Radcliffe Community-Based Student Internships

Organization

The Virsa Foundation, including its JIVINITI Research Program, is a nonprofit organization in the Greater Boston area dedicated to public health and planetary health advocacy through consumer research and creative social experiments, focused especially on women and nutritionally underserved populations in the United States, India, and globally. Our primary objective is to demonstrate the link between modern ultraprocessed food systems, obesogenic media messaging, the epidemics of cardiometabolic disorders and mental health, and the crossing of critical planetary boundaries. Given the urgency of climate change, direct-to-consumer pathways of creating awareness are our preferred route to market strategy.

Responsibilities

The film outreach intern will focus on “TASTED, The Film,” a feature length educational film featuring a social experiment produced in summer of 2023 by the Virsa Foundation. The main target group is educational audiences (schools, universities, museums, ed/ed-tech conferences, etc.). Primary tasks involved:

1. Understanding the international launch strategy of the film (scheduled for spring–summer 2024) and the target audience
2. Understanding the core messaging of the film and creating snippets for media use
3. Exploring use of artificial intelligence software to generate multilingual subtitles for the film
4. Updating the film landing page and nonprofit website as needed
5. Designing an expert panel discussion based on the key topics touched on in the film (to be ideally filmed at a podcasting studio in Cambridge/Boston) 

Schedule and Location

The internship will be hybrid. The student intern will have direct access to the primary mentor, Nivi Jaswal, the film’s director, and Harvard University and Tufts University experts involved in the film. The intern will also need to participate virtually in discussions with the project’s media and communications agency. Jaswal will be available on a weekly basis for in-person meetings. Once the intern is onboarded, actual dates and times will be set as per mutual availability.

Qualifications

• Understanding of film, media communications, and impact storytelling
• Strong creative graphic design and video editing skills
• Strategic mindset, entrepreneurial spirit, and an ability to proactively connect with national and international collaborators 
• Interest in learning more about food systems, plant-based nutrition for public and planetary health, and causes such as animal rights and animal protection 
• Interest in nutritional and climate justice for communities of color
• Knowledge of languages in addition English is a plus

Organization

The Virsa Foundation, including its JIVINITI Research Program, is a nonprofit organization in the Greater Boston area dedicated to public health and planetary health advocacy through consumer research and creative social experiments, focused especially on women and nutritionally underserved populations in the United States, India, and globally. Our primary objective is to demonstrate the link between modern ultraprocessed food systems, obesogenic media messaging, the epidemics of cardiometabolic disorders and mental health, and the crossing of critical planetary boundaries. Given the urgency of climate change, direct-to-consumer pathways of creating awareness are our preferred route to market strategy.

Responsibilities

The research intern will focus on Project GAIA, a consumer research study conducted during the fall of 2021. The primary tasks involved are:

1. Understanding the statistical analysis and consumer segmentation work already done by our research partners, Ipsos Global and SWB/UCLA data analytics 
2. Performing additional statistical analysis as per key topic areas covered in the original questionnaire
3. Writing three media articles or op-ed pieces, which the Virsa Foundation will pitch to its media and public relations agency partner

Schedule and Location 

The internship will be hybrid. The student intern will have access to Project GAIA’s scientific advisor, Ipsos, on an as-needed basis, and to the primary mentor, Nivi Jaswal. Jaswal will be available on a weekly basis for in-person meetings. Once the intern is onboarded, actual dates and times will be set as per mutual availability.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of (and access to) statistical software
• Ability to comprehend and perform quantitative analysis
• Foundational understanding of quantitative consumer research
• Ability to translate consumer research into consumer-facing, media-appropriate messaging
• Strong creative writing skills (please provide writing samples—technical writing or op-ed pieces—if possible)
• Knowledge of data visualization techniques and infographics
• Interest in learning more about food systems and plant-based nutrition for public and planetary health
• Interest in women’s issues; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and nutritional and climate justice for communities of color
• Knowledge of languages in addition English is a plus

Organization

The Leventhal Center is an independent nonprofit collections, exhibitions, education, and research center located inside the Boston Public Library. The Leventhal Center stewards more than a quarter million geographic objects and encourages public learning and discovery on topics related to the connection between people and places. The center’s five focus areas are: the historical geography of Boston and New England; spatial justice and community geographies; civic data, critical cartography, and digital methods; history of cartography and the geographic sciences; and education, creativity, and maps in culture.

