Thank you for your interest in an internship with the Iowa Youth Writing Project!

Applications are due Monday, April 22, 2024. 

Interviews will be conducted the weeks of April 29th and May 6th.

Internship Application Form

IYWP internships are unpaid, but can fulfill any University experiential learning requirement. Interns can expect to spend roughly 5 hours per week engaged in IYWP-related work.

The Iowa Youth Writing Project was recently featured in an article in the CLAS Honors Newsletter, that describes CLAS Interns working with IYWP.

IYWP in CLAS Honors Newsletter (Fall 2022)

Programming

Programming interns are integral to the IYWP’s ongoing engagement with schools, volunteers, and the greater Iowa community. Programming interns help develop curriculum, special events, and workshop activities. Additionally, programming interns are asked to attend events and join the IYWP staff in assisting our volunteers at sites when needed. IYWP programming interns will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience devising and leading lesson plans, creating and maintaining relationships with schools and other community partners, helping train and working with volunteers, as well as developing content and programming to bolster the IYWP’s mission.

Advocacy and Engagement

Advocacy and Engagement interns orchestrate the IYWP's digital and on-the-ground activism, forging and maintaining connections with local partner organizations in this effort. These interns attend and report back to IYWP leadership about ICCSD School Board meetings; create meaningful content for the IYWP blog (esp resources for aspiring community advocates); help the IYWP make an impact on campus by spreading the word about events and fundraisers; and keep a close eye on legislative developments at the city, county, and state level to determine which measures will affect local youth. Research legislation, attend meetings/listening forums/protests, serve as an IYWP liaison to the UI community.

Design

Help the IYWP put our best aesthetic foot forward and honor our students' work with beautiful publications! Use Canva, InDesign, and other digital design programs to create graphics, design promotional and informational material and—best part—create covers for and lay out chapbook anthologies of youth writing! If you apply for this internship, please be prepared to present a portfolio of past design work.

 

Internship Opportunities

Advocacy and Engagement interns orchestrate the IYWP's digital and on-the-ground activism, forging and maintaining connections with local partner organizations in this effort. These interns attend and report back to IYWP leadership about ICCSD School Board meetings; interview educators nationwide about their experiences teaching during (and eventually after) the COVID-19 pandemic; create meaningful content for the IYWP blog (especially resources for aspiring community advocates); and keep a close eye on legislative developments at the city, county, and state level to determine which measures will affect local youth. Research legislation, attend meetings/listening forums/protests, represent the IYWP in local advocacy groups.

Attend and document—via photo, video, or both—all IYWP special events. Coverage Crew Interns work with Site Coordinators and IYWP staff to gather photos from weekly volunteer sites and to update the IYWP's social media platforms. NOTE: This internship is less of a time commitment than the others.

Help the IYWP put our best aesthetic foot forward and honor our students' work with beautiful publications! Use Canva, InDesign, and other digital design programs to create graphics, design promotional and informational material and—best part—create covers for and lay out chapbook anthologies of youth writing! If you apply for this internship, please be prepared to present a portfolio of past design work.

Development interns help keep the IYWP financially robust by engaging in fundraising, grant writing, networking, and outreach to donors and local businesses. Work closely with the IYWP's Community Outreach and Development Coordinator to identify, research, write, and submit grant applications of all sizes to help fund ongoing and new initiatives. Collaborate to plan and execute the IYWP's annual fundraising campaigns, including letter-writing, outreach, and donor appreciation events. Develop relationships with local businesses.

Events and Communications interns provide vital creative infrastructure to the IYWP and its inward- and outward-facing communications. Plan and write a monthly Volunteer Resource newsletter for current volunteers that includes activities, tips, and other engaging content. Help IYWP staff plan and execute both digital and in-person special events, such as our annual Junior High Writing Conference. Manage and maintain the IYWP blog, SoundCloud, and YouTube channels. Work closely with IYWP staff to plan internal IYWP training and team-building events such as cultural competency trainings, lesson planning workshops, socials, and volunteer appreciation parties.

Programming interns are at the front lines of the IYWP's weekly engagement at schools, community centers, shelters, and rehabilitation facilities. Each programming intern will be assigned one volunteer site. The intern will volunteer once a week at that site, in addition to recruiting and managing site volunteers, coordinating lesson planning and volunteer carpool (interns do NOT need to have a car!), and serving as a liaison between the site and IYWP administration. Programming interns will also assist the Director in tracking volunteer site data.