Youth Program InternAt — LGBTQ Center Orange County

Are you passionate about advocacy, empowerment, and creating meaningful change for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults?

The LGBTQ Center OC's Advocacy, Education, and Youth/Young Adult Programs is seeking current undergraduate and graduate students interested in supporting our social, educational, and leadership groups for Orange County lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth ages 13-18 and/or young adults 18-26.

Alongside Center staff members, this intern position is responsible for supporting discussions and activities that reflect positive youth development, empowerment, and leadership. Activities include: providing a supportive space for LGBTQ+ youth to foster healthy relationships with their peers through social support groups and mentoring; increasing academic connectivity and success; community engagement and youth leadership development. In addition, interns will provide general programmatic support in order to complete their hours. The majority of time is spent in-person, although some tasks can be done remotely.

Upon successful completion of the application and interview process, candidates must complete a LiveScan application prior to starting their position.

Learning Experience:

1. Interns will communicate in-person or using Zoom.
2. Projects will be managed via Google Drive and groups will be conducted in-person.
3. Weekly check-in meetings with supervisor and program team (schedule flexible).
4. Interns must have a reliable computer and internet connection.  No additional software necessary.
5. Participate in a 2-hour orientation with supervisor.

Tasks

Selected students will be performing the following tasks:

—Plan, organize, and deliver one interactive workshop centered on positive youth development and leadership under the direction of the Senior Director of Advocacy and Education.
—Engage in a weekly review process with the Senior Director of Advocacy and Education and other ongoing quality improvement measures to assess program performance and to ensure all contractual goals are met and required outcomes are obtained.
—Assist in developing new opportunities to expand the Advocacy and Education Program
—Maintain healthy and appropriate relationships with youth participants, focusing on safety, support, interaction and engagement
—Administer and/or facilitate discussions, lessons, and activities for LGBTQ+ youth

Training
All trainings will be remote:
1. Zoom is primary tool; general office software and Google Drive
2. Weekly 1:1 meetings with supervisor and program team
3. Interns will complete a presentation summarizing learning experience, as assigned

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the academic internship, the student will be able to:

1) Gain leadership and facilitator experience working with the Orange County LGBTQ+ community, fostering a supportive environment for personal and community growth
2) Build a greater awareness of societal challenges and barriers faced by diverse communities, including those related to identity, accessibility, and equity;
3) Cultivate a deep understanding of the diverse spectrum of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, developing a more inclusive and informed perspective
4) Sharpen interpersonal skills and cultivate an inclusive mindset through hands-on experience, enabling collaboration with the LGBTQ+ community and enhancing your ability to create positive social impact.

In addition to these learning outcomes, the student will also learn about non-profit program development and implementation, including community outreach and community event planning. Furthermore, they will gain practical experience in how non-profit organizations respond to community needs and support.