Responsibilities

The climate justice and mobility intern will work to develop resources at the intersection of two themes at the Leventhal Center: the center’s focus area on spatial justice and community geographies, and the ongoing public exhibition Getting Around Town: Four Centuries of Mapping Boston in Transit. Working with the center’s curatorial and library staff, the intern will help collect and build public research resources that focus on how metropolitan Boston’s mobility systems—in both the past, present, and future—relate to issues of environmental and climate justice. Building off the work of the center’s 2022 exhibition More or Less in Common: Environment and Justice in the Human Landscape, the intern will work on the following tasks:

1. Identify and describe historic collections at the Leventhal Center and at the Boston Public Library more generally, as well as at digital partner institutions, that cast light on the relationship between mobility and environmental justice
2. Spotlight particularly distinctive collections items and resources on the Leventhal Center website and social media channels
3. Identify present-day geospatial data sets that are useful for members of the public to interrogate mobility and spatial justice issues
4. For interns with a GIS technical background or willingness to learn basic geospatial analysis tools, cleaning, manipulating, and re-interpreting existing geospatial data sets to facilitate their use for public researchers
5. For interns with a design background or willingness to learn cartographic design principles, creating original maps and cartographic reference materials showcasing key geographic phenomena related to mobility and spatial justice issues

Schedule and Location

This internship will consist of at least one four-hour shift per week, to be conducted in-person on weekdays at the central library in Copley Square; out of this block, 1–2 hours may be spent in the center’s exhibition gallery working with the public. This in-person shift is expected to be held at a standard time each week. An additional 4–6 hours each week may be conducted remotely, although the intern is always welcome to work in-person if preferred.

Qualifications

• Interest in library and museum collections and the public humanities
• Skill with historical research and familiarity with historical collection practices (e.g., creating spreadsheets and manifests of collections items)
• Ability to write with accuracy and clarity about complicated topics for an audience comprised of members of the public
• Comfort and willingness to work in-person with library patrons
• Familiarity with geography of the city of Boston and the metropolitan region is desired but not required
• Students with an existing familiarity with geospatial data (GIS) or visual and information design will find particular opportunities to extend the work of the internship, though these skills are not required
• The City of Boston requires all volunteers and interns working in BPL spaces to successfully complete a CORI background check

Organization

More Than Words (MTW) is a nonprofit social enterprise that empowers system-involved youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business. Young people work around 20 hours per week running book, clothing, and online social enterprise ventures. They lead shifts, process and ship books, manage the warehouse, handle customer service, and more, gaining important work experience and self-efficacy.

Youth participate in workshops and intensive case management as they set and achieve goals for their education, career, and life. The MTW curriculum helps them achieve milestones on their self-directed career pathway.

Even when young people do their part, they are too often undermined by systems outside our walls. MTW shows up for the conditions of success, standing with youth at court dates, helping with housing, and advocating for transition services. Young people remain connected and receive ongoing support as they pursue their next steps in work and education after graduating from MTW. MTW checks in monthly, helps with job searching, and provides emergency funds.

Responsibilities

• HiSet program development: support internal systems for youth HiSet tracking (tests taken and passed, class enrollment, etc.)
• Research and identify career pathway partners and certification programs
• Support research and scheduling for info sessions and site visits
• Work with career services team to develop and implement career exploration workshops and modules

Schedule and Location

The internship hours are flexible between Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. At least 1–2 days will be in-person, with remote options available for other days of the week. Availability for a Tuesday 11 AM–12 PM meeting is a plus, but not required.

Qualifications

• Passionate about the MTW mission and outcomes in education and employment
• Strong organization and communication skills required
• Familiarity with Boston schools, career pathways, and/or local resources a plus, but not required
• Openness to working with young adults and shadowing shifts to apply new skills to their work

Organization

More Than Words (MTW) is a nonprofit social enterprise that empowers system-involved youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business. Young people work around 20 hours per week running book, clothing, and online social enterprise ventures. They lead shifts, process and ship books, manage the warehouse, handle customer service, and more, gaining important work experience and self-efficacy.

Youth participate in workshops and intensive case management as they set and achieve goals for their education, career, and life. The MTW curriculum helps them achieve milestones on their self-directed career pathway.

Even when young people do their part, they are too often undermined by systems outside our walls. MTW shows up for the conditions of success, standing with youth at court dates, helping with housing, and advocating for transition services. Young people remain connected and receive ongoing support as they pursue their next steps in work and education after graduating from MTW. MTW checks in monthly, helps with job searching, and provides emergency funds.

Responsibilities

 This position focuses on MTW’s online social enterprise ventures: 

• Research marketing and selling strategies on third-party e-commerce platforms to improve impressions and conversion rate, and to increase customer base and retention
• Analyze, discover, and build a recommendation plan to address the high cost of selling on MTW’s online third-party marketplaces—including shipping, marketplace fees, minimum price thresholds, and profitability 
• Build out a marketing plan for third-party marketplaces and for storefront best practices to drive repeat customers and increased visibility for new customers 

Schedule and Location

 Internship hours are flexible between Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM. The position is hybrid: in addition to remote hours, there will be availability to meet on site either once per week or every other week.   

