Interns – A Valued Community Resource
Every year students at local colleges and universities serve in our community, but many nonprofits are unaware of them as a resource right here in our own backyard.
Peace Corps Volunteers Continue Service
The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS) admits “Returned Peace Corps Volunteers” participating in the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship Program. The program offers graduate students financial assistance for school, and requires they do an internship supporting the Peace Corps goal “to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans, by working with underserved populations in the United States.”
For local nonprofits, that can mean student interns who help run programs, organize events or design staff training modules, for example. MIIS has over 30 fellows working with over 20 organizations throughout Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, such as the Lyceum of Monterey County, The Carmel Foundation, YWCA Monterey County and many others.
Post or Search Internships Online
In addition to the MIIS programs, an online portal called Monterey Bay Internships (MBI) can help nonprofits connect with interns. The portal allows employers to post intern openings and to browse and vet a comprehensive list of candidates based on their particular needs. The website is a project of the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, and has over 100 internships posted.
“MBI is a critical new regional resource for local workforce development. MBI matches interns and local companies for high quality job training experiences, while enabling our local economy to thrive,” said Kyle McWilliam-Lopez, a program manager with Monterey Bay Economic Partnership – a Community Foundation for Monterey County grantee.
Together we are working to create opportunities to help students achieve their professional goals, one internship at a time.” – Kyle McWilliam-Lopez
AmeriCorps and CSUMB Service Learning programs also maintain strong partnerships with community nonprofits, with service placements at agencies throughout the region.
CFMC Values Interns
Here at the Community Foundation, countless work-study interns have contributed their skills over the years, including MIIS student Jamie Perez, a Peace Corps alum who served in Peru and now has a 2016 internship supporting the Center for Nonprofit Excellence of the CFMC’s LEAD Institute.
For Josh Warburg, who first served as a communications intern here while a MIIS graduate student, that opportunity led to a job with CFMC. He is now Philanthropic Services Officer.
An internship at the CFMC was a great stepping stone to a career. It helped me to develop skills and network with local nonprofit leaders while clarifying my goals. It was also a great opportunity to learn more about the organization that I’m now proud to work for!” – Josh Warburg, CFMC Philanthropic Services Officer
More Information
For more information about internship opportunities contact Edy Rhodes, MIIS Peace Corps Fellows Coordinator email: hrhodes@miis.edu or phone at (831) 647-4627 or visit the Monterey Bay Interns Portal: www.mbinterns.org.