The Center for Service and Social Action sponsors the following academic internships focused on engaging the realities and complexities of poverty and homelessness in the city of Cleveland. These funded internship opportunities are made possible through the generosity of donors. Internships are open to undergraduate and graduate students.
I. Homelessness and Advocacy Internships: 2 paid internships will be awarded. Three academic internships will enable qualified students who are committed to supporting and advocating for those who are homeless to work with a local social service agency that specializes in outreach to the homeless and advocacy work to address the root causes of homelessness. The internship will involve full-time summer work.
Students will design and complete a project in partnership with the agency and its clients. An amount of $1000 will be allocated for pre-approved expenditures related to the project. Additional funds may be applied for to the Office of University Mission and Identity and the Kahl Chair for Entrepreneurship. Completed projects will be presented to the JCU community and partner agency.
II. Advocacy, Solidarity, and Social Change Internships: 7 paid internships will be awarded. Seven internships will enable qualified students to explore the systems and structures behind many of the current social issues of our times. Students will engage kinship at the margins through service, solidarity and social change. Students will be placed with a community organization involved in advocacy work with people living in poverty and on the margins. This 10-week immersive experience will connect hands-on experience with an exploration of the root causes of the social issues the organizations confront. Students will use their internship experience to prepare a research project for the organization.
III. Social Innovation Summer Internships: 3 paid internships will be awarded. Three internships will enable qualified students who are committed to supporting and advocating for social innovation in the Cleveland community by creating, implementing, and assessing entrepreneurial ideas. Students will be placed with a social entrepreneur working for sustainable social change in their community. This 10-week immersive experience will enable students to practice the creativity, customer development, and experimentation necessary for effective social innovation. Students will gain experience in innovation identification and evaluation, design thinking, customer interviewing, and experimentation design and analysis. Students will use their internship experience to prepare a research project for the organization.
Qualifications:
- Full-time John Carroll students
- Preferred minimum number of credits completed prior to internship: 60 for undergraduate students and 15 for graduate students.
- Minimum G.P.A.: 3.0
- Academic and professional interest in social justice and advocacy with a preferred ability to align interests with the Jesuit commitment to solidarity, social justice, and social change.
- Proven record of accompanying those who are living in poverty, marginalized, and/or homeless.
- Demonstrated leadership experience, preferably in social justice and community organization.
- Independent, creative, reliable, and organized.
Internship Details and Guidelines
- The application and internship process will be managed by the Center for Service-Learning and Social Action in collaboration with the Office of Mission & Identity and the Muldoon Center for Entrepreneurship.
- Summer internships last for 10 weeks; vacations should be taken out before or after the internship.
- Students will work for a total of 40 hours per week: 35 hours per week with a specified service agency and 5 hours per week as a cohort participating in discussion and reflection.
- Students will receive a stipend of $4,800 (+$500 for research component).
- Timing of Internships: TBD.
Application Process and Timeline for 2024-2025
- Applications open on November 1, 2024.
- Early Action applications are due on Sunday, December 1, 2024, at midnight.
- Early Action decisions will be announced by Friday, December 13, 2024.
- Regular Decision internship applications are due by Sunday, January 26, 2025, at midnight.
- Regular Decisions applications will be announced by Friday, February 14, 2025.
- Contact Heather Craigie at hcraigie@jcu.edu if you have any questions regarding the application form, personal essay, or letter of recommendation submissions.
- Internships begin from late May to August, specific dates are TBD.
Apply for a 2025 Summer in the City Paid Internship Here
Essay Questions: (Please prepare your answers to the two questions below in a Word document and upload them with your application)
- What are your reasons for wanting to become a Summer Intern? Describe experiences that have led you to this choice. What do you hope to accomplish, what do you hope to give, and what do you hope to gain? (500 word limit)
- Briefly describe the strengths that you bring to this internship experience. (250 word limit)
Start thinking about summer internships by joining us at the JCU Summer in the City Internship Showcase! Hear from past interns about their experiences and learn how to apply - these are paid internships! This year, the Internship Showcase will take place on Wednesday, November 7, 2024, from 6:00 PM-7:30 PM in the Jardine Room.
Let us know you're coming!
Summer in the City Internship Showcase
CSSA sponsors twelve academic internships focused on engaging the realities and complexities of poverty and homelessness in the city of Cleveland. Explore each 2020 Summer Intern's work, placement, and experience.
