relevance of a liberal arts education to a purposeful life.
Click here to learn more about the program.
Trolley Barn Community
Engagement Intern
(in-person position preferred)
Organization Description: Position Description:
The Art Effect empowers young people to develop their The Art Effect empowers youth to develop their creative voices to shape their futures and bring about
creative voice to shape their futures and bring about positive social change. Based in Poughkeepsie, The Art Effect helps children and adults throughout
positive social change. The Art Effect helps youth Dutchess County with a focus on youth ages 11-24 in the City of Poughkeepsie, explore, experience,
explore, experience, and excel in the arts, introducing and excel in the arts to introduce them to visual arts and media, giving them the opportunity to
develop real skills in these fields, and guide them towards achieving their academic and career goals.
them to visual arts and media, giving them the
opportunity to develop real skills in these fields, and The Trolley Barn Community Engagement student will help lead community outreach and
guiding them towards achieving their academic and curatorial projects as part of The Art Effect’s work to establish the Youth Arts
career goals. We believe that the arts have the power to Empowerment Zone (YAEZ) in the area around the Trolley Barn at 489 Main Street.
create a more vibrant, caring, and sustainable world led The student will collaborate with a cohort of summer youth employees with a focus on
by a generation of youth who value creative thinking, relationship building in Poughkeepsie’s Spanish-speaking communities and preparation for a
traveling exhibition of textiles from Oaxaca, Mexico, scheduled to open in the Trolley Barn
diverse voices, and stronger connections between all Gallery in late July 2022. Due to the nature of this work, Spanish language experience is
people. The Art Effect directly serves over 2,000 young highly preferred.
people throughout the Hudson Valley each year.
Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:
Mentorship Opportunities Lead 3-5 youth in developing a strategy, schedule, and tactics for relationship building in
from Organization: Spanish-speaking populations in the Middle Main neighborhood. A major objective of this
Reporting directly to the Trolley Barn Gallery work is to promote the Oaxacan textile exhibition and other events in the YAEZ, especially
Director, the Community Fellow will be part of The the PKX Youth Arts Festival in September 2022.
Art Effect’s dedicated, experienced, and dynamic Implement community engagement activities with youth. This may include: creation and
Trolley Barn Gallery staff. The Intern will meet distribution of informational material about the exhibition and The Art Effect’s presence at
weekly with the Trolley Barn Gallery Director and the Trolley Barn, making presentations, and attending or tabling at community events.
alongside the Curatorial and Communications Assist in planning and installation of the Oaxacan textile exhibition.
Assistant and the Trolley Barn Fellow.
Specific Skills/Experience Required:
Previous Community Fellow Strong interpersonal, communication, and writing skills. Spanish language experience
Experiences: preferred.
In the past, Community Fellows have been dedicated to Passion for working with youth and diverse populations.
The Art Effect’s MADLab (Media/Art/Design Lab) Interest and/or experience in art, urban studies, education, collaboration, and/or
summer workforce youth program as it hires and trains community relationship building.
local youth to produce a collaborative, interactive public Ideal candidates should be comfortable communicating with all ages, organized, motivated,
art installation in downtown Poughkeepsie, NY. The
curious, and unafraid to step up, step in, engage with others, ask questions, and remain
summer fellow assisted in the development,
implementation, and assessment of media, arts, and patient and flexible in fluid program settings.
design based curricula and programming for youth, as
well as maintained and catalogued studio materials and
equipment. The fellow also functioned as a classroom
aide and as an on-site arts assistant for the Additional Requirements
construction/installation of the program’s seasonal
public art installation. All interns at The Art Effect complete an orientation session which includes sexual
harassment training prior to beginning their work.
A driver’s license and car is helpful but not required. Parking is free and will be provided on
site.
Time Commitment:
Any evening or weekend hours will be scheduled well in advance and built into the students
total time commitment.
