Engaged Summer Students

Engaged Summer 2024 Partner Sites

Please view the project descriptions for our Engaged Summer Partner sites. Click on the site to read more about the project.

Alexandria Mentoring Partnership

Project Description:

Student Volunteer

The student volunteer will play a crucial role in supporting mentor recruitment efforts for AMP's various programs, including but not limited to our Engaged Summer Program and Civic Fellows Program. The primary focus will be on attracting mentors who are committed to positively impacting the lives of youth in Alexandria through mentorship.

Responsibilities and Deliverables:

  • Developing and Implementing Recruitment Strategies: The student volunteer will work closely with AMP's team to design and execute creative mentor recruitment strategies. This includes leveraging social media platforms, creating engaging content, and exploring innovative ways to reach potential mentors.
  • Community Outreach and Partnerships: Engaging with local communities, schools, and organizations to raise awareness about the importance of mentoring. Building partnerships with educational institutions and community centers to expand our reach and attract diverse mentors.
  • Event Coordination: Assisting in the planning and execution of mentor recruitment events. This could involve organizing information sessions, webinars, or community outreach events to share the impact of mentoring and encourage individuals to become mentors.
  • Content Creation: Developing compelling and informative content for promotional materials, social media posts, and recruitment campaigns. This includes showcasing success stories, testimonials, and the positive outcomes of mentorship.
  • Data Analysis and Reporting: Regularly tracking and analyzing the effectiveness of recruitment strategies. Providing insights and recommendations based on data to continuously improve and optimize our mentor recruitment efforts.

Website: https://www.alexandriava.gov/mentoring

Modality: Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site. The Majority of hours will be completed in person. 

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: Some experience in design editing tools are particularly valuable

Background Check Required? Yes

Britepaths

Project Description:

ODV & SNAP intern

The ODV & SNAP intern will assist the programs manager with outreach for Britepaths Farmers Market’s two initiatives to offer greater access to fresh, healthy foods to community members experiencing food insecurity. Our Daily Veggies farmers market vouchers and our SNAP/EBT Program at select Fairfax County Farmers Markets.  

The intern will collaborate with Fairfax Park Authority and Britepaths staff to lead efforts to enhance marketing strategies for the SNAP and ODV programs, aiming to increase program utilization rates at the farmers markets.

Responsibilities:

  • Assist the Programs Manager in enhancing outreach efforts by updating and retrieving vendor information and distributing details to clients regarding SNAP/ODV utilization at farmer’s markets.   
  • Conduct field visits to farmers’ markets to gather information and collect vendor and client stories. 
  • Capture photos throughout the season to provide to the Communications Manager for our social media platforms. 
  • Support the team by contributing to data entry tasks as required, ensuring accurate and timely information processing.
  • Performs miscellaneous administrative projects as Office Administrator or Program Manager assigned. Using analytical skills, prioritize assignments and work to ensure delivery within a reasonable timeframe.

Website: www.Britepaths.orgODV & SNAP Website Page: Farmers Market Initiatives

Modality: In-person only. Students will be required to be on-site to complete their hours.

Office Hours: Monday through Friday from 10 am to 2 pm. Can be flexible with student's schedule. 

Farmers' Market Schedule: Students should be available to attend the farmers market occasionally.

  • Wakefield Farmers Market: Wednesdays, May 1 – October 30, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Annandale Farmers Market: Thursdays, May 2 – November 14, 8 a.m. – Noon.

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: Must have the desire to learn how to work in a goal and team-oriented environment and an ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Must be self-motivated, take initiative, have good organizational and planning skills, and work efficiently with others. Must have hands-on ability to work with computer programs, including MS Word, Excel, and Outlook proficiency. Attention to detail and interpersonal skills are essential. Must be able to communicate by phone professionally. 

Background Check Required? No

Catholic Charities - Migration and Refugee Services

Project Description:

We have several projects to help newly arrived families succeed in the US.  All of which center around migration case management.  You will be able to work alongside staff and clients to help them navigate living in their new community. You will be able to see how immigration laws affect newly arrived families. We help with airport reception, US orientations, case management, assistance with applying for social security cards; assistance with orientation, etc. obtaining health screenings and immunizations, school enrollment, referrals to ESOL and employment programs, and Cultural Orientation. 

Project 1: Community Outreach Intern

Community outreach and volunteerism internship.  We are looking for someone to help with our outreach team to manage some of our events and help update some of our Volunteer Manuals.  They will help to create a lunch and learn calendar for other interns for the following semesters as well as help to manage our social media pages and work within Canva.  This project will not have direct client contact but is a means by which we help support our staff in the life-changing work that they do.  

Project 2: Youth Service Team

Help our youth services team in helping children be successful and navigate the school systems. Work alongside staff in conducting new family intakes, enrolling in schools, tutoring, mentoring, facilitating immunizations, and academic testing. Learn how the US laws affect newly arrived families. 

Website: www.ccda.net

Modality: In-person only. Students will be required to be on-site to complete their hours.

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: Must complete agency required training

Background Check Required? Yes

Food for Others

Project Description:

Project 1: Client Intake Student Volunteer

Food for Others is seeking students to join us as Client Intake student volunteers. Client Intake volunteers manage all check-in procedures for individuals looking to receive services through our My Market choice pantry. Duties include entering household information, explaining FFO food assistance programs, and resolving client issues—all with a commitment to treating our neighbors in need with dignity and respect. 

To be successful in this role, students should be friendly, professional, and comfortable working with diverse and/or vulnerable populations. Because all intake information is processed through the Salesforce database, students must also have basic computer and data entry skills. Experience working with individuals in need or bilingual language skills (Spanish, Arabic, Farsi) are greatly appreciated, but not required. 

