Impact Launch

REMOTE ONLY 

General Description of what students will be doing at this Site:

Impact Launch helps spark and sustain the next level of impact in individuals, organizations, and collaboratives through learning communities, leadership development intensives, and the application of practical tools and ongoing support to break through barriers. Our services include leadership development, project design, strategic planning, collaborative capacity building, transformative meetings and events, and individual and team coaching.

Students will be asked to read Dr. Sharma’s book, Radical Transformational Leadership, as part of the internship. To learn more about the framework and the book, please visit: https://www.radicallytransform.org/ . {NOTE: Books will be provided to students free of cost}

One of our co-founders is also a Santa Cruz City Councilmember. One of our three available internships will be focused on supporting her in her Council work. 

Key Responsibilities:

Support with Social Impact Projects may include:

• Conducting and summarizing research
• Producing communications such as project newsletters
• Providing ideas and support for solutions to social problems in areas such as youth behavioral health, public safety, housing & homelessness, food security, and more

Support with Workshop sessions may include:

• Administration support with registration and communication with workshop participants
• Support with organization and emailing/mailing of workshop materials to participants
• Online Tech support (during practice sessions & live sessions)
• Support with Zoom: Record sessions (pausing during breakout rooms); Manage language interpretation features; Set up and manage breakout rooms; Set up and administer polls (if any); Monitor the chat box for tech questions; Support with screen sharing/showing of videos
• Connectivity support: Be point person via cell phone and private chat feature for tech questions/difficulties Help troubleshoot tech issues that arise

Support with Communications Plan may include:

• Posting on social media
• Development and approval of content
• Generate content using Canva 
• Schedule posts to Facebook and Instagram using Planoly 
• Support with development of blogs, newsletters etc.

Support with City Council duties may include:

• Conducting and summarizing research
• Support with Communications Plan
  • Posting on social media
  • Development and approval of content
  • Support with development of blogs, newsletters etc.

Desired Intern Characteristics:

• Seeking students who burn for social justice! And…
• Commitment to three semesters of internship
• Ability to work independently
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Detail oriented
• Responsible, accountable and flexible
• Enthusiastic and dedicated to impact social change!

Special Considerations: Leadership capacity building and organizational development are crucial steps in effecting social change. Sometimes the nuances of collaboration and facilitation are overlooked in a traditional classroom setting. This internship program gives students hands-on experience and a glimpse into how organizations and groups from all over the United States are improving their efforts towards sustainable social change. The work takes detail, flexibility, dedication, and a passion for social justice.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the internship program, we expect students will:

• Grow their inner capacities by gaining a greater awareness/understanding about the change they would like to see in their community (and the world!);
• Gain the following competencies:
  • Gain knowledge about pathways in which this change can be created;
  • Understand the landscape of public health and social services in the central coast and greater bay area
  • Understand the nuances of collaboration and community mobilization;
• Obtain the following skills:
  • Gain meeting coordination and facilitation skills;
  • Gain skills in notetaking and synthesizing;
  • Increase written and verbal communication skills with a variety of stakeholders;
  • Increase Zoom meeting support skills

The following CHHS Competencies that the student will be exposed to:

• Collaboration
• Conflict Resolution, Negotiation, & Mediation
• Cross Cultural Competency
• Information Management
• Knowledge of Health & Human Services (SW or CH)
• Leadership
• Personal & Professional Communication
• Professional Development
• Public Policy Analysis

The social impact framework Impact Launch utilizes is Dr. Monica Sharma's Radical Transformational Leadership. 9-day Radical Transformational Leadership learning-in-action programs are offered 1-2 times a year. If the student(s)' schedule allows, they will be encouraged to participate in the program at no cost. This is an incredible opportunity not to be missed!

Don’t just take our word for it…

“Being an intern at Impact Launch is more than a fieldwork experience, it’s an opportunity to realize your full potential and learn how to create transformative change throughout the world. The organizational culture is based on the idea that we are all learning and growing together, and each of us work together to ground ourselves in our universal values of dignity, equity, and compassion. This is the perfect internship for anyone who has an open mind, a loving heart, and a desire to work at the administrative level. If you let it, your time at Impact Launch will truly change your life.”

-Alyssa T., CHHS Impact Launch Intern