APPLY HERE
Community Outreach and
Summer Youth Coordinator
(in-person position)
Organization Description: Position Description:
The mission of Celebrating the African Spirit is to The summer will be a busy time for CAS, bookended by Juneteenth and by Frederick Douglass
acknowledge, articulate, research and commemorate the Day in August. Yet the centerpiece of CAS's summer work will again be our intensive Summer
lives of enslaved Africans in Poughkeepsie, New York. Youth Program. CAS recognizes the importance of educating others about Poughkeepsie’s
history of enslaved Africans and their descendants. Last summer, we piloted a two-and-a-half-
Our work is rooted in the reality that slavery existed in week program to learn with four Poughkeepsie high schoolers about these stories, and the
the MidHudson Region, and in Poughkeepsie from the voices that have gone unheard in our community. This summer we plan to revise the program
earliest days, and enslaved adults and children were somewhat and to increase the number of high school students to between 8 and 12.
major contributors to the growth of what is now the City
of Poughkeepsie and the Mid-Hudson Region. The works, The 2021 program was built for students of the diverse Poughkeepsie community to learn
language and traditions of Africans, both enslaved and more about where they come from. By the end of this program, participants became grounded
free, are part of the legacy, which is American history, in historical research and worked with local historians, graphic designers & printers to develop
and should be taught to, and treasured by, all visual memorials - posters. At the end of the summer sessions, the posters were displayed in
Americans. This lack of knowledge contributes to downtown Poughkeepsie with a celebratory reception to show their work.
ongoing denial regarding the consequences of centuries
of slavery, our violent and racist past, and the
pervasiveness of racism and inequality in America today.
Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:
Last summer, two terrific Vassar summer Community Fellows were critical to this program,
assisting with outreach and the application forms, designing materials and co-designing the
Mentorship Opportunities syllabus, and maintaining close relationships with the high school student participants. Now
from Organization: that we have a model in place, this summer's CF will co-coordinate implementing the
The student will be mentored primarily by Ms. process and being key to the functioning of the program and its many dimensions. Last
summer, students met in different locations, including the historic Clinton House in
McGill and Prof. Hite
downtown Poughkeepsie, the Media Classroom of the Vassar library, and Vassar's Loeb
Center. The two-week program included:
Presentations by The Dutchess County Historical Society, The Mid-Hudson Anti-Slavery
Time Commitment: Project, DNAWorks of Fort Worth, TX, MASS Design, Colloqate Design of the New
Occassional weekend and evening hours for Orleans Paper Monuments Project and other CAS members;
events, meetings. Walking tour of Poughkeepsie from slowPOK members Susan Grove, Kafui Attoh, and
Muriel Horowitz;
Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center Tour of the Hudson Valley History Reimagined Exhibit
as well as a drawing/education workshop; and
Workshops focusing on art-making, collaging, design, and graphic design concepts using
Previous Community Fellow Adobe Illustrator for students to design and create their poster memorials.
Experiences: CAS learned a great deal from the pilot program and plans to have a second go at it this
summer, paring down the heavy load of presentations while increasing the hands-on
"As last summer's posters by Asho Ashittey and Ariana
Sierra-Chacón attest, the two CFs were were afforded a student work
busy, vibrant summer experience, even as one student
worked remotely. CAS learned a lot from the CFs, and we
co-navigated the summer together! The two students were
absolutely essential to our summer program and events, we Specific Skills/Experience Required:
could not have done what we did without them."
People skills, including experience with both K-12 and older generations of folks
Comfortability and ease with a Black-led and centered, multiracial, multi-class, multi-
generational community organization and priorities
Communications, technical, and social media skills
Artistic/design ability
APPLY HERE
Arts Advancement Fellow
(in-person position preferred)
Organization Description: Position Description:
The City of Poughkeepsie Public Arts Commission's duty The student would assist the Public Arts Commission achieve its mission by promoting arts and
is to expand community awareness and advocate for the cultural events in Poughkeepsie, assessing methods of community engagement, and creating a
role and value of arts and culture in civic life. Taking into report of arts nonprofits. Areas that the student could assist in:
account the unique assets of the City of Poughkeepsie Marketing/Communications:
along with the successes and achievements of related There are many arts related events in Poughkeepsie during the summer. The student would
revitalization efforts in other cities around the country; assist with marketing and communications for these events through social media and
the commission will work to strengthen the local community outreach.
