Join the Words Alive Team

Internship Opportunities - Detailed Description

POSITION:  Page Turners Intern (unpaid)

COMPENSATION: Unpaid internship; volunteer position

SCHEDULE: 10-20 hours/week; 6 months, strong preference for an academic semester.

LOCATION:  Must be U.S. based; San Diego strongly preferred.  Virtual and in-person options.

REPORTS TO: Community Engagement Manager

WHO WE ARE: Words Alive connects children, teens, and families to the power of reading.  We serve at-risk students of all ages and their families throughout San Diego County. During the 2022-2023 academic year, we served over 5,000 children, teens, and families facing extraordinary circumstances such as homelessness, poverty, foster care, abuse, juvenile justice system impact, and teen pregnancy.

WHO YOU ARE: Our ideal candidate:

  • Is eager to do meaningful work, try new things, and meet new people;

  • Continually is learning and craves hands-on opportunities to try what they have learned;

  • Has a strong desire to build more diverse, inclusive, equitable, and accessible communities;

  • Wants to participate in workshops and sessions to help them better navigate the workforce;

  • Is deeply motivated by the power of reading!

POSITION OVERVIEW: Words Alive is seeking an energetic, responsible intern to support and strategically grow our largest volunteer mobilization initiative, Page Turners. Through Page Turners, volunteers review and share insights about diverse, relevant, fresh titles Words Alive is considering for use in our programming. Our Page Turners volunteers develop deeper connections with Words Alive while building the love and joy of reading in themselves, their families, and their communities. More than 1,200 volunteers, from around the world, participated in Page Turners over the past year.

INTERN ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Support Page Turners (60%)

  • Connect new volunteers with Page Turners through partnerships with service organizations, corporate partners, and faith-based/community groups.

  • Celebrate the contributions of our Page Turners, keeping them engaged and connected with Words Alive.

  • Communicate regularly (via email or Zoom, primarily) with volunteers, partners, and interested community members sharing information about Page Turners, answering questions, and helping guide them through the program.

  • Input, organize, and analyze information, records, and data about the participants in Page Turners, their online reviews, and reading lists in order to make recommendations to improve the program.

  • Write newsletter articles, blog posts, or stories that talk about Page Turners and can be used to celebrate, promote, and grow the community.

Complete Special Project(s) (25%)

In addition to supporting our organization’s programs and operations, we provide interns with the opportunity to focus on at least one major strategy, project, or contribution.  Focus areas and major projects for this internship might include developing and implementing:

  • Recruitment strategy and plan for new Page Turner volunteers.

  • Appreciation strategy for existing Page Turner volunteers.

  • Online engagement strategy to connect and mobilize Page Turner volunteers virtually.

  • Another project in discussion with supervisor.

Grow Professionally (10%)

  • Work on a hybrid (remote/in-person) team; learn about remote and in-office work/

  • Learn how to navigate databases and online platforms.

  • Create presentations, reports, memos, and/or materials that can be used by executives.

  • Participate in workshops, seminars, and career building activities.

  • Attend regular staff and department meetings, events, etc.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

EXPECTATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

We are looking for candidates who:

  • Have a high school degree or equivalent

  • Provide their own computer and have access to the internet

  • Have proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, Google Drive & Zoom

  • Have good written and verbal communication skills

  • Are self-directed and able to work without supervision

  • Are energetic and eager to tackle new projects and ideas

We prefer candidates who:

  • Are looking to enter a career in nonprofit management, volunteer/employee engagement, literature, library sciences, communications, social media, applied social sciences, or a related field.

  • Have some volunteer experience with a nonprofit organization

  • Have some post-high school education, service, or work experience

  • Have lived experiences aligned with our mission, have participated in Words Alive’s programming or volunteered with us.

WORDS ALIVE VALUES & CULTURE
At Words Alive, our programs and impact made in the community are driven by our core values, which represent the motivation, dedication, and focus of our Words Alive staff and volunteers. Our values include:

  • Commitment: by pledging to make reading matter for everyone

  • Equitability: by working to level the playing field

  • Empowerment: by investing in lifelong learners

  • Responsiveness: by listening to community needs and developing innovative solutions

  • Collaboration: by partnering with the community

  • Connectedness: by creating a familial environment that includes all Words Alive participants and support

TO APPLY: Carefully review this description to ensure it is a good fit.  Send us 1) a letter or introductory video sharing why you’d like to work with Words Alive, and 2) a resume or summary of experiences qualifying you for this position via email to: [email protected]. 

Start Dates: Fall 2024, Spring 2025