Category Archives: internship

Apr 25 2013

SummerWorks Internships for 2013

SummerWorks has as its goal to provide internships for 1000 youth this summer, 2013. In its 4th year, the program has evolved into one of the premier youth workforce development programs in the Portland Metro Area.

Here is  what you need to know if you are a youth seeking to apply:

  • You must live in Multnomah or Washington County.
  • You must be between 16-21.
  • Internships last 180 hours, schedules to be determined with employer.
  • Internships are paid.
  • Fill out this application. Applicants are screened according to the online application and selected candidates will be invited to an orientation to learn more about the program and to determine if the candidate is eligible.
  • Not all applicants are accepted into the program. Need and work-readiness both contribute to an applicant’s chances of being placed in an internship.

My workplace has hosted Summer Works (formerly Summer Connect) interns for the last three years. I can tell you that the interns are very well prepared and supported in their jobs. At Multnomah County, they are employed in a wide variety of our programs, from administrative assistants, to SUN school helpers, to library aids, to working in the assessors  office. We really enjoy having the students around!

SummerWorks | Worksystems.

From Smithsonian Latino Center Flickr pool: http://www.flickr.com/photos/88850835@N02/8101014663/in/set-72157631837966763/
Mar 21 2013

Smithsonian Young Ambassador Program for Latino Youth deadline to apply April 12, 2013

Image from Smithsonian Latino Center’s Flickr pool: http://flic.kr/p/dkRPqB

The Smithsonian’s Young Ambassador Program for Latino Youth looks like a fantastic opportunity for a graduating senior. The program is aimed at cultivating, inspiring and training the next generation of Latino/a leaders. Latino students who are graduating in 2013 can apply for a 1 week all-expenses paid internship training in Washington, D.C. after which students will be placed in one of selected partner museums or cultural centers for a 4-week internship. While travel and expenses are covered for the D.C. portion of the experience, students are responsible for their own expenses during their internship placement. At the conclusion of the internship, students will receive a $2000 stipend.

Read the application guide in advance of your application, there is lots of good information in it and it will save you time. (Note, the title of the pdf is “2009 Young Ambassador Program” but all of the dates in the publication appear to be for the 2013 application.) It looks like students must be citizens or legal permanent residents and scheduled to enter an institute of higher education in the fall of 2013.

Interior Oregon State House of Representatives
Feb 14 2013

Get your civics on with the honorary page program in the Oregon State House

This just in from State Representative Carolyn Tomei (from her newsletter):

HONORARY PAGE PROGRAM

Every session, young people learn about the legislative process through the Honorary Page program. It’s a day-long program that gives students a firsthand experience in the Capitol building. They tour the Capitol, assist the Sergeant-at-Arms during floor sessions, and help legislators in their offices. If you know middle or high school students interested in participating, please let me know (rep.carolyntomei@state.or.us). Brian McKinley (brian.mckinley@state.or.us), in the Chief Clerk’s Office will help coordinate a date. I’d love to see students from my district participate in this great experience.

Don’t know who your representative is? I’m glad you asked! Find your legislator here.

Picture of 2011 DO-IT scholars
Jan 15 2013

DO-IT: Program, resources and scholarship search for youth with disabilities

DO-IT, Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology, is an organization that works to promote programs that support students with disabilities pursuing post secondary education and careers. They have many resources for students in their Student Lounge - a virtual space with information on schools, community and careers.  While DO-IT is based out of University of Washington and some of their scholarships are for Washington students only, there are plenty of resources for students in any part of the world searching for information and desiring to connect with this active community.

DO-IT Scholars are selected Washington state high school students with disabilities who participate in a variety of activities including career exploration, introduction to adaptive technologies on university campuses and live-in summer campus experiences. The initial deadline for applications has just passed (January 10, 2013), however, applications will be accepted until all spots are filled, with the next review occurring on applications received before January 30, 2013.

