One Day, One Job » community development

American Planning Association

Willy Franzen — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:17:50 +0000

For most of us, planning means looking ahead on our calendars and figuring out when we’re going to do things. For a small group of people, planning goes much further into the future, and is far more important. These people are… wait for it… planners! They’re the people who achieve physical, economic, and social outcomes through the design of communities (you may know it as urban planning, city planning, or regional planning). The American Planning Association is the professional institute for planners. They’re located in Washington, DC, and they “s together thousands of people — practicing planners, citizens, elected officials — committed to making great communities happen.” If you’re still not exactly sure what planning is you may not be a good fit for their jobs, but you still may want to read their What Is Planning? document. And if you’re really curious, you may also want to read Becoming a Planner too.

Career Planning

Good planning isn’t something that most people notice like they might notice good architecture. However, there’s a very good chance that you’ve been frustrated by the effects of poor (or out of date) planning. The job of a planner is to “help create a broad vision for the community.” So a planner may be expected to do any of the following:

research, design, and develop programs; lead public processes; effect social change; perform technical analyses; manage; and educate. Some planners focus on just some of these roles, such as transportation planning, but most will work at many kinds of planning throughout their careers.

The APA exists to help promote the profession of planning and to provide education and leadership. They’ve been around since 1978, and they now have more than 40,000 members. Interestingly enough, the APA doesn’t seem to have it’s own Jobs page, though they do have an entire Careers section on their website for people interested in careers related to planning. I found the APA’s job listings on Idealist. Right now they’re looking for a Program Associate – International Outreach and Professional Development. They seem to want someone with a Master’s in Planning, but the requirements for previous work experience are pretty slim.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about Planning?

Institute for Transportation and Development Policy

Willy Franzen — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 13:59:36 +0000

Yesterday I picked my parents up from the airport. Because of traffic, I ended up spending more time in the car to do a roundtrip of about 35 miles then than they spent on the plane flying from New York City to Chicago. It’s amazing how far we’ve come in terms of transportation over the course of human history, but we still have a long way to go. Society still has a ton to gain economically and environmentally through innovation in transportation. That’s why the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy exists. They’re a New York, NY based non-profit organization that “works with cities worldwide to bring about sustainable transport solutions that cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce poverty, and improve the quality of urban life.” They have offices in Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, so it’s clear that their mission is as much about international development as it is about transportation.

Transport Yourself

It’s easy to forget how much transportation affects nearly everything that we do. But when you see that ITDP’s six key issues are Climate Change, Urbanization, Poverty Alleviation, Road Safety, Health, and Air Pollution, you instantly realize just how many things are affected by transportation. ITDP’s biggest role is providing technical advice to cities on how they can improve themselves through transportation. To really get a sense of how ITDP is making the world a better place, you should read up on their work–they have some really interesting projects. If you’re excited about what you see, you should check out jobs at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy. While they don’t have any positions that are perfectly suites for a new grad, it’s worth taking a look at the Administrative Assistant, Human Resources Associate, and Communications Officer (Guangzhou, China) positions. You could also try reaching out about an unlisted position.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What’s your favorite mode of transportation?

Sacramento Tree Foundation

Willy Franzen — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 15:56:59 +0000

I used to wake up every day, look out the window, and see the Chicago skyline. In my new place, I wake up and see a whole bunch of trees. Though I know I’ll miss being able to watch the city from a few hundred feet up, it’s a nice change. Who doesn’t love trees? Well, the people at the Sacramento Tree Foundation probably love trees even more than the average person. The Sacramento Tree Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Sacramento, CA that is “working to grow healthy, livable communities in the Sacramento region by empowering people to plant, protect, and learn about trees.” They have a goal of planting 5 million trees in the area by 2025. Though they have a long way to go, they’ve already gotten off to a great start.

Turn Over a New Leaf

As awesome as trees are, Sacramento Tree Foundation isn’t promoting the planting of trees just for the heck of it. They’re promoting trees because trees create all kinds of positive outcomes. They provide shade, clean the air, look beautiful, and even bring communities together. The Sacramento Tree Foundation pursues all of these goals through a number of different Programs and Services. These include Sacramento to Shade, Seed to Seedling, NeighborWoods, nature: Native Trees in the Urban and Rural Environment, Mature Trees, Greenprint Initiative, Community Education, and Parking Lot Retrofits. Right now they’re looking for a Greenprint Relations Coordinator. The job is posted on Idealist, but surprisingly not on the Sacramento Tree Foundation’s Jobs page (which has no current postings). Give the job a look and see if it’s worth applying for.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What’s your favorite kind of tree?

