Y.O.U.’s Inspire Fellows Program – Summer 2012

The Y.O.U. Inspire Fellows Program is seeking high-performing graduate and upper-undergraduate students who have a passion for youth development and who are seeking a valuable summer experience that will help prepare them for a career in the non-profit sector. The fellowship is intended for leaders who are interested in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment that offers a hands-on introduction to the fields of positive youth development, education, and non-profit management.

Inspire Fellows serve as workshop leaders and counselors for Y.O.U.’s  9-week summer program. Fellows are chosen to develop and facilitate specific workshops in one of three areas: arts and literature,  STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), or recreational activities. Additionally, all fellows help lead discussions and workshops on life skills topics.

Inspire Fellows:

• Develop, lead, and support summer activities that promote youth success.
• Nurture supportive relationships with youth, parents, and community partners.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and up-to-date records on youth participation and outcomes.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with supervisors, coworkers, and volunteers within Y.O.U.
• Identify and recommend opportunities for improvement in Y.O.U.’s programming (as part of Y.O.U.’s continuous improvement process).

The Fellowship runs full time from June 11 through August 17. The first week offers Fellows a comprehensive orientation and training on Y.O.U., non-profit management, and positive youth development. The next nine weeks consist of high-impact summer programming.

The Fellowship experience offers a unique opportunity for growth for students thinking about a career in youth development, education, the arts, or non-profits. Fellows have close supervision of their work and are provided with both formal and informal feedback to help them grow. Fellows also have an incredible opportunity to develop their leadership skills. Fellows serve simultaneously as role models, mentors, tutors, counselors, problem-solvers, crisis intervention workers, and life skills coaches for the youth in our programs. They provide support and listening ears to struggling parents.  They coordinate programming and solve problems with community partners. They even occasionally must act as intermediaries with police and serve as liaisons with other social service agencies. These responsibilities allow Fellows to develop new skills and an even deeper appreciation of youth and community development.

The Fellowship offers a stipend of $1,000. (Y.O.U. is also glad to provide documentation to any students who receive support from their universities for summer employment with a non-profit organization).