economy by gaining a greater regional and national Photography:
recognition, advancing the City as an "arts destination" Taking and cataloging photos of murals, gallery facades, and stained glass in Poughkeepsie
and engage public art as a major attraction for artists, to add to the PAC website and map.
cultural tourism and economic development. The
Research:
Commission is to advise the City on issues relating to the
Researching arts nonprofits to create a framework for a potential arts nonprofit body in
arts; including the development, implementation,
Poughkeepsie.
evaluation, and potential modification of the City's art
and culture policies, legislation, programs and services
with an aim of fostering a wide range of arts and cultural
offerings that engage a diverse public audience in the Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:
City of Poughkeepsie.
Keeping up to date with artist events, gallery exhibitions, and other cultural events in the
area
Outreach to artists and galleries
Mentorship Opportunities Creating social media graphics and posting on social media
Updating the pkgoarts wix website and map
from Organization: Cataloging photographs
The Chair of the Public Arts Commission will mentor Researching arts non-profits to help create a proposal for an arts non-profit organization in
the student. The student will have opportunities to Poughkeepsie
meet local artists, gallery owners, and creatives to get The student is encouraged to attend the arts-related events in the City of Poughkeepsie
a better sense of the arts scene in Poughkeepsie. during the summer, such as Upstate Art Weekend
Previous Community Fellow Time Commitment:
The student will be encouraged to attend community events that might fall outside
Experiences:
of traditional work hours.
"In the past, students have done CEL with the PAC.
Students have helped tremendously with building a body
of research surrounding public art policy. Additionally,
previous students that have helped with social media
and marketing have provided more capacity for this Specific Skills/Experience Required:
organization and a chance for more people to have
access to the arts." An interest in public arts
Understanding of social media platforms and experience creating infographics, posts with
software like Canva/InDesign
Research skills
Experience generating proposals
Comfortable attending and engaging in public events
Photography skills are a plus
Spanish speaking skills are a plus
APPLY HERE
Program Support
(in-person position preferred)
Organization Description: Position Description:
DAY ONE Early Learning Community is a non-profit
located in the city of Poughkeepsie. Our mission is In addition to the general support of DAY ONE Early Learning Community, the Program
dedicated to creating the best learning opportunities for Support position has the potential to work in the following areas:
young children in New York State by providing state-of-
the-art training for early childhood teachers. As part of Research and Curriculum Development
our ecosystem for building high quality early childhood The student would build upon the research that Community-Engaged Learning students
education, we provide programs for parents to have conducted in Spring 2022
access to knowledge, resources and respect for their Catalog the DAY ONE Children’s library
hopes for their children and families. Link children’s book to the Teaching Apprenticeship Program curriculum
This is an opportunity to see a curriculum being developed and implemented, the essential
aspects of organization and detail in curriculum
Learn more about DOELC and the local community!
Mentorship Opportunities Summer Camp Program
Collaborate and support the work of community partners
from Organization: Support literacy activities through arts and drama
The student will receive mentorship from staff at Assist with administrative tasks related to the summer camp
DAY ONE, in addition to mentorship from exposure
to a large community project carried out by There are also opportunities for the student to work on social media and marketing across
Poughkeepsie non-profits and stakeholders like the platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
35 Montgomery Community Coalition, the YOU, and
the Poughkeepsie Children's Cabinet.
Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:
Carry out lessons and activities related to literacy
Time Commitment: Research topics around public policy and social justice through an early childhood
education lens
The student will be encouraged to attend Organize research through summaries, editing, formatting, and presentations
community events that might fall outside of Actively participate in the summer camp program (if available)
traditional work hours. Administrative tasks such as supply management, attendance, etc.
