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Project Overview
MDC Rural Forward seeks an advanced or graduate-level student to support community-based and community-led technical assistance and consulting services in rural North Carolina.
About the Dan Broun Internship at MDC
The Dan Broun Summer Award and Internship honors our late MDC staff member who championed place-based strategies to improve outcomes for low-income people in rural communities in the South.
Throughout his career, Dan also worked hard to provide college students with learning opportunities that would help them become leaders and professionals focused on equity and inclusion in workforce development, with an emphasis on the rural South.
Selected Dan Broun Interns (called “program associates”) work May through August for 40 hours per week. They will receive an additional $2000 stipend beyond the pay rate of $17 per hour.
About the Dan Broun Program Associate
The goal of the internship is to strengthen the program associate’s understanding of rural community-driven capacity-building services and develop additional skills by supporting MDC Rural Forward staff, community partners, and other constituents. Under the supervision of a Partnership Manager, the Program Associate will support a specific location or issue area to be determined in consultation with the chosen candidate. The Program Associate will also support other projects through planning, facilitation, drafting meeting summaries, community outreach and communications, policy research, and/or other administrative tasks (no more than 10%). There is a strong preference for candidates in eastern or western North Carolina who are available for collaboration and local meeting attendance. This is a hybrid internship and candidates should be available to travel into community once a week.
Specific tasks may include:
- Assisting with planning, coordinating, facilitating, and notetaking for meetings.
- Drafting logic models, asset maps, project management tools, and other documents.
- Supporting policy change efforts by researching and summarizing public policy.
- Attending meetings convened by partner organizations.
Key Qualities and Skills
- Experience in community outreach, research, and/or program evaluation.
- Excellent oral and written skills to communicate with a variety of audiences.
- A sincere curiosity about rural communities; willingness to explore issues of inclusion, power, privilege, and diversity; and exceptional commitment to personal integrity, professionalism, and excellence.
- Ability to think creatively and collaboratively, while also taking initiative on projects.
- Skilled in detail-oriented customer service and responsive to community and staff needs.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, virtual meeting applications, and internet research.
Commitment
For the summer, our expectation is 40 hours per week for three to four months. Some flexibility is possible. Rate: $17.00/hour + limited benefits. Ideally, we enjoy having program associates consider staying on for up to 20 hours per week in the Fall or Spring semesters.
Office Culture
- Our commitment to our mission and values means sometimes we have long days to be responsive to our community partners and other constituents. We also support our staff in maintaining a strong work/life balance. We take initiative for our own projects, while also working collaboratively.
- The MDC Rural Forward team consists of a Senior Program Director, 2 Program Directors, 5 Partnership Managers, 1 Program Administrator, and up to 6 Program Associates. We coordinate our work and support each other through team meetings every other week.
- Our work is primarily in person with some remote work via Zoom. Travel for in-person meetings in rural North Carolina is required as public health guidance and organizational policy about the COVID-19 pandemic allows.
- (Optional) Program Associates are invited to attend monthly MDC staff meetings.
To Apply
The application process is currently closed. Questions about the application process can be emailed to [email protected]. The winner of the Dan Broun Award will be selected by a group of MDC staff and members of the Broun family.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Interview appointments will be conducted via Zoom and last roughly 75 minutes. A writing sample will be required for finalists.
MDC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and equity, it is our policy to provide an equal employment opportunity to all individuals without regard to age, color, race, religion, national origin, disability, military/veteran status, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, or status in any other group, protected by federal or local law or for any other reason. We encourage applications from people of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and members of underrepresented groups in order to effectively achieve our mission. Reasonable accommodations are available on request