To support local organizations in their work against poverty and to give students opportunities to take part in this important work, the Alliance for Civic Engagement funds two internships each summer in which students take active and meaningful roles in the community by working firsthand with poverty-related issues in Addison County.
Summer 2009 Internships
We are pleased to announce the summer 2009 interns will be placed with the John Graham Emergency Shelter and Middlebury Transitional Care Coalition. The internships will take place from June 8 - August 14, 2009.
Summer 2009 Addison County Interns (from left to right):
Carolyn Fox '11 and Beth Foster '11.
Internship Sites
John Graham Emergency Shelter (Vergennes, VT): The John Graham Shelter summer intern will be a key team player in providing food, shelter and hope to Addison County’s homeless population. The Shelter’s goal is to provide residents with comprehensive goal setting, case management, and an array of on-site services including health care, mental health counseling, assistance with housing and employment search and referral. The intern is a key player in this effort and works closely with the Shelter Manger and the Director to coordinate and manage the services. On any given day the intern could be helping a resident prepare a resume, visiting the library with a pregnant mom to research pre-natal health and diet, coordinating a community dinner, organizing games or crafts for the Shelter’s children, or lending an ear to a young couple that have no where else to turn.
Middlebury Transitional Care Coalition (Middlebury, VT): The Middlebury Transitional Care Coalition (MTCC) intern will work to support the Charter House emergency housing program, the transitional housing project at 39 North Pleasant Street, and the Community Suppers/Lunch program. The intern will also work with the United Way to support the Addison County Housing Coalition. Through this program, the intern will come face-to-face with the stresses and challenges faced by individuals/families trying to overcome poverty. The intern will learn the extent and realities of poverty in our area and what is being done to help individuals suffering from poverty to survive in our world. The experience will be motivating, eye-opening, and will compliment the intern’s classroom learning through rich practical experiences. This is a wonderful opportunity for students interested in social work, housing advocacy, and non-profit management.
Questions?
Contact Ashley Calkins, Ex. 3099, jcalkins@middlebury.edu
Summer 2008 Addison County Interns (from left to right):
Brent Allen '11, Ben Weir '11, Chris Mutty '09.5.
Previous Interns
2008:
Brent Allen ('11) worked at the John Graham Emergency Shelter in Vergennes.
Chris Mutty ('09.5) worked at United Way with the Addison County Housing Coalition.
Ben Weir ('11) worked with the Addison County Farmworker Coalition.
2007:
Saila Huusko ('10) worked in a position at Addison County Community Action Group (ACCAG). Click here to watch Saila's presentation on her internship experience.
Christy Martenson ('08) worked at the John Graham Emergency Shelter in Vergennes. Click here to watch Christy's presentation on her internship experience.
2006:
Vijay Chowdhari ('09) worked at the Family Services Division of the Department for Children and Families in Middlebury. Vijay reflects on his experience, "Students need to understand the value of volunteering our services not in the time we spent doing great things but in those occasions where we cement relations with the community itself."
Alex Hall ('08) worked at the John Graham Emergency Shelter in Vergennes.