Youth Engagement & Partnerships Intern

The Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM) seeks THREE (3) student interns, each for 8-10 hours/week for the 2025-26 academic year. Through SAM, interns will engage on large-scale countywide initiatives designed to shift systems that support economic opportunities for all residents of Spartanburg County.

Each successful intern will be assigned to one of three divisions/centers of work under the SAM umbrella: The Center for Early Childhood Success, the Center for Youth Engagement and Partnerships, and the Center for Postsecondary Success. Each will become an active member of the workflow for their Center, with specific projects and deliverables in alignment with the Center's goals and objectives. They will be included in all Center meetings and community workgroups/advisory councils that help to inform the work of the Center. They will be active members in these meetings, contributing their voice and perspective to the discussions and decisions that are made.

Additionally, the Youth Engagement & Partnerships Intern will:

• Through exposure to SAM’s collaborative initiatives (e.g., Movement 2030, OST Collaborative, Center for Resilient Schools & Communities), see how nonprofits, schools, government, and businesses work together to support youth; and gain a broad understanding of how individual tasks connect to larger systemic outcomes for education and community success
• Participate in community partner meetings, youth program site visits, and data collection projects - requiring them to analyze youth voice feedback, compare program approaches, and synthesize themes into reports, blogs, or presentations
• Strengthen their written and oral communication by drafting recruitment flyers, writing summaries of site visits, creating graphics, and presenting project outcomes. They will also practice professional communication by corresponding with partners and supporting the Youth Philanthropy Board (YPB)
• Through work with out-of-school time partners, the intern will interact with youth and adults from varied cultural, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds. They will learn to listen deeply, document diverse youth perspectives, and reflect these experiences in their work products, 
• By collecting youth voice feedback, engaging directly with students at program sites, and supporting the YPB, the intern will develop the ability to understand and share in the experiences of youth. These experiences help them grow compassion and sensitivity to challenges and opportunities facing students in the community, 
• Connect nonprofit, youth development, and social science concepts learned in school to real-world practice. For example, they will apply research skills to examine out-of-school time (OST) best practices, connect theory of positive youth development to program observations, and integrate these learnings into final presentations and reflections
• Take initiative on independent projects, such as creating flyers and youth engagement resources while collaborating with staff and peers. They will also help shape activities and interactions with YPB students, practicing leadership in a supportive, hands-on environment,
• Contribute to efforts such as equitable grantmaking through the YPB and promoting fairness in youth program access. They will learn how systemic inequities affect student outcomes and practice ways to address them.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

Strong written and oral communication and time management skills. Ability to work independently to complete projects as assigned. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Some experience and or expressed interest in working with organizations in the social sector.