In partnership with the UVM Community Development and Applied Economics Department, the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships will coordinate and fund a cohort of nine UVM interns working for 20 hr/wk for eight weeks in summer 2024 with organizations building community resilience in the Northeast Kingdom. All interns will have access to free housing in a shared residence at Sterling College June 3 through July 26. The internship positions include participation in a week-long community orientation, weekly intern cohort workshops for professional development, networking, and reflection and a final sharing event on Wednesday, July 25 from 12-3 p.m.
Greensboro Free Library Intern
The Greensboro Free Library is a small but busy community library with a mission to bring its community together by providing resources and programs for lifelong learning, enrichment and access to the world of information. Work will include collaborating with part-time staff and volunteers to provide customer service and programming and learn the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the library running, from processing new books to preparing displays to writing PR for programs. The intern will also update and revise the GFL website (www.greensborofreelibrary.org) as we incorporate a new logo into our social media presence, and take the lead on planning and presenting a summer reading program or special event.
Hardwick Gazette Community Resilience Reporter
We are looking for a passionate student with an interest in becoming an effective reporter to join a cohort of summer interns working to support community resilience in the Northeast Kingdom. The successful candidate will take the lead in the creative cycle of a series of news stories leading to a long-form article about how area governmental and civic organizations have, and are developing resilience based on their experiences responding to the COVID pandemic and the summer flooding of 2023 by investigating and writing rich and unbiased coverage about what is learned.
Glover Equitable Community Development Intern
Glover is a small rural town in the Northeast Kingdom, most known for the Bread & Puppet Theater. Equity is central to building a sustainable community where there is a sense of belonging and a feeling that all are welcome. To be resilient, we will need to work together to overcome complex challenges. We have several large equity projects we will be overseeing this summer, including:
- building an inclusive sensory trail and universal design natural play area at our town park;
- building a small community giving garden at our town clerk’s office;
- and hosting numerous multicultural events at our town hall.
Fairbanks Museum Collections & Exhibits Intern
The Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium is a combination natural science museum, history museum, and planetarium located in St. Johnsbury, Vt. Working for the collections department of the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium and reporting to the director of collections, the summer intern will help with a variety of tasks to gain a broad understanding of how the department works. The primary focus will be on rehousing and cataloging a portion of the museum’s seashell collection. This project is essential to improving the long-term care and to increasing awareness of what the museum holds in its collections. A secondary component of this internship will be developing an exhibit component around the shells rehoused and drawing from other collections as appropriate. The intern, in conjunction with the director of collections, will develop a small exhibit component to fit into an existing exhibit on ocean life.
Hardwick Area Food Pantry Local Food Intern
The Hardwick Area Food Pantry is a multi-site food share pantry with locations in Hardwick, Craftsbury, and Albany, Vt. We are committed to innovating and collaborating as a key partner in building a resilient local community in the Greater Hardwick area through improving quality food access for all. In collaboration with the HAFP’s director, outreach coordinator, and the site coordinators, the intern will:
- have a mix of remote work and in-person, on-site work;
- collaborate with a wide variety of players in the well-established local food scene;
- and strengthen connections with other community partners and attend community events representing the HAFP.
Center for an Agricultural Economy & Hardwick Farmers Market Intern
At the Center for an Agricultural Economy, we take care of each other and the land. We support rural communities and working landscapes by building a more interconnected local food system. We cultivate community by organizing and collaborating with farmers, food producers and neighbors and strengthen the agricultural economy by providing farm and food business resources, access to capital, shared infrastructure, and dynamic social enterprises. The job title for this opportunity is: Local Food Intern for the Center for an Agricultural Economy and Hardwick Farmers Market. The position will include a number of different projects & responsibilities including both ongoing and new initiatives to support the Hardwick Community Gardens, the Hardwick Farmers Market and weekly community meals. The successful candidate will steward an individual project created with CAE staff related to food sovereignty, systems, and sustainability.View complete description and apply here.
Green Mountain Farm to School Food Hub and School Garden Intern
Green Mountain Farm-to-School is a non-profit organization located in Newport that promotes the health and well-being of Vermont’s children, farms and communities by providing programs that connect schools and farms through food and education. During the school year, GMFTS supports 15 schools in the Northeast Kingdom (NEK) of Vermont with school gardens, educational programming and fresh local farm foods that benefit over 5,000 students. Internship Overview: As a Food Hub and Garden Engagement Intern, you'll play a pivotal role in supporting Green Mountain Farm Direct, our local food hub, while also contributing to our school garden initiatives. This internship offers hands-on experience in marketing and operations within the local food system. You'll work closely with our team, gaining valuable skills and insights while making a meaningful impact on Vermont's food landscape.
Migrant Health Programs Summer Internship
UVM Extension Migrant Health Programs address individual and systemic barriers faced by migrant workers and their families which prevent them from attaining their full potential for health and well being. We are committed to developing, coordinating and implementing community-based outreach initiatives and services which contribute to health and health equity within designated migrant communities at local and statewide levels. The intern will support ongoing outreach and engagement activities led by Migrant Health Programs’ NEK Community Health Worker and provide leadership to evaluate and improve the food box/CSA delivery program in the NEK while supporting ongoing outreach. Also:
- Collaborate with community partners to support kitchen gardens at farmworker housing;
- Transport clients in the region to health appointments at local community health centers and hospitals;
- and support the Community Health Worker to deliver oral health education class to interested farmworkers.
Highland Center for the Arts Intern
The Highland Center for the Arts is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to operate a welcoming venue for assembly, artistic expression, entertainment, education, and refreshment. We offer a balanced, year-round schedule of locally and nationally sourced performances, exhibitions, and events serving the residents and artists of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom and beyond. The Center is looking for a dedicated and creative production intern to join our team and assist with the preparation and construction of Fairy Fest 2024. In this role, you will have the opportunity to be involved in building, painting, and assembling sculptures and other installations on the Highland Center grounds in order to bring the enchanting world of Fairy Fest to life.
Kristen Andrews, Internship Coordinator
Kristen’s role as internship coordinator at UVM is informed by her experience building community through social service, the non-profit sector and experiential education in K-12 schools and higher ed.
For questions about these internships, send her an email.