Grameen America

Willy Franzen — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 15:42:54 +0000

As my actions show, I’m a strong believer that entrepreneurship can solve most of societies problems. It’s amazing what you can create with your own labor and a little bit of investment. That’s why I find the microfinance movement so interesting. What I don’t understand is why there isn’t more focus on this kind of lending in the United States. Grameen America is a five-year old non-profit that is changing this. They’re based in New York, NY, and they’re aiming for “a market where any individual with a dream can receive affordable financial products regardless of income, previous credit history, education, or business experience.” Grameen America is attacking poverty head on, and it seems like they’re having some great success.

Take a Micro Approach

What’s really cool about Grameen America is that they took something that worked well in addressing poverty in Bangladesh and brought it to America. I feel like it usually goes the other way. To better understand what Grameen America does, you should take a look at their model. There’s a big social aspect to how Grameen America lends, and I think that has to play a big part in why they have success stories like these. If you like what Grameen America is doing, take a look at their Jobs page. Right now they’re hiring Center Manager Trainees. It looks like the perfect opportunity for a new or recent grad who wants to get into microfinance.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Grameen America?

charity: water

Willy Franzen — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 14:36:13 +0000

For me water is all about recreation. It’s a place to fish, swim, kayak, and hopefully one day learn how to surf. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy drinking water–I’ve had servers at restaurant tell me that I drink more water than any other customer they’ve served–but it’s mostly an afterthought. Unfortunately, for nearly a billion people across the globe water is neither fun nor an afterthought. “Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.” charity: water is a non-profit organization that is “bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.” They’re based in New York, NY, but they’re doing work all over the world. One of the most interesting things about charity: water is that they’re able to put 100% of the public donations that they receive towards clean water projects. This is possible because a small group of private donors has committed to covering the organization’s operating expenses.

charity: job

I’d had my eye on charity: water for a while. I knew that they were getting a lot of attention, and I figured that they’d have to have jobs and internships available at some point. A reader alerted me that they were hiring right now, so I was excited to finally give them a closer look. According to the charity: water home page, they have funded 3,962 projects in 19 countries with 25 local partners. These projects have brought clean water to 1,794,983 people so far. That’s an unbelievable number, but it’s kind of scary to think that they’ve only served 2% of the population in need. They still have a long way to go, which is why they seem to be growing quickly. If you’re moved by the the charity: water mission then you’ll want to check out their Jobs page. Right now they have a few opportunities for new or recent grads including Digital Assistant, Software Developer, Front-End Developer, Water Programs Officer – East Africa, and Curator of the Well. There are some really exciting positions here, so check them out.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about charity: water?

Innovations for Poverty Action

Willy Franzen — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 16:20:05 +0000

Want to be part of the One Day, One Job/Internship team? Here’s your chance!

When I hear the word innovation, I usually think high-tech. It’s really just about finding new things that work, even if they’re old ideas. Innovations for Poverty Action is a New Haven, CT based non-profit organization that is “dedicated to discovering what works to help the world’s poor.” By using the scientific method in everything that they do, Innovations for Poverty Action is able to optimize their programs for maximum return on investment. That means they’re able to help more people with less money, which is absolutely essential when you’re fighting poverty. It’s pretty cool that they’ve been able to create a system for reliably developing new innovations.

Be An Innovator

Innovations for Poverty Action describes itself as bridging “the gap between cutting-edge academic research and action by nonprofits, governments, and firms.” That’s an important role because theory and practice can often be far apart. The best way to get a feel for what Innovations for Poverty Action actually does is to look at their work. You can read about in-depth studies like their project evaluations of a Girls Scholarship Program in Kenya and The Impact of Microcredit in the Philippines. You’ll also want to take a look at their blog post on zero-energy lights, which are the perfect example of low-tech innovation. Once Innovations for Poverty Action figures out what works, they shift their focus to Scaling It Up. It’s all about making the most of the resources available. If you like what IPA is doing, check out their Jobs page. They have a ton of opportunities posted and some seem appropriate for new grads including:

