Fellowships and Internships

The Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) hosts immersive project-based internships and fellowship programs with public and nonprofit organizations in the summer.

Through the internships, community living and a shared curriculum, interns explore complex social issues and connect them to their academic experiences. All opportunities are in the Davidson/Charlotte area and include stipends and housing. Review the positions below that we will offer in Summer 2023.

Center for Civic Engagement and Service Odyssey Interns (2 positions)

The interns will take the lead on the planning and implementation of three weeklong Service Odyssey experiences for incoming students. This will include service projects, discussions, reflection activities, and cultural & social excursions in the Charlotte/Lake Norman area. In addition, the intern will support the CCE staff with Orientation/Welcome Week activities sponsored by the CCE, including First Year Bonner Orientation and the First Year Civic Engagement Project.

• Duration: Full-time (Avg 40 hrs/week) position for the entire summer (Begin week of June 6 and continue through New Student Orientation)
• Benefits: $4,500 stipend + on-campus housing (or equivalent locally)
• Application Materials Required: Resume and responses to two short-answer questions on the application (the same responses can also be used for Nonprofit Leadership Fellows and Freedom Schools) 

Community Research Fellows (3-4 positions)

A team of Community Research Fellows will work with faculty and staff from the Center for Civic Engagement and the Hurt Hub’s Data CATS program and community leaders to engage in place-based community research focusing on the key focus areas identified by community leaders (for example, housing, early childhood education and health). Faculty with expertise in these areas will serve as mentors.  

• Duration: Eight-nine weeks (dates TBD)
• Benefits: $3,500 education award + housing stipend
• Application Materials Required: Resume and cover letter (Cover letter should include interest in community research and the above-mentioned focus areas along with experiences and skills developed in classes or elsewhere related to qualitative methods, statistical analysis, data visualization, etc.) 

Davidson Farmer's Market (1 position)

The mission of Davidson Farmer’s Market, Inc. (“DFM”) is to sponsor a weekly farmer’s market in the town of Davidson, North Carolina (the “Town”) which provides locally grown food, educates the public about nutrition and the importance of eating locally grown foods and of ers musical entertainment, special events and cooking and other demonstrations to create a community festival for the Town. DFM’s goal is to create a vibrant community gathering place with locally grown agricultural and horticultural products and family-friendly educational, musical and entertainment activities.

The intern will assist with general market preparations including the weekly newsletter, market set up, staffing the DFM table, vendor issues, chef demos, market take down, attend farm visits, help plan educational programs, coordinate market volunteers and facilitate recruitment, maintain the special events schedule, attend DFM Board and Committee meetings, research and draft grant proposals, and perform general administrative or office tasks.

• Duration: 36 hrs/week, position for eight weeks (start date flexible), need to be available for 3-4 Saturdays a month
• Benefits: The final intern will have access to a $5,000 grant to support summer living expenses. Once selected they will be provided details on how to secure the grant.
• Application Materials Required: Resume and responses to two short-answer questions on the application. 

Dream Center Academy Intern (1 position)

The intern with Dream Center Academy (DCA) of Gastonia, NC will work directly with the Executive Director and the Middle-School and High-School Program Directors. Responsibilities include: research development (researching ideas and grant opportunities to support fundraising); record maintenance (collecting and organizing student documents and entering data in the database); program development (planning, preparing, and implementing summer programming for middle and high school students, scheduling and organizing community tours and conducting follow-up activities, and working directly with students during summer programs); and other responsibilities as assigned.

Interns must be organized, flexible, independent, and self-motivated; have a strong interest in education and social justice issues; and have a passion for the mission of the DCA. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience working with youth or who have worked in team settings.  

• Duration: Full-time (Avg 40 hrs/week) position for eight weeks (Start date flexible)
• Benefits: $5,000 stipend 
• Application Materials Required: Resume and responses to two short-answer questions on the application.

Freedom Schools Servant Leader Interns (6 positions)

CDF Freedom Schools at Davidson College provides summer enrichment, for children between kindergarten and 8th grades, which fosters a love for reading, increases self-esteem, and generates positive attitudes toward learning. Interns, implementing curriculum provided by the Children’s Defense Fund, will serve as facilitators in the classroom and will plan and lead enrichment activities. 

• Duration: Full-time (Avg 40 hrs/week) position for nine weeks (May 31-July 29)
• Benefits: $3,500 stipend + housing 
• Application Materials Required: Resume and responses to three short-answer questions on the application. (Two of the responses can also be used for CCE Intern, Education Scholars/Nonprofit Leadership Fellows.) Applicants selected for interviews will receive more information about how to prepare a brief “lesson” to teach as a part of the interview. 

Nonprofit Leadership Fellows (12 positions)

This program is for those interested in supporting not-for-profit organizations though capacity building projects. Roles may include responsibilities with program management, grant writing, communication and social media, volunteer management, and research (to name a few). Through their internships, shared readings, and enrichment activities, interns will explore and analyze what it means to be an engaged and informed member of a larger community. A staff member will meet weekly with the entire group to discuss learning and to share written pieces of critical inquiry.  

• Duration: Full-time (Avg 40 hrs/week) position for nine weeks (May 31-July 29)
• Benefits: $3,500 stipend + housing
• Application Materials Required: Resume and responses to two short-answer questions on the application (the same responses can also be used for CCE Intern, Education Scholars, and Freedom Schools). Applicants selected for interviews will receive the 2022 list of partners beforehand to preference options and develop questions for Center staff. 

Roy Alexander Internship with Davidson Lands Conservancy (1 position)

The Roy Alexander Internship is an eight-week summer program established by Davidson Lands Conservancy, Dave and Elizabeth Martin, Sue Peck, and other friends and admirers in memory of Davidson Lands Conservancy's founding Executive Director, Roy Alexander, Class of 1964. 

Interns work directly with leaders of the Davidson Lands Conservancy.  The program provides interns with the opportunity to learn about non-profit management as well as environmental conservation. Potential responsibilities include fundraising including planning Run For Green, supporting the Now & Forever Campaign, grant opportunities, and applications, and donor stewardship; expanding community outreach; supporting summer youth education programs; and advancing community impact through programs of land conservation, greenways, urban forestry, and wildlife habitat. There may be occasional fieldwork on conserved properties. Knowledge of and experience with GIS applications and technology, experience with grant writing and knowledge of natural ecosystems are all strong pluses.  Interns must be organized, flexible, capable of working independently, and self-motivated. 

• Duration: Full-time (Avg 40 hrs/week) position for eight weeks (start date flexible)
• Benefits: $5,000 stipend
• Application Materials Required: Resume and cover letter