Specific Skills/Experience Required:
Previous Community Fellow
Experiences: An interest in early childhood education
Students have previously participated in Community- Experience working with young children
Engaged Learning opportunities with Day One Early Spanish language skills are a plus, but not required
Learning Community in projects ranging from social Maturity, responsibility and reliability are important
media to curriculum development.
Ability to adhere to confidentiality requirements
Ability to work both independently and with a team
Attention to detail
Attention to professional presentation
APPLY HERE
Organizing Intern
(remote or in-person position)
Organization Description: Position Description:
For the Many is building a grassroots movement of For the Many is a growing organization which requires a high level of flexibility of both its staff
everyday people to transform New York so it works for and interns. Our summer interns are expected to participate in all areas of our work from
all of us. For too long, greedy corporations, billionaires, community engagement to communications to fundraising. This presents an opportunity for
and political elites have rigged our country to work people to get to know the ins and outs of a grassroots organization fighting for social change.
against us. We are coming together across race and age
This summer will be a busy one as we prepare for our ambitious fundraising drive to raise
to fight for laws and win elections that put the power
$250k in one week, community engagement to increase support of our progressive campaigns,
back in our hands and create lasting change. and the development of our volunteer organizing. Interns will get to learn fundamental skills of
Our work currently revolves around campaigns for organizing for change, participate in political development, and be a critical part of one of the
fastest-growing organizations in the Hudson Valley.
housing justice, healthcare justice, climate justice,
immigration justice, and criminal justice at the local and
state level.
Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:
Mentorship Opportunities Community Engagement:
from Organization: Deep canvassing, making phone calls and sending texts to community members to engage
with them around our issue areas of healthcare, housing, immigration, and energy justice.
The student will work directly with our Campus Plugging supportive community members into our organization and campaign work. Also
Organizer, Molly, who will provide them with 1-1 making calls and texts for progressive electoral campaigns centering those same issues.
training and support around their different intern
Recruiting and training volunteers to assist with community engagement tasks.
responsibilities.
Intern Management:
Additionally, the community fellows themselves will Helping to plan and facilitate intern shifts. Building relationships with interns through 1-1
act as mentors to their fellow interns and volunteers. check ins (providing/receiving feedback, facilitating skills assessments, practicing
They will help to provide training and 1-1 recruitment/community engagement calls, etc.) Assisting campus organizer with overall intern
management of both interns and volunteers. program management.
Volunteer Organizing:
Planning and facilitating events, meetings, and trainings for volunteers. Building relationships
with potential volunteers through one-to-one conversations. Assisting organizers and base-
Previous Community Fellow building activities.
Experiences: Grassroots Fundraising:
Participating in our Summer Fundraiser by asking personal networks to donate. Making phone
"In 2021, Chris, our fellow, helped us run our entirely
calls to thank donors for contributing to our Fundraiser. Assist with daily office tasks including
remote intern/volunteer program. He managed two
data entry.
community engagement coaches who themselves
managed 4-5 community engagement interns. He also Miscellaneous:
led our volunteer recruitment team, organizing, Completing administrative and communications tasks as needed. Contributing to research
managing, and recruiting folks to volunteer textbanks projects as needed.
and phonebanks. Chris also participated in our summer
fundraising drive where we raised $250,000 in one
week. He helped make over 60,000 calls to help
progressives win 7 local competitive primaries and help
win Good Cause eviction laws in three separate cities
Specific Skills/Experience Required:
(Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, and Kingston). Chris also Commitment to social justice and For the Many’s mission
personally organized and facilitated textbanking shifts to Willingness to work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends
contact 90,000 Dutchess County residents in order to High level of flexibility to work on a variety of tasks and drive to learn new skills
canvass them about what issues most concerned them." Commitment to lean into discomfort and use challenges as opportunities for growth
Consistency in bringing a problem-solving orientation and creativity to shifting challenges and
responsibilities
Strong interpersonal skills, willing to stop and talk to strangers and able to communicate ideas
Time Commitment: to different audiences
Due to the nature of our work (organizing folks outside of Initiative to bring the high level of energy and attention to detail to all aspects of work
their workdays) many shifts occur on weekday evenings (4 Ability to work independently, as a part of a team, and/or with close supervision
pm - 8 pm) and sometimes for a few hours on the weekends.