Project 2: Volunteer Engagement Assistant

The Volunteer Engagement Assistant will support the behind-the-scenes operations of Food for Others by improving organizational processes for volunteer recruitment, appreciation, and program evaluation. This may include duties such as designing volunteer postings for online engagement networks, collecting volunteer stories and feedback, and generating and analyzing reports from our volunteer management system. The student volunteer may also help with administrative duties from other departments as needed. As student interest dictates, we also are potentially interested in having our student volunteer visit our Mobile Sites and write a brief volunteer partnership manual outlining best practices for new program partners. 

This position is perfect for a student who is a people-person and interested in learning more behind-the-scenes aspects of volunteer management. While comfort on computers (especially navigating Microsoft Excel), strong written and verbal communication, and attention to detail are useful skills for this position, the most important attributes we are looking for are flexibility with changing operations, comfort interacting with volunteers and clients of diverse backgrounds, and a passion for helping people become more engaged in our community!

Website: www.foodforothers.org

Modality: In-person only. Students will be required to be on-site to complete their hours.

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: Must complete agency training

Background Check Required? No

Just Neighbors

Project Description:

Student Volunteer

Just Neighbors depends on volunteers and interns to do case work and complete the daily operations of the office. Volunteers must commit to at least 10 hours a week during the open office hours (Tuesday-Friday 9:00-5:00). Spanish speakers encouraged! Volunteers: answer phones and complete client phone intakes in English and Spanish, work with clients and staff in preparing documents for immigration applications, perform basic office administrative duties and when applicable help with oral and written translations. 

Website: www.justneighbors.org

Modality: In-person only. Students will be required to be on-site to complete their hours.

Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday; 9am-5pm

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: We prefer high level of Spanish/English as a good portion of callers are Spanish speakers. Background checks are conducted but we can figure out other options if there are any issues 

Background Check Required? Yes

Loudoun Cares

Project Description:

Project 1: Community Engagement 

Building up a greater online volunteer network - connecting with nonprofits, adding new organizations and promoting to general public via videos and engagement on social media outlets. 

Project 2: Communications Intern

Marketing/Graphics/Communication publications to donor base. 

Project 3: Events Intern

Events assistance - help in creating plan, gaining sponsors, executing on plans for event . 

Website: www.loudouncares.org

Modality: Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site.

Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday; 9am-5pm

Is the site accessible to public transportation? No

Volunteer Requirements: Marketing/digital/social media skills a huge plus, self directed, self-starter, flexible, willing to jump in on any task necessary

Background Check Required? No

MyLLife Inc.

Project Description:

Project 1: Data Collection and Analysis Intern

Economic and Social Justice Program - support data collection on public corporations to assist our team in analyzing and developing insights, intuitive visualization and writing thoughtful assessment of public policy implication of our analysis.  We are looking for students with background/major in computer science, information systems, economics, statistics, public policy, conflict resolution, and law

Project 2: Social Media Intern

Develop social media and outreach program to create awareness for our Public Policy Scholarships on various college and university campuses in DMV area.

Project 3: Website Development 

Upload contents in our website. Improve navigation and look and feel for our website. 

Website: www.myllife.org

Modality: Fully remote. Students can complete all of their hours remotely.

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: Relevant experience for each project would be preferred. We can provide more details to interested students. We are more interested in students' capability and interests over specific experience.

Background Check Required? No

Northern Virginia Food Rescue

Project Description:

Volunteer Intern

Assist Northern Virginia Food Rescue in leveraging the Food Rescue Hero technology, developed by 412 Food Rescue, to mobilize volunteers who can transport donated foods to distribution sites. This position will work closely with all functions of the account to strengthen data inputs and bring difficulty and discipline to the sales function in order to optimize company growth. Other responsibilities include receiving and processing incoming stock/product, performing inventory and quality controls in the warehouse, and possible oversight or delegation of responsibilities within the warehouse operation. Qualifications for this position are as follows: 0-2 years' experience with data mining/reporting/analysis, advanced skills in MS Excel and PowerPoint, strong problem-solving skills (both analytical and conceptual), and ability to translate raw data and analytical results into clear written and verbal communication to internal stakeholders.

Website: https://nova-fr.org/

Modality: Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site.

Required Hours: Tuesdays; 10:30am Staff Meeting 

Is the site accessible to public transportation? No

Volunteer Requirements:  0-2 years' experience with data mining/reporting/analysis, advanced skills in MS Excel and PowerPoint, strong problem-solving skills (both analytical and conceptual), and ability to translate raw data and analytical results into clear written and verbal communication to internal stakeholders.

Background Check Required? No

Oakton Library (Fairfax County Public Library)

Project Description:

Summer Reading Adventure (SRA)

We engage schools, students, and parents to participate in the 2024 FCPL Summer Reading Adventure as an important contribution to educational success over the summer. Studies indicate that students who read during the summer return to school better prepared in the fall. We would like students to help us to promote reading over the summer to reduce summer slide or learning loss. During the summer the students’ primary responsibility will be to work on the Cultural Fair, an outdoor event that celebrates diversity in Fairfax County. Throughout the summer, they will be helping to promote reading by participating in SRA events and they will have the opportunity to create their own small events if they would like. 

Website: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library

Modality: Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site.

Required Hours: Students will have flexibility in the schedule. During the summer, some Saturdays may be required (A max of 2 Saturdays for the entire summer duration). 

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: Interns will be required to create a Volunteer Management Account and track their hours in that system. They must also be comfortable working with the public and speak and write in English. Students should feel comfortable with Microsoft Office Suite or Google Docs. Speaking another language (Spanish or Korean especially) and being able to create flyers using graphics is a plus. 

Background Check Required? No