AmeriCorps Internship!
Victoria
Experience Information
Employer: Bethany Christian Services
Job Title: Volunteer and Donation Specialist
Major: Criminal Justice
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
I work at Bethany Christian Services, which is a global agency that does work in many family related services. I specifically work in refugee services in the Grand Rapids branch. I work on the refugee resettlement team primarily, which works with all families who have been resettled to the Grand Rapids area in their first 90 days.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
My primary task in volunteer services is to provide additional support to all programs and clients. I work with community partners, individual donors/volunteers and case managers to secure services and material goods for clients. I also do other community engagement tasks, such as grant writing and event planning.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
I gained a lot of grant writing skills and increased my cultural competency a lot. I learned how to navigate language barriers and work with an extremely diverse group of people. Professional development was another huge aspect of my role. I was able to create a lot of connections within the community and bolster my resume.
Favorite Part of the Experience
My favorite part of this internship was the Christmas program. My supervisor and I coordinated the entire program, working with hundreds of clients and donors. On one of the last days of the program, I got to drive around and deliver gifts to multiple families. It was so awesome to see all of my hard work pay off and the impact of what I am doing in person.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
This experience made me realize how important it is for me to work in a diverse environment and to be out in the community. While my role is not exactly what I would like to pursue career wise, there were several aspects of it that I would like to implement in my future career.
Internship Format
Hybrid (some in person and some remote)