Experience managing interns/volunteers is a significant plus
Having previously interned with the organization is a significant plus
APPLY HERE
Queer for Justice Intern
(can be conducted remotely)
Organization Description: Position Description:
The Newburgh LGBTQ+ Center is a hub for resources, The ideal candidate would have or be interested in developing an anti-oppressive
education, community building, advocacy, and lens through multimedia learning experiences through a mix of supervised and self
organizing for more resilient networks. A grassroots instructed activities, be required to work collaboratively within and amongst teams,
organization committed to addressing the barriers that self manage work assignments and activities, and be able to have good organizational
are created by racial, social, and economic injustices, skills, clear and effective written and verbal communication, be able to represent the
centering people of color and our allies by creating organization in coalition and meeting spaces. The focus around the fellowship work
visibility and reclaiming power. One of our five focus will be event planning for The Organization Annual event The Remembrance of
areas is Community Safety and Prison Abolition; we will Attica.
be looking for interns for our Queer Justice Committee.
Queers for Justice committee made up of queer and Learning Outcomes:
trans, Black + Brown folks, and white allies. Members of
our group have directly experienced the harmful impacts Increased knowledge of LGBTQ+ cultural competency
of the carceral system in our lives and intersecting Bridging the gap within intersecting communities
communities. The committee addresses the disparity Increased knowledge of the intersecting impacts of LGBTQ+ identity and race
experienced by people of color through over-policing, the Somatic awareness of personal bias
criminal justice system, and incarceration of LGBTQ+ Engage community members who are affected by systems of oppression
identified people. Currently, we act as an advocate for Engage in community service providers
incarcerated and systems impacted LGBTQ+ identified Engage with elected officials across the Mid Hudson valley
community members. We connect community members Learn the administrative aspects of community organizing
to legal resources; we provide moral support, political Learn an embodied facilitating style
education and leadership development, and community
connection to take action.
Mentorship Opportunities
from Organization: Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:
Be able to work independently
The candidate would work on a 1:1 basis with the
core community organizers using a relational model Be able to work from an intersectional feminist lens framework.
for community organizing and a human-based design Clear communication, with proficiency in virtual platforms:
approach to problem-solving. Slack, Google platforms, and Zoom.
Sending email on behalf of the Organization.
Co-facilitate small groups.
Represent the Organization in coalition meetings. Note-taking, and Company email
Previous Community Fellow management.
Experiences:
“During the Fall semester of 2020. We had four interns
part of our research team their work was around Voting
information and Budget breakdowns across the Mid-
Hudson Valley. One intern doing content for social
media around social justice campaigns the Newburgh
LGBTQ+ Center is fighting for.” Specific Skills/Experience Required:
Be able to work independently.
Be able to commit to Primarily Monday to Friday and some weekends.
Be able to work from an intersectional feminist lens framework.
Time Commitment: Clear communication, with proficiency in virtual platforms: Slack, Google platforms, and
Primarily Monday to Friday and some weekends. Zoom.