Another great resource on the DO-IT website (from this month’s National Girls’ Collaborative Project monthly newsletter):

DO-IT Scholarship Web Page for Youth with Disabilities
An important part of preparing for college is figuring out how to pay for it. DO-IT has a new web page with information about scholarships, including deadlines, award amounts, and eligibility. Using an interactive sorting tool, you can filter scholarships by disability or other criteria. http://www.washington.edu/doit/Student/scholarships.html

image from www.sparksummit.com
May 21 2012

SPARK a movement: blog for good. Applications due June 4

Are you a girl with lots of ideas and opinions to share about being a girl and how the media portrays your gender? Got a passion for speaking up and calling out those who oppress people with stereotyping and judgement? Then you might be interested in learning more about SPARK  (Sexualization Protest, Action, Resistance, Knowledge), a consciousness – raising organization dedicated to changing the negative portrayal and sexulaization of girls in the media.

From their website:

SPARK is a girl-fueled activist movement to demand an end to the sexualization of women and girls in media. We’re collaborating with hundreds of girls 13-22 and more than 60 national organizations to reject the commodified, sexualized images of girls in media and support the development of girls’ healthy sexuality and self-esteem.

Sexualization Protest, Action Resistance, Knowledge (SPARK) is looking for new team members.  Girls ages 13-20 are invited to apply to become a part of the SPARKteam. I could name a dozen girls I know who would be awesome as bloggers/activists for this organization.  Lear about some of the activism SPARKTeam members have been up to including You’ve Been Sparked and Why are we still talking about LEGO (a plea to dramitically increase the number of female characters in their adventure-based kits)?

Role of SPARKTeam members:

If selected, team members agree to post media on different channels twice a month (could be youtube videos, blog posts, talk to the media), to check in with the private facebook group at least twice a week, and complete twice-yearly training with other SPARKTeam members.  (All requirements can be found on the application).

In return, team members make a small stipend ($25 per media post up to $50 per month) and your expense for the team trainings are covered. Plus, you get to work with inspirational mentors (I’m inspired just after watching this video)  and meet really cool girls who want to make the world a better place too.

Applications are due June 4, 2012

Image from the Free Geek website: www.freegeek.org
May 3 2012

Free Geek » Internships

Image from the Free Geek website: http://www.freegeek.org

Free Geek, inner SE Portland’s leading recycler and re-user of computer equipment has a number of internships that would provide valuable experience and skills for a tech-minded teen.

If you don’t already know about Free Geek, they take donated computers and refurbish them using an army of volunteers who are learning and earning at the same time.  Free Geek donates thousands of computers to non-profits and schools for educational purposes. Their programs are making an impact on closing the “digital divide” between people with access to computers and those without.

Volunteers can complete a Build Program and earn a free computer at the end of their service (you get to build your own). You can also receive your free computer via the Adoption Program  by putting in 24 volunteer hours at various other jobs in the organization (testing components, receiving donations, keeping the place clean and running smoothly).

Internships are more in depth and rigorous than the regular volunteer opportuinities,  requiring knowledge of Linux and other free open-source platforms and a longer commitment. These internships are unpaid but do include a free computer after 24 hours on the job, references and valuable work experience.  Interns will work a set schedule.  These positions are very competitive and anyone over 16 who meets the qualifications is invited to apply.  Free Geek is easily accessible by bus. Good luck!

Free Geek » Internships.

logo
Mar 22 2012

TechStart – Oregon Student Technologist of the Year Award

Here is a scholarship for a high school senior planning to attend an Oregon or Southwest Washington university to study Computer Science or a related field. The Oregon Student Technologist of the Year award includes a $1500 scholarship and a summer internship with the Cambia Health Solutions IT Department (one of the award sponsors), as well as $500 for the student’s school.

Application is due April 20, 2011.

The TechStart education foundation aims to bring technology courses into Oregon’s K-12 classrooms.  Some of their other projects include the Oregon Game Project Challenge and SuperQuest Summer Conferences for Teachers.

Young women leaders
Jan 19 2012

Bank of America Student Leaders

Applications for the Bank of America Student Leaders program are due January 25, 2012.  High school juniors and seniors are invited to apply. Students who are selected will participate in an 8-week internship program at a local charitable organization as well as attend a week-long leadership summit in Washington D.C. in July, 2012.

Young women leaders

photo credit: imagerymajestic Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

Image: imagerymajestic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net