Data Coordinator (New Haven, CT)
Fall Research Assistant (Washington, DC)
Human Resources Associate (New Haven, CT)
Survey Programmer – Part-Time Independent Contractor
Project Associate (New Haven, CT)
Project Associate – Analysis on Agriculture, Savings and Social Networks (Evanston, IL )
Project Associate – Researcher Outreach & Communications (New Haven, CT)
Project Associate – Survey Programming (New Haven, CT)
Project Associate – Various Projects (New Haven, CT)

They also have positions in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. If you’re analytically minded and want to put your skills towards erasing poverty, then Innovations for Poverty Action would be a great place for you to work.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Innovations for Poverty Action?

Mobilize.org

Willy Franzen — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 14:46:06 +0000

Looking for a job in the non-profit world? Samaritan’s Purse has a number of great opportunities for you.

Yesterday we looked at an organization called Youth Service America that encourages youth to get involved in their communities. Today we’re going to look at an organization with a similar, but slightly different approach. Mobilize.org is a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that aims “to improve the way democracy works by investing in Millennial-driven solutions.” I kind of hate the term Millennial, but it is important that our generation makes an effort to act together in our shared best interest. It all started with a guy named David Smith who was a student at UC Berkeley. He learned of another tuition increase, and instead of taking it, he mobilized some peers and made some noise. It worked, and David decided to make the movement national by starting Mobilizing America’s Youth, which eventually became Mobilize.org.

Get Mobilized

Often when we look at non-profits, we see that they call themselves “non-partisan.” Sometimes this is true, but often it’s pretty clear that the organization leans one way or the other politically. Mobilize.org describes itself with a term that I’d never seen before: “all partisan.” What does that mean? It’s a little hard to explain, but the best explanation that I could find was here. As far as I can tell, Mobilize.org isn’t as much focused on specific issues as they are focus on equipping our generation to engage in the political process and make things happen. If you want to be part of that, check out Mobilize.org’s Jobs page. Right now they’re looking for a Community Mobilizer. They’re specifically looking for someone to cover San Jose, CA, but they also have these positions in Detroit, MI, Miami, FL, Charlotte, NC and Philadelphia, PA.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think about Mobilize.org?

Samaritan’s Purse

Willy Franzen — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 19:13:00 +0000

This is a sponsored post for Samaritan’s Purse.

We all have a Good Samaritan story–a time where we helped someone in need or were helped by someone when we were in need. These are the moments when people are at their best, yet they don’t seem to happen often enough. Samaritan’s Purse has spent the last 40 years working to ensure that the story of the Good Samaritan lives on and continues to inspire people to “go and do likewise.” Samaritan’s Purse is a non-profit “nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.” They’re based out of Boone, NC, but they’re constantly repositioning their resources to react to world events. Samaritan’s Purse’s work can typically be separated into two categories: Emergency Relief Programs and Community Development and Vocational Programs. While these two Program groups serve very different situations, they share the goal of helping people in need wherever they may be.

Be a Good Samaritan

There’s no better way to get a feel for Samaritan’s Purse’s work (besides actually joining them and doing it) than taking a look at the In Pictures section of their website. It will give you a feel for what they do, how they do it, and whom they help. One of their major relief projects is focused on helping Japan and the Japanese people recover from the earthquake and tsunami that struck in March of 2011. Samaritan’s Purse was on the ground almost immediately (as you can see here, here, and here). The need for immediate relief supplies has obviously subsided, but now Samaritan’s Purse is leading a rebuilding effort. They are working in a number of communities to get the Japanese people back to a normal way of life before winter comes. This is a tall task when you consider that one community they’re working in “lost 70% of its physical structure” and another was hit by a wave as tall as a 12-story building, but Samaritan’s Purse has a history of excelling with this kind of work.