APPLY HERE
TMG Summer Internship
Program
(can be conducted virtually)
Organization Description: Position Description:
We believe those who are stirred awake at 3 a.m. by the The Macfarlan Group seeks to place two paid interns into two chosen nonprofits:
desire to make the world better deserve unlimited Persist Nashville and the Nashville Entrepreneur Center.
support. Support that calls on the expertise and
experience of others to help them disrupt the status quo
This is our second year working with the Nashville Entrepreneur Center and the third year
– to challenge what is – to create solutions to issues
with Persist Nashville.
including hunger, homelessness, education disparities,
justice inequities, addiction, incarceration, issues of
Each opportunity provides a comprehensive hands-on experience in the work of the
mental health, and gender persecution. Our core values
are Integrity, Inclusion, and Innovation. We serve
organizations including, but not limited to:
organizations in the nonprofit / social impact ecosystem
through strategic planning, leadership development, and Attending leadership meetings
maximizing mission delivery. We are committed to Supporting programming efforts
bringing new talent to the ecosystem with the Providing some analysis to qualitative and quantitative data
experiences and expertise they posses to create solutions
to generations old worldwide injustices. The work is meaningful and helpful to the interns' career discovery work as they begin to
consider what to do after graduation from Vassar. The Macfarlan Group set up this
summer internship program by funding each student to provide as much access as possible
to all Vassar students interested in participating in a summer internship. It is our honor to
introduce Vassar students to the nonprofit/social impact ecosystem in Nashville AND
Mentorship Opportunities introduce Nashville to our amazing Vassar students.
from Organization:
All of the leadership in both of the organizations are
focused on providing the best summer internship
experience a student could image. Both organizations
know the value of surrounding the interns with a
variety of mentors to share their experiences as well
as field questions the interns may have about the
nonprofit/social impact sector as a career.
Specific Skills/Experience Required:
Excellent work ethic
Ability to collaborate
Time Commitment: Flexibility in the scope of work
Fellows should expect to be available during the Desire to learn
Desire to contribute
organization’s work hours.
Ability to use your singular talents to support the delivery of the mission of each of the
organizations
Previous Community Fellow
Experiences: Additional Requirements
"This is our third year working with the A background check may be necessary for Persist Nashville.
Community Fellows program. The Fellows left
excellent impressions with the organizations we
partner with for this summer program. Both
organizations asked to partner with The
APPLY HERE
Macfarlan Group at the end of last summer to
ensure a Vassar summer intern would be a part
of their organization again."
Garden Education Assistant
(in-person position preferred)
Organization Description: Position Description:
Poughkeepsie Farm Project is a member- supported The main projects a fellow will assist with are leading farm visits for
farm with the mission to cultivate a just and
elementary students, facilitating other garden-based education sessions and
sustainable food system in the Mid-Hudson Valley. We
grow fresh vegetables and fruit for our CSA, train
culinary workshops for students and the broader community, garden
future farmers, provide hands-on educational programs maintenance, farm work, and supporting workshops and other special events.
on the farm and in the Poughkeepsie City School
District, and improve access to healthy, locally-grown
food.
Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:
Mentorship Opportunities Leading farm visits and garden- based education sessions for students.
from Organization: Preparing recipe ingredients for education programs.
Creation of educational materials such as handouts, content for the
The student will work side by side with staff
website and social. media posts, and other communications support.
from the education team and farm crew and
Maintaining the education gardens, including our meditation herb
receive an orientation. The Assistant Farm
Manager will also provide regular meetings
garden and seed garden.
and check ins and other professional Assisting in curriculum development and workshops about seed saving
development to support their projects, as and culturally relevant crops in the gardens.
appropriate. Assisting the farm crew as needed with harvesting, weeding and other
farm related tasks.
Previous Community Fellow
Experiences: Specific Skills/Experience Required:
"Leading farm visits, workshops and garden Interest in organic gardening and farming.
programming and working with the farm crew. Experience working with youth.
Development of a ArcGis storymap about our Students will need to be able to get to the farm on their own, but it is walking
Food Share program, recipe development, distance from Vassar. There is a parking lot, and we can reimburse mileage for
creating educational videos about gardening off site travel, if they drive for the position.
topics, and other online resources about local
produce items."
Time Commitment:
Fellows should expect to be available during the organization’s work
hours.
There may be optional weekend or evening hours.
