Since 2005, Middlebury College has participated in the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty (SHECP) to support students in summer internships with agencies that seek to work alongside vulnerable populations. Internships are available to non-graduating Middlebury students and are located in urban and rural settings throughout the United States with agencies that serve in educational, healthcare, legal, housing, social and economic capacities for the needs of individuals and their communities.

The SHECP integrates rigorous academic study and focused direct service to disadvantaged communities and persons, enriching the education of undergraduate students in all majors and career paths. This national summer internship program is the flagship program of SHECP, providing students with opportunities to blend theory and practice.

At Middlebury, the internship program is part of our Privilege & Poverty Academic Cluster. Privilege & Poverty is a curricular initiative that brings together faculty, students, and staff interested in studying economic inequality—its causes, its effects on human communities and the environment, and even the language with which we talk about the “privileged” and the “poor.” P&P engages students in issue-based learning in a dynamic and interdisciplinary format, one that combines the resources from many traditional departments and programs with “real world” internships in agencies working to alleviate poverty. Privilege & Poverty takes your first-rate Middlebury education and applies it directly to one of the world’s most vexing social problems.

Applicants who are selected for this internship will become will become a part of a Privilege & Poverty cohort that will prepare together during spring semester, participate in the summer internship, regroup for reflection upon their return to campus, and have options to engage in additional pursuits throughout the academic year.

Internships offered in: Healthcare, Law, Economic Development, Education, Environmental Justice, Housing, Hunger, Women’s Advocacy, Youth Programs, the Arts, and more.

Sample locations include: Boston; New York; Washington, DC; Phillips County, Arkansas; Navajo Reservation, Arizona; Atlanta, GA; Burlington, Vt; Camden, NJ; Cleveland, OH; Louisville, KY; New York, NY Chester, PA; Austin, TX; Lexington and Richmond, VA; Charleston, WV; and more.

For a complete list of internship offerings and job descriptions visit the Privilege & Poverty website (go/privnpov) and view the internship information. Applicants need to research the internships offered and identify their top three choices as part of the application process. The SHECP program coordinator will then review and finalize placements with each accepted intern.

Requirements:

1. Demonstrated interest in poverty alleviation;
2. Academic experience in the study of poverty and/or poverty-related themes. (Some preference will be given to students who have taken INTD/RELI 298 Privilege & Poverty, but the course is not a requirement to apply.)
3. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with ability and commitment to collaborate across difference;
4. Self-motivated, reliable, and able to work both independently and with a team;
5. Well organized with multi-tasking abilities;
6. Commitment to support participation in cohort-based learning and work;
7. Willingness and dedication to learn quickly and take direction;
8. Empathy to engage with people who will likely have experienced trauma.

Students must have insurance that can cross state lines; please contact Tiffany Sargent if any help is needed regarding this. Participants must also be able to start on Thursday, June 7, 2018 and continue through Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018.

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