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Internships provide invaluable in‐depth experience on the job. However, most community college students cannot afford to give up part‐time jobs for an unpaid internship. They need to be paid a living wage. Because of the immense importance of lengthy, well‐planned and well‐paid internships which provide directly relevant experiential learning, the Community Learning Partnership and its network have recently begun campaigns at the state and federal levels for substantial new government funding for well‐paid “Community Building Internships”.
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Another example of public funding for internships in community leadership and organizing is beginning its second year in Massachusetts. Having learned about CLP's approach to developing educational pathways and internships designed to develop the next generation of knowledgeable and skilled community leaders and organizers, the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education funded seven community colleges so they could provide stipends to students focusing on careers as community leaders and organizers.
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With funding from the State of California and private foundations in the state, the Community Learning Partnership has established a major breakthrough program in a growing number of community colleges throughout California. Pell-eligible and other low-income young people receives stipends and scholarship aid while they participant in this "learn while you earn" program -- the California Youth Leadership Corps, or CYLC. They work with social change nonprofits while completing three 3-credit courses in leadership, organizing and an issue they want to specialize on, earning a community college Certificate and being on track toward AA and BA Degrees if they so choose.
These would resemble apprenticeships in providing opportunities for low income and working class people to “earn while you learn” on the job and in the classroom, earning college credentials while preparing for careers in community health, sustainability, caring services and other careers helping strengthen the social fabric, community resilience and democratic participation and leadership. |
A third approach has until recently been through partnerships with Americorps or similar state 'volunteer" programs which can shape their local programs to meet local leadership, organizing, and social change goals. New York City's Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development financed stipends for ten emerging leaders and organizers each year for over a decade through Americorps' Public Allies program. Other places have contracted with VISTA. Unfortunately, it looks very likely the Trump Administration will kill all these programs.
Yet another strategy is to revamp or reform the College Work Study program to focus on placing students interested in developing the knowledge, skills, income and credentials to gain a head start toward careers in community change. |
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Link to CYLC Fact Sheet
Add link to Massachusetts Program iAdd Link to material on College Work Study |
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