APPLY HERE
Photo credit: https://www.farmproject.org/
Nutrition Project Assistant
(in-person position, if allowable due to COVID-19)
Organization Description: Position Description:
Poughkeepsie Mothers Project is a volunteer The Community Fellows position for Summer 2022 will build on previous Summer Fellow projects in
developing a nutrition program for prenatal, postpartum, and other women’s health patients. Sun
community organization, supporting self-
River Health patients are uninsured or underinsured, with health problems caused or affected by
determination for mothers through education,
issues of poverty, institutionalized racism, institutionalized misogyny, and other social justice issues.
wellness, and community support; because mothers
All the project goals are based on understanding the effects of these issues on women’s health.
are creating the future of our world. We work with
Several notes on context for this project:
patients of Sun River Health, a federally qualified
healthcare organization, with two community health This project is for the purpose of taking care of real women, with real problems, busy lives,
centers in Poughkeepsie. and limited finances, who want to have a healthy pregnancy, or to feel well if they aren't
pregnant. This is not a research project. There are millions of pages of nutrition
information available, much of it conflicting. We need to interpret, simplify, and apply the
Mentorship Opportunities information in a useful way.
We are taking an integrative medicine approach to health and nutrition, based on the fact
from Organization: that hormonal problems are related to metabolic problems, which are all related to a
The student will be mentored by a certified person's diet and nutrition. Women's health problems, including PMS, menstrual problems,
nurse midwife with 20 years of experience anxiety and depression, obesity, cancer, chronic infections, autoimmune conditions,
working at community health centers. The infertility, and pregnancy complications including gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, are
student will have the opportunity to interact all affected by a woman's diet and nutrition.
with patients in the women's health medical We are considering applied nutrition in the context of social justice implications. Two major
system, if they are able to work in person in issues are the effects of poverty on access to healthy foods, and the health effects of
downtown Poughkeepsie. exposure to environmental toxins. Women and children are particularly affected by
environmental toxins, as are people living in poverty.
Our time-limited and profit driven healthcare system is particularly unsuited to providing
Previous Community patient education. These limitations particularly affect the provision of integrative
Fellows Experience: healthcare and nutritional information and support.
The non-profit grant system is particularly unsuited to interacting with the medical system,
"We have worked with Community Fellows three
previous summers. The students developed educational due to liability and documentation issues.
materials for Sun River women's health patients on
topics including nutrition, as well as prenatal and
postpartum care. They developed an "e-cookbook" based
on healthy items available from the WIC program. They
Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:
provided individual education to Sun River patients Develop several brief, simple nutritional handouts for women, based on their particular health
when they were able to come in person to the issue (pregnancy, breastfeeding, menstrual problems, PCOS, other gynecological health
community health centers. I have had very good problems).
experiences with the Summer Fellows students, and Develop a system for providing this extra education to women in a time limited medical
would like the opportunity to participate in the program practice, particularly during COVID restrictions on group meetings or interactions.
again." Develop a program for providing basic healthy food items, as well as basic nutritional
supplements for women’s health patients. This program will be based on cooperation with
Read past Community Fellows Nutrition Booklet here! local downtown Poughkeepsie food markets and pharmacies.
Specific Skills/Experience Required:
An interest in women's health and social justice issues.
Time Commitment:
Fellows should expect to be available during the organization’s work hours.
APPLY HEREFellowship in Horticulture
(in-person position)
Organization Description: Position Description:
Roosevelt Vanderbilt NHS is part of the National Park
The Fellowship in Horticulture at the Roosevelt Vanderbilt NHS is for students
Service. It includes The Home of Franklin D Roosevelt, interested in horticulture and cultural landscapes as a means of connecting the public
The Home of Eleanor Roosevelt, The Vanderbilt Mansion to history, nature and recreation. The fellow will support the horticulture team in
and the 800 acres of cultural landscapes in which these garden projects, and community outreach through our volunteer and community
properties are set. As a National Park, it belongs to all partner programs, educational programs, interpretation of gardens and landscapes
Americans and is preservation, education and recreation and community engagement events and activities. After an orientation period of two
focused for the benefit of our community and visitors weeks, the Fellow will work with the Horticulture team to identify a project that aligns
the student's interests with a need or needs in the horticulture program. Appropriate
from all over the country and the world.
support for the project will be arranged and the student will be the lead in the
planning and execution of the project. Project interest areas include, but are not
limited to: horticulture, historic research, community education, food security,
program communications, landscape and garden interpretation.
