Internships
Internships allow students to gain skills and meet people who can aid their careers. Listed below are some of the organizations and companies who have offered internships to our students. For more information email our office at sbai@rochester.edu.
- Center for Dispute Settlement
- Center for Youth
- City Council of Rochester
- Division of Human Rights
- Girls Rock! Rochester
- Image Out
- Metro Justice
- Monroe County District Attorney’s Office
- Out Alliance
- Rochester Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union
- Perinatal Network of Monroe County
- Planned Parenthood of Western and Central New York
- St. Joseph’s Villa
- Sojourner House
- The National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House
- Trillium Health
- Urban League of Rochester
- Visual Studies Workshop
- Willow Domestic Violence Center
- WXXI
Center for Dispute Settlement
The center's vision is to create a non-violent, conflict resolving community; whereby, disputes are peacefully resolved at the earliest possible stage to avoid escalation and the potential of violence by creating the capacity and resource within individuals and the community to effectively resolve their disputes quickly, informally and peacefully. For more information about their internship opportunities see the Center for Dispute Settlement website.
Center for Youth
The Center for Youth provides comprehensive programs and services from prevention education to counseling to emergency shelter to youth development opportunities with respect for and full participation of youth. The Center for Youth accepts bachelor level internships for their runaway and homeless department, their school-based programs, and they also offer field work experience for college level courses. Learn more at the Center for Youth website.
City Council of Rochester
The City Council offers fellowships through their Urban Fellows Program for both undergraduate and graduate students focused on different areas:
- Government, Politics and Public Service within the Mayor's Office: offers paid and unpaid fellowships to both graduate and undergraduate students interested in urban affairs, government and politics.
- Law Department: unpaid fellowships to current law school students.
- Communications Bureau: offers paid and unpaid fellowship opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students in areas including journalism, television and radio production, graphic design, website administration, photography, media relations and special events administration.
- Department of Human Resource Management: offers paid and unpaid fellowship opportunities to both graduate and undergraduate students interested in areas of Civil Service Administration, Staffing and Recruitment, Benefits Management, Labor Relations and Training and Safety.
- Department of Information Technology: offers paid fellowships to both graduate and undergraduate students in the areas of information systems, graphic information systems, business process re-engineering and server and client support.
- Department of Environmental Services: offers paid fellowships to both graduate and undergraduate students in the Bureaus of Architecture and Engineering, Building Services, Environmental Quality, Fleet Services, and the Water Bureau.
- Neighborhood and Business Development Department: offers paid and unpaid fellowships to both graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as business and housing development and inspection and compliance services.
- Rochester Police Department: offers unpaid fellowship opportunities to both graduate and undergraduate students.
- Department of Recreation and Youth Services: offers a variety of unpaid fellowship possibilities and college credit opportunities for college students interested in gaining experience in the areas of recreation, recreation management, positive youth development and youth work, community planning and special events, and communications.
- Flower City AmeriCorps: offers paid service opportunities for adults aged 17 and older. Full- and part-time positions are available to qualified individuals interested in alleviating the symptoms of poverty in Rochester while earning a living allowance and gaining invaluable job experience.
More information about all of these programs can be found on the Urban Fellows Program website.
Division of Human Rights
The Division of Human Rights is a New York State agency created to enforce the state's Human Rights Law which prohibits discrimination in the provision of housing, employment, credit, and access to certain public places based on specified protected characteristics, which include age, race, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. While they prefer sophomore students, the Division will consider first year students and sophomores depending on their business needs and the student’s qualifications. They have internships available in the Spring and Fall semesters, as well as the summer. Their internships are unpaid and requires a minimum of 174 hours. For more complete information about their intern program in the Rochester office read their internship description here. For more information about their internship opportunities at a state level check out the Division of Human Rights internship website.