Qualifications

• Passionate about the MTW mission and outcomes in education and employment
• Strong organizational and communication skills required
• Retail and marketing experience a plus but not required
• Ability to work independently with project benchmarks set by supervisor

Codman Academy is a public charter school in Dorchester, MA, serving K–12 students. Its mission is to provide an outstanding, transformative education to prepare students for success in college, further education, and beyond. Codman Academy’s vision is to educate the whole student: mind, body, and character. With the city and world as a classroom, Codman Academy builds a school community rich in rigorous academics and daily experiences of discovery. They continue to support their alumni in realizing their potential after graduation.

Responsibilities

The enrichment program hires instructors to lead enrichment classes. The program is composed of enrichment classes and clubs that fit the needs of enrolled students. This includes weekday (Tuesday and Thursday) and weekend (Saturday) instruction. Enrichment programming covers media art, Boston EMS, student government, Black film studies, financial Literacy, and cooking, and more.

It is through enrichments that students are able to learn more about themselves and what is possible for them. As an enrichment intern, you will support the Dean of Enrichment, Codman staff, and content instructors in helping students to explore their interests and realize their potential. The intern will assist students in grades 5–12 (ages 10–18). The intern will also provide guidance and support as instructors lead students towards their enrichment goals. They will also provide resources and advice to help students make the most of their enrichment experience. Finally, the intern will be an advocate for the students’ success and will help to ensure that they have the necessary support to succeed.

Responsibilities

Data entry:

• Adding all enrichment activities to the enrichment tracker
• Updating the enrichment tracker for students, teachers, and families
• Developing templates for future enrichment classes

Family communication:

• Assisting staff in supporting and ensuring constant communication with families of students regarding enrichment opportunities
• Maintaining a communication log and documenting family communications

Project management:

• Senior internships
• Junior internships
• Community service days
• Summer program applications
• New projects as they arise

Program Management:

• Shadow and learn how to supervise the entire enrichment program
• Maintain alignment and movement of all aspects of enrichment programming

Schedule and Location

Interns are expected to work between 9 AM and 5 PM, Tuesday through Saturday, and are expected to work 10 hours per week (schedule to be mutually determined). Work will be hybrid: remote work will be available, but in person hours will be on Tuesday and Thursday (4:30–6 PM) and Saturday (9:30 AM–noon).

 Qualifications

• Passion for helping students explore and discover their interests
• Experience working with high school and middle school students
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Organizational skills and independent motivation
• Ability to solve problems in real time and to incorporate feedback
• Prior experience in an urban, low income/turnaround school strongly preferred

Organization

Food Link is a community organization that envisions a world in which everyone has abundant nourishing food and a food system in which no edible food goes to waste. We rescue surplus fresh food that would otherwise be wasted and deliver it to community organizations serving people in need throughout Greater Boston.

Responsibilities

The food justice intern will spend two to four hours in food rescue operations each week, assisting with food recovery shifts. The remaining six to eight hours will focus on one or more of the following projects, depending on skill set and current organizational need:

• Research best practices and content for volunteer training materials on health, safety, and food justice
• Plan a food justice educational event for Food Link’s volunteer corps
• Conduct research and interviews of other food security and food justice organizations in the region to inform Food Link’s work in systems change
• Run focus groups with partners to further Food Link’s understanding of food justice
• Research policies, approaches, and proposed bills that Food Link might support, and create an advocacy guide for volunteers and stakeholders
• Create a style guide for Food Link’s branding, including language around food justice and civic advocacy

Schedule and Location

Food Link is located at 108 Summer St., Arlington, MA. Our food rescue operations run from 7 AM to 5 PM, seven days a week. The majority of the internship will be performed on-site, with some flexibility to work on projects remotely. Food Link and the intern will craft an ongoing schedule that fits into the intern’s existing obligations.

Interns will be expected to commit to one two-hour operations shift, on a recurring schedule, each week, which may involve driving a Food Link vehicle to one of our food donor or recipient agencies.

Qualifications

• Self-starter, motivated, and energetic, with effective organizational and time management skills
• Dedication to Food Link’s mission and passion for building a more just food system
• Great customer service skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to take direction and to work both independently and with a team
• Ability to lift 40 pounds repeatedly and be physically active in a warehouse setting
• Valid driver’s license
• Written and visual communications skills desired but not required
• Experience with grassroots organizing and/or working with people with lived experience desired but not required