Mentorship Opportunities
from Organization:
The student will work directly with the head
gardeners on the NPS staff. If the project requires
subject matter expertise in another area - such as
Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:
interpretation, research or curatorial work, the The student will be part of the small horticulture team in the park and take an
appropriate park staff will be identified to support
the intern in their work. active, daily role in all aspects of the gardens.
Interest in learning about horticulture itself is important because summer is a
Time Commitment: busy, and often challenging, season in our gardens. This work will directly engage
The student will not be required to work weekends or the student with our strong community volunteer program and provide
evenings. As a National Park, weekends and evenings opportunities for leadership as the student gains knowledge and confidence.
can present unique opportunities for accomplishing
program goals, but they will be optional for the
student and their schedule would be adjusted Interacting with park visitors provides another opportunity for community
accordingly.
engagement as well as a means for analyzing the impact of our work and
identifying areas to improve. The student identified project will provide an
opportunity to address a programmatic need that aligns with the student's
Previous Community Fellow interests and talents.
Experiences:
"We had a Community Fellow in horticulture in 2021. It
was a wonderful addition to our program and was
mutually enjoyed by the student, the horticulture staff Specific Skills/Experience Required:
and the community members who worked with the
student. The Fellow identified a project in garden Keen interest in horticulture
interpretation that resulted in an audio tour of the Community engagement and visitor experience in the park
Roosevelt Home vegetable garden, an interpretive article Ability to work outdoors primarily in all weather through the summer
for the park website on this garden, and plans for an Interest in history, story telling and nature are all beneficial to this work
informational kiosk for a small space garden exhibit
which is designed to engage visitors in easy, low cost
ways to get started growing their own food. In addition,
she brought energy, enthusiasm and curiosity to the
garden work and contributed to the success of the Additional Requirements
displays and the growing season. She stepped into the The student will need to be able to commute to the park on their own.
role of educator when we had students visiting her The work does not require a personal vehicle for work itself, so there is no mileage
project area, and she was able to explore some different
leadership and management styles in gardens reimbursement.
throughout the park." A driver's license is required to use the Horticulture Dept. vehicle.
Listen to the Community Fellow's audio tour here!
APPLY HEREEssential Item Coordinator
(in-person position)
Organization Description: Position Description:
The United Way fights for the Health The Essential Item Coordinator will:
Education and Financial Stability of every
Work to increase capacity for our essential item program which
person in our community. We invest in provides new donated items to low income households, mostly
community programs that keep survivors and individuals experiencing homelessness.
households safe and secure. We help 1 in
4 people in our community each year Provide leadership and support for our Diaper Dive (last year we
secured 100k!) and School Supply Drive.
through a myriad of community supports
and partnerships. The majority are low Work with agencies and community partners to enhance this
income households, primarily women and program and increase awareness.
children. Organize, inventory and value the essential items.
Create marketing and communications to advance program.
Provide leadership and support at community Day of Sharing
Events.
Mentorship Opportunities
from Organization:
Melissa Clark, Senior Director of
Community Impact, will provide
Specific Skills/Experience Required:
mentorship through one on one meetings,
work with the student on an individualized We are seeking a highly organized, dedicated individual who
career plan and include the student in all wants to give back to their community!
meetings and trainings that will benefit
their professional development.
Additional Requirements
Car is recommended, there is parking in the lot and
Previous Community- mileage reimbursement offered.
Engaged Learning
Experiences:
"We have hosted [community-engaged
learning] students in the past, an incredible Time Commitment:
opportunity for our organization." The student should be available during the working hours of the
organization.
APPLY HEREYou can also read