Girls Rock! Rochester (GR!R)
GR!R is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using music creation and performance as tools for cultivating self confidence in girls and trans youth. They "foster creativity while building a supportive community of peers and mentors, while developing life and leadership skills to effect positive social change." They offer a college internship program that provides emerging leaders with the opportunity to help create a safe space for Rochester’s youth and its community at large. "Involved in both the arts and music community and youth programs sector, interns can expect to expand their knowledge and develop experience by collaborating with our hard working board and staff members." All internships are unpaid and may qualify for college credit. Minimum commitment required: 8 weeks (minimum of 25 hours / week). For more information check out GR!R website.
Image Out
Image Out presents LGBTQ arts and cultural experiences showcasing films, other creative works and artists to promote awareness, foster dialogue and build community. The festival offers unpaid volunteer opportunities on its different committees (Development, Art, ImageOutWrite, Outreach, Programming, Publications and Web, Special Events, Theatre Operations, and Tickets Sales). For more information about the Image Out volunteer program look at the Image Out Volunteer website.
Metro Justice
Metro Justice is a local grassroots community organization fighting for social, economic, and racial justice in Rochester. Founded in 1965 as Friends of FIGHT, in a struggle for equal access to good jobs at Kodak, our organization was born fighting for justice and equality for all people. They offer different internships:
- Organize for Economic Justice Internship: Interns will work closely with program staff on campaigns related to our “Fight for Economic Justice” which involves direct community organizing on the issues of quality jobs, housing, public education, health care, and more. This is an unpaid internship.
- Fuel our Movements! Development Internship: Development Interns will work closely with program staff on fundraising campaigns. Interns should be eager to build movements for social justice and develop the skills necessary to build sustainable fundraising campaigns for small nonprofits. This unpaid internship offers a flexible schedule with an 8-20 hour a week commitment.
- Communications Internship: Communications Interns will work closely with program staff on campaigns and committees related to our “Fight for Economic Justice” campaign. This unpaid internship offers a flexible schedule with an 8-20 hour a week commitment.
- Digital and Print Media Internship: Interns will work closely with program staff on fundraising campaigns and membership development. This unpaid internship offers a flexible schedule with an 8-20 hour a week commitment.
For more information see the Metro Justice website.
Monroe County District Attorney’s Office (DA)
The Monroe Country District Attorney's Office accepts interns for the duration of a semester (including- Fall, Spring, and Summer Semesters). The student must work at least 2 days a week for at least 2-3 hours per day. We accommodate a specific number of students from various levels of education, up to approximately 10-15 interns per season; summer having the largest hire numbers. Duties are based upon the current level of education the intern is enrolled in. Check out their Internship information flyer, the Application form for the DA internship program, and the DA Internship materials list.
Out Alliance
the goal of the Out Alliance Education Program is to encourage all of our social systems to become inclusive and welcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ) and allied individuals. They have an internship program within their "Shoulders To Stand On Program" which documents, preserves, and archives the history of the LGBTQ Community in the Rochester region. The internship opportunities include communications, historical research, sociology, library science, journalism, and website maintenance. More information on the Out Alliance website.
Rochester Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union
The Genesee Valley Chapter is dedicated to safeguarding the liberties and rights of the people we serve through advocacy and litigation; legislative action; and public education. The Genesee Valley Chapter - NYCLU is involved in state and national issues, with a special focus on members of the greater Rochester area and nine county Genesee Valley region. They offer unpaid internships year-round at their Rochester, NY office.
Perinatal Network of Monroe County (PNMC)
PNMC provides information, coordination, and support services to improve maternal/child health in Monroe County. Their Healthy Baby Network offers student internships during the fall and spring semesters, as well as over the summer. Their internships are unpaid and usually require a minimum of a 10-15 hour weekly commitment. Their "Healthy Baby Network" offers student internships during the Fall and Spring semesters, as well as over the summer. Their internships are unpaid and usually require a minimum of a 10-15 hour weekly commitment. Responsabilities include: event planning and coordination, marketing and administrative support, fundraising support, and public health support. Read more about PNMC Healthy Baby Network internship program and check out their Healthy Baby Network website.