Right now Samaritan’s Purse is recruiting heavily for their Japan reconstruction effort. Right now their biggest need is for Japanese Interpreters and they think that recent college grads could be perfect fits (they’d also love to hear from people with more experience). This position is vital to the reconstruction effort, and it offers an amazing opportunity to get life-changing experience while doing amazing work. Christian values are an essential part of what Samaritan’s Purse does, so be sure to read their Statement of Faith and learn about their leader Franklin Graham before applying. And if you don’t speak Japanese, there are plenty of other job opportunities posted on Samaritan’s Purse’ Jobs page, and many are perfectly suited for new and recent grads. They include:

Japanese Interpreter (Japan)
Digital Video Producer (Boone, NC)
Marketing/Metrics Analyst (Boone, NC)
Network Administrator (Boone, NC)
Curriculum & Training Specialist (Boone, NC)
Bio-Med Technician (Boone, NC)
Field Accountant (Juba, South Sudan)
Social Media/Marketing Specialist / Communications (Boone, NC)

These look like amazing jobs that truly offer the opportunity to make the world a better place. Give them a look and see which positions fit you the best.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Samaritan’s Purse?

Share Our Strength

Willy Franzen — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 15:24:21 +0000

It’s hard to think about a hunger during a holiday weekend that is known for backyard parties and grilling, but summer is actually one of the worst periods for childhood hunger. There are 21-million children that rely on free or reduced-price lunches during the school year–school isn’t just a place to learn, but also a place to get a nutritious meal. In the summer when school is out, less than 3 million of these kids are in situations where they still get meals provided for them. That’s a huge gap and a major problem. Share Our Strength is a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that envisions a world with “No Kid Hungry.” They were founded in 1984 and since then they’ve working tirelessly to make sure that every child that they can reach gets the nutrition that he or she needs to stay healthy and keep growing.

How Strong Are You?

Before you start reading up on Share Our Strength, you probably should take a look a their resources on childhood hunger. There’s a lot to learn on the issue, and they’re one of the best sources for information. After that you’ll probably want to read up on their History and their Progress to Date. They’ve accomplished a ton, and they’re working on a lot more. One of their big things is events. They have five major ones: Taste of the Nation, Great American Bake Sale, Dine Out No Kid Hungry, A Tasteful Pursuit, and Cooking Matters. These are all great ways to raise awareness and to raise funds for Share Our Strength’s mission. Share Our Strength is also really good at finding partnerships. They work with chefs like Daniel Boulud, Charlie Palmer, Thomas Keller, and Bryan Voltaggio while also partnering with major companies in the food industry like American Express, Tyson, Sysco, and Sodexo. If you like what Share Our Strength is doing to end childhood hunger, check out their Jobs page. There are a few positions posted, and you should take a look at the Grants Coordinator position and the Share Our Strength’s, Cooking Matters® AmeriCorps National Direct Program. Both look like they could be good fits for a new or recent grad.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Share Our Strength?

Seedco

Willy Franzen — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 15:17:22 +0000

Helping people find jobs is obviously a cause that is close to my heart. I chose to focus on the college market for two reasons: I was familiar with it because I had struggled through my own entry level job search and I wasn’t really qualified to help anyone else when I started. As tough as it is for college grads to find jobs these days, you actually have it pretty easy. You’re educated, energetic, and don’t need to make all that much to get by. It may seem hopeless now, but you will land a job and get your career started soon. You just need to keep pushing and be smarter about how you approach employers. There are others out there who need a lot more help, which is why organizations like Seedco exist. Seedco is a New York, NY based non-profit that “designs and implements innovative programs and services for workers, families, and businesses in need.” They’re all about driving economic growth and helping people be their most productive selves.

Plant a Seed

Seedco was founded in 1987 through funding from the Ford Foundation. They work at a community level by partnering with local organizations and now serve 17 states and Washington, DC with offices in 6 of those states. You can break Seeco’s programs into three categories: Workforce Development, Work and Family Supports, and Community Finance and Small Business Services. Throughout these programs they focus on 7 guiding values: Innovation, Effectiveness, Empowerment, Measurement, Collaboration, Sustainability, and Shaping Policy. There’s a ton of info on Seedco’s website, so I recommend that you really dig in and start to learn more about what they do and how they do it. If it looks like something that you want to be a part of, then head over to Seedco’s Jobs page to check out their current opportunities. Right now they’re looking for a Program Assistant – Benefits Analyst, a Program Assistant – External Affairs, Administrative Support Staff, and a Career Coach, Front Desk Greeter/Data Entry Clerk. There are a bunch of other positions that also look interesting, but they seem to require a bit more experience.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Arthritis Foundation

Willy Franzen — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:02:30 +0000

While I was fishing yesterday (in a winter hat during the month of June I might add), I was tying knots, casting, wading through the river, and catching and releasing lots of fish. Though I wouldn’t by any means call it a strenuous workout, I was certainly putting all of my joints to use–from my fingers to my ankles. Most young people take for granted that their bodies work like they were built to, but it’s not so easy for some people. We often associate arthritis with aging, and it’s definitely linked to that, but it’s a group of disorders that can affect people of all ages (2/3 of people with arthritis are under the age of 65 according to the CDC). There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions, which is why theArthritis Foundation was founded in 1948. They’re an Atlanta, GA based non-profit organization that “helps people take control of arthritis by providing public health education; pursuing public policy and legislation; and conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis.” Considering how debilitating arthritis can be for the more than 50 million people who suffer from it, it’s a good thing that the Arthritis Foundation is doing what they do.

Joint Their Team

In just over 60 years of existence, the Arthritis Foundation has invested more than $400 million through grants to researchers which has resulted “in major treatment advances for most arthritis diseases.” They continue to fund research at an extremely high level, and they’ll keep doing it as long as arthritis is a problem. In addition to the research, the Arthritis Foundation offers community-based services like self-help courses, water and land-based exercise classes, instructional videotapes, and more, while also advocating “to local and national governments on behalf of the 46 million Americans with arthritis and chronic joint symptoms.” They seem to be doing great work that really helps to make the lives of millions of people better. If you’d like to be a part of what the Arthritis Foundation is doing, check out their Jobs page. At their National Office they’re looking for a Community Outreach Coordinator, a Consumer Health Marketing Coordinator, and a Web Marketing Specialist. They also have positions with local chapter available like Special Events Coordinator (Cedar Rapids, IA). Take a look and see what appeals to you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you have arthritis?

GRID Alternatives

Willy Franzen — Sat, 07 May 2011 15:05:12 +0000

While most of us have become accustomed to higher energy prices, this latest spike has been pretty ugly. I haven’t seen any gas prices starting with a 5 yet, but I’ve seen a few come dangerously close. The situation for home energy doesn’t appear to be quite as dire right now, but it all adds up (and it’s May when most of us turn our heaters off and haven’t yet turned our air conditioners on). Energy costs keep increasing as a percentage of household budgets, and this has an especially negative effect on low-income families and individuals. GRID Alternatives is an Oakland, CA based non-profit organization that is trying to fix this problem. They “empower communities in need by providing renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment and training.” Not only are they helping people manage and lower energy costs, but they’re also creating jobs and training people to fill these jobs.

Get on the GRID

GRID Alternatives was founded during the 2001 California energy crisis. I don’t know for sure, but that seems like it was about 6 or 7 energy crises ago. I find organizations like GRID Alternatives really exciting because they’re able to address a number of very different problems through a group of closely connected programs. GRID Alternatives’ core program is called the Solar Affordable Housing Program. It focuses on training and leading “teams of job trainees and other community members to install solar electric systems for low-income families throughout California.” They’re taking on pollution, poverty, and unemployment all at once. If you want to be a part of that mission, then you should check out jobs at GRID Alternatives. Right now they have a few positions that should interest new or recent grads including Outreach Coordinator (Chico, CA), Outreach Coordinator (Carson, CA), Americorps VISTA (IE): Outreach and Program Associate (Inland Empire, CA), Americorps VISTA (IE): Volunteer and Training Associate (Inland Empire, CA), Americorps VISTA (NV): Outreach and Program Associate (Chico, CA), Americorps VISTA (NV): Volunteer and Training Associate (Chico, CA), Americorps VISTA: Volunteer and Outreach Associate (San Luis Obispo, CA), LISC AmeriCorps Outreach and Program Associate at GRID Alternatives (Oakland, CA). Take a look and see what interests you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about GRID Alternatives?

Foundation for Sustainable Development

Willy Franzen — Sun, 01 May 2011 16:22:01 +0000

I’m constantly amazed by the quantity and breadth of non-profit organizations that are working to solve society’s many problems. While we often take a look at the larger organizations because they have more job and internship opportunities, you shouldn’t overlook the smaller non-profits that are deeply embedded in their communities and focused on solving a small set of problems in a specific area. These organizations are especially well equipped to make things happen, even if they can only do it on a small scale; however, they can also be limited by their size and local focus. Foundation for Sustainable Development is a San Francisco, CA based non-profit that “works to enhance the capacity of small non-governmental organizations around the world to address local health, social, environmental, and economic issues.” In other words, they help these smaller organizations by giving them access to some of the resources of larger organizations.

A Sustainable Foundation for Your Career

Foundation for Sustainable Development was founded in 1995, and they focus on four specific areas: Capacity Building, Grantmaking, International Development Training Programs, and Giving Circles. You can learn more about each of these by check out Foundation for Sustainable Development’s What We Do page. Foundation for Sustainable Development has built a really interesting model, and it sounds like their approach is not only focused on developing pragmatic solutions to everyday problems but also on ensuring that these solutions address the “qualitative interior needs of individuals and communities.” Put simply, they realize that understanding cultural issues is absolutely essential to accomplishing the typical goals of an international development organization. If you’re excited about what Foundation for Sustainable Development is doing, then you should check out their Jobs and Fellowships. Right now they’re looking for Local Program Coordinators in Salta, Argentina and Cochabamba, Bolivia, and they’re looking for a Fellow in Salta, Argentina. The job descriptions get really in depth, so be sure to read them carefully before you apply.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Foundation for Sustainable Development?

Bread for the City

Willy Franzen — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 14:59:49 +0000

After my Senior year of high school, I went to Washington, DC with my church youth group for a weeklong mission trip. I was amazed by how pockets of poverty and wealth wee interspersed throughout the city, and I got a firsthand look at how many people are struggling to get by in our nation’s capital. That was nearly ten years ago (scary I know), but I don’t think much has changed. Luckily, there are a ton of great organizations that are working to make the city a better place. Bread for the City is a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC that “provides vulnerable residents with holistic services including food, clothing, medical care, legal and social services, in an atmosphere of dignity, respect and peace.” They got their start in 1974, and they’ve now grown to being able to serve 10,000 residents a month and nearly 60,000 unique individuals annually.

Bread for You

Bread for the City offers a wide range of services, which you can learn all about here. They’re all about fulfilling basic needs, so they take care of things like food, health care, clothing, and more; however, they’re constantly reevaluating their offerings to ensure that they fulfill their community’s needs. As things change, they’re quick to act to ensure that the people whom they serve are taken care of. If you like what Bread for the City is all about, then you should check out their jobs on Idealist. Right now they’re looking for a Representative Payee Benefits Coordinator. It looks like the position is well suite for a new grad, so check it out.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Bread for the City?

Transportation Alternatives

Willy Franzen — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 15:09:59 +0000

I must admit that I probably use my car more than I should to get around in Chicago. It’s often just so easy. I still walk and take public transportation when it makes the most sense, but I could definitely be convinced to do both of those things more often. That’s the job of Transportation Alternatives, although they do it in New York, NY. They’re a non-profit organization with a mission to “reclaim New York City’s streets from the automobile, and to advocate for bicycling, walking and public transit as the best transportation alternatives.” There are a ton of negative externalities with cars (pollution, danger to pedestrians, noise, etc.), and plenty of positive externalities (less congestion, healthier citizens, etc.) with alternative forms of transportation, so it makes sense for an organization like Transportation Alternatives to be so adamant about their position.

Transport Yourself

New York City has already made a ton of progress on the transportation front. Since 1973 there are five times more cyclists on the streets and there are half as many pedestrian fatalities, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. Transportation Alternatives is all about the idea of “the livable street,” so they’re constantly “pushing city agencies and elected officials to introduce this innovation into the urban landscape.” To get a better sense for how Transportation Alternatives is approaching their mission, you should check out their Advocacy Campaigns and their Action Center. If you like what you see, then you’ll want to head over to the Transportation Alternatives Jobs page. Right now they’re looking for a New York City Bicycling Ambassador Program – Lead Organizer, New York City Bicycling Ambassadors, and a Press Secretary. All of the positions look great, so if you’re all about alternative transportation, then check them out.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What’s your favorite mode of transportation?

Room to Read

Willy Franzen — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 16:28:58 +0000

It’s hard to find a kid in the United States who doesn’t take school for granted. I can probably count on one hand the number of times I actually wanted to go to school in the morning, yet I had classrooms with computers, books, great teachers and more. In the developing world schools barely have any books or even decent structures to teach lessons in, yet the students are filled with enthusiasm. Room to Read is a San Francisco, CA based non-profit that “seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education.” It all started in Nepal when a Microsoft executive named John Wood who was traveling in Nepal and invited into a school in a small village. He was alarmed by how little they had to work with, so he quit his job and decided to build “a global team to work with rural villages to build sustainable solutions to their educational challenges.”

Knowledge Is Power

While Room to Read started in Nepal, they’ve since expanded to Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, South Africa, and Zambia while also expanding their program offerings. These include four primary programs: Reading Rooms, Local Language Publishing, School Rooms, and Girls’ Education. While the basics of education are pretty simple, Room to Read is constantly struggling with the nuances of tailoring their program efforts to the communities that they’re working in. The best way to get a feel for the entirety of what Room to Read is doing is to take a look at their latest annual report. One of the most amazing facts in the report is that they’ve paved the way for four million children in nine countries to get access to schools and libraries (and that number appears to be updated to 5.1 million on their website). If Room to Read sounds like an organization that you could be a part of, take a look at their Jobs page. They have a number of positions that seem suitable for new or recent grads including East Coast Development Assistant – Individual & Family Foundations (New York) and possibly Communications/Marketing Associate. There are also positions abroad including Southern Africa Literary Specialist, Development Assistant (Tokyo), Schoolroom Program Associate (Laos), and Literacy Consultant (Vietnam). There are some really interesting opportunities here, though the requirements to do go a bit beyond typical entry level opportunities.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Did you like going to school?

One Economy Corporation

Willy Franzen — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:13:21 +0000

We’re extremely lucky to be coming of age in a time when the Internet is opening up so many economic opportunities. When I graduated from college, I had no idea what was possible. As I became more and more frustrated with my job search, I started to look at online business models. Five years later I’ve built a profitable business that has helped people land awesome jobs and internships. Without today’s technology, I never could have built what I did so cheaply, which is why I’m convinced that making new technologies available to the masses at affordable prices is the key to economic growth. That’s why I’m so interested by the Washington, DC based One Economy Corporation. They’re “a global non-profit organization that leverages the power of technology and connects underserved communities around the world to vital information that will improve their lives.”

Where Do You Fit in One Economy?

One Economy works in a number of areas, but their big focus is on making the Internet and all of the information it provides access to available to all people. One Economy separates what they do into a few categories: Public-Purpose Media, Access Services, Digital Connectors, Broadband Mapping, Global Initiatives, and Sustainable Broadband Adoption. It’s amazing how many societal problems Internet access can help with–health care, education, and unemployment are just a few of them. I just hope that the broadband access that One Economy provides blocks the single greatest threat to economic prosperity: Farmville. But seriously, One Economy has been working in this space for a long time, and they’re having a serious impact. To learn more about their results, you should really read their most recent annual report. If you’d like to be a part of One Economy, then head over to their Jobs page. Current postings include Accounts Payable Clerk (Washington, DC), Guam Regional Staff Person (Guam), and Network Design Engineer (Winston Salem, NC). They also have some positions posted on Idealist including Web UI Developer (Portland, OR) and Community Technology Associate (San Jose, CA). There’s lots of variety here, so give the positions a closer look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about One Economy?

Sister Cities International

Willy Franzen — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 16:17:58 +0000

We’re all feeling for Japan right now. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and potential nuclear meltdowns are nightmares on their own, but having all three occur together is indescribably terrible. Luckily, Japan is a wealthy and technologically advanced nation that was and is well prepared to deal with such disasters. That doesn’t mean that they don’t need our support. Plenty will come from our federal government, but there will also be support sent from city to city. Why? Because of the relationships formed through Sister Cities International, a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that aims to “promote peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation–one individual, one community at a time.” They match up cities across the world to be sister cities (smaller cities may have one sister city while larger cities could have dozens). For instance Riverside, CA is Sendai, Japan’s (the epicenter of the earthquake) sister city, so the people in Riverside are already working to coordinate their part in the relief effort for Sendai. It’s exactly the “people-to-people, citizen diplomacy initiative” that President Eisenhower proposed in 1956.

What’s Your City’s Sister City?

The idea of using municipalities to foster international diplomacy seems a little strange at first, but when you read about Sister Cities International’s history and mission, you’ll start to understand why they’re doing what they’re doing. Another fascinating thing to look at is Sister Cities International’s statistics page. You can learn things like:

Among U.S. states, California has the most sister city programs with 122 communities and 388 partnerships.
More than one-third of the sister city organizations surveyed receive funding from local government to help their sister city program.
Among communities abroad, Japan has the most sister city programs with 228 communities and 239 partnerships.
Among U.S. states, California has the most sister city programs with 122 communities and 388 partnerships.

I really like what Sister Cities International is doing, and I hope that they’re able to make a significant impact in the relief effort in Japan. If reading about Sister Cities International gets you excited, then you should check out their Jobs page and then Idealist for their Youth Ambassador Program Coordinator position. The job looks suitable for a new or recent grad, and it will allow you to work on a student exchange program that focuses on “poverty and the environment, showing local and national examples of how cities and countries are working to alleviate the negative effects of both issues.” Take a look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Sister Cities International?

Nourish International

Willy Franzen — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 16:35:21 +0000

There’s something special about non-profits that start on college campuses. They’re born with a sense of scrappiness and youthful idealism. It’s just the combination that can make amazing things happen. Nourish International in Chapel Hill, NC is a perfect example of this. It all started with a UNC student named Sindhura Citineni. She started a student group called “Hunger Lunch.” They’d sell “rice, beans and cornbread in the Pit for $3 and use the profits to fund Nourish’s first project: a nutrition project in Hyderabad, India.” Since then the mission has continued to be “to eradicate poverty by engaging students and empowering communities,” but they’ve certainly expanded their reach. Students raise money on campus throughout the year, and then they travel abroad in the summer to fund and conduct community development projects.

Nourishing Opportunities

Starting in 2007 Nourish International started thinking about expanding to more campuses, and they launched chapters at North Carolina State and Michigan. In 2008 they got serious about expansion and launched its Chapter Founders Program. They accepted applications from students interested in founding their own chapters, and then accepted students from 19 universities. This model allows Nourish International to stay lean while rapidly growing their ability to do meaningful work. You can get a full overview of how Nourish International works here, and you can take a closer look at their projects here. Nourish International appears to post all of their opportunities on Idealist. Right now they’re looking for Chapter Founders across the country, and they also have a one-year Fellowship Program based in their home office. It looks like a great organization to be involved with, so take a closer look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

NourishInternational.org
Jobs at Nourish International (Idealist)
About Nourish International
Nourish International’s Team
Nourish International’s Projects
Nourish International’s History
Nourish International’s Blog

What do you think of Nourish International?

Visions in Action

Willy Franzen — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 17:33:28 +0000

It’s amazing what a single person can do to change the world. These days it’s as easy as ever. Whether you build a website that millions of people use or do volunteer work in a small town in Africa, you can have an amazing impact all on your own. And even better, you can find tons of people and organizations whom you can work with to magnify your impact. One of those organizations is Visions in Action. They are a Washington, DC based non-profit international development organization that “is committed to achieving social and economic justice in the developing world through grassroots programs and communities of self-reliant volunteers.” They work in Mexico, Liberia, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, and even in the United States.

Share Your Visions

Visions in Action was founded in 1989 as Africa Development Corps, but as they expanded they changed their name to be more inclusive. They now work in four key program areas: Food Security, Education, Health, and International Exchange. They do this with a grassroots approach and a strong focus on volunteerism. The goal is participate in projects where volunteers can go to work in a community and get a project to the point where the community can be self-reliant. Here’s an example of a Visions in Action success story. If you like what Visions in Action is doing, then you should check out their Jobs page. Right now they’re hiring Part-Time International Youth Exchange Coordinators in Washington, DC; Long Island, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Austin, TX; and Minneapolis, MN. These positions look perfectly suited for new or recent grads, and if you really want to dig in you should check out their Supported Volunteer Positions.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Visions in Action?

Citizen Effect

Willy Franzen — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 17:39:29 +0000

When is the last time that you felt that you made a difference? For me it was yesterday when I got an e-mail about how a number of recent grads landed jobs with an employer I featured a few months back. Hopefully it wasn’t too long ago for you either, but if it was, you might want to check out Citizen Effect. They’re a Washington, DC based non-profit that “connects Citizen Philanthropists to