Planned Parenthood of Western and Central New York (PPCWNY)
Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York protects and provides health care and education that empowers individuals and families. "With respect. Without judgment. No matter what." Planned Parenthood has a variety of student internships available during the school year and in the summer. Internships are curriculum specific and location specific. Each internship has specific requirements pertinent to the functional area. Skills or educational background in the relevant academic curriculum is desired. Most student internship schedules are daytime hours, usually one to two days a week. Download the PPCWNY intern application. Completed forms can be emailed to volunteer@ppcwny.org.
St. Joseph’s Villa
St. Joseph's Villa of Rochester helps youth, families and the community by caring for kids in crisis. The agency specializes in helping at-risk youth overcome serious emotional and behavioral challenges and build lifelong strengths through a network of high quality programs and services. They generally have an internship open for Marketing; the internship primarily deals with posting to our social media, developing social media strategies and campaigns, and exploring new platforms for the villa. Inquiries can be sent to Jean Grover (jean.grover@villaofhope.org).
Sojourner House
Sojourner House at PathStone serves homeless women and children by providing housing, self-sufficiency skills, and education programs, including afterschool tutoring and performing arts classes for kids. They offer different programs: Transitional Housing, Supportive Housing, Outreach Services, Seedlings Children’s programs, and Life Skills program. For more information see the Sojourner House website.
The National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House
The National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House interprets the legacy of Susan B. Anthony "to inspire and challenge individuals to make a positive difference in their lives and communities." They preserve and share the National Historic Landmark that was her home and headquarters, collect and exhibit artifacts related to her life and work, and offer tours and interpretive programs to share her story with the world. They accept undergraduates for summer internships in interpretation and guest services. Students who are looking to implement and refine K-12 programs, as well as general public tours, are encouraged to apply before the end of March. Interns also engage in projects that directly impact guests, such as creating content for our in-house app, and digital tools to provide feedback. Interns are also expected to learn the hospitality side of museum work. Inquiries can be sent to programs@susanb.org
Trillium Health
Trillium Health promotes health equity by providing affordable and extraordinary primary and specialty care, including LGBTQ health care. They welcome student interns from colleges and other institutions of higher education. They offer internships in: Client Services, Nutrition, Prevention Education, Outreach to Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgendered, Administrative Assistant. Visit the Trillium Health website for more information.
Urban League of Rochester
The mission of the Urban League of Rochester is to enable African-Americans, Latinos, the poor and other disadvantaged to secure economic self-reliance, parity and power and civil rights. The Urban League of Rochester offers over 30 programs in the areas of youth services, services for the developmentally disabled, economic development, employment services, family and children services, education, homeownership and entrepreneurial assistance.
Visual Studies Workshop (VSW)
VSW’s mission is to support makers and interpreters of images through education, publications, exhibitions, and collections. VSW holds research collections of photography, independent film and video, periodicals, and artist’s books. VSW’s focus on the aesthetics, cultural history, and social use of images has inspired a collecting policy that encompasses both creative work and vernacular objects, as well as items that represent the history of media use. For more information about internships contact their Assistant Director, Jessica Johnston (JessicaJohnston@vsw.org) or Tara Merenda Nelson, their Curator of Moving Image Collections (taranelson@vsw.org). Visit the Visual Studies Workshop website to learn more.
Willow Domestic Violence Center
The mission of the Willow Domestic Violence Center is to "prevent domestic violence and ensure every survivor has access to the services and supports needed along the journey to a safe and empowered life." They offer different internships that offer the opportunity to work directly with survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking using the empowerment model of advocacy, at a progressive and innovative victim services agency. All internships are unpaid but they offer the possibility of seeking class credit for these. Read more about Willow Domestic Violence Center internship opportunities and check out their internship application.
WXXI
WXXI is a National Public Radio member station in Rochester, New York, broadcasting news, talk and informational programming on a 24-hour daily schedule. They offer several internship opportunities in their Creative Services and Public Information department, Connections and Radio Operations, Television Production, News Department, among others. They also offer the opportunity to work with the Festival Director and Artistic Director of the One Take Documentary Film Festival as a media intern, or at their educational services under the supervision of their Manager of Educational Training and Family Engagement. For more information of their complete list of internships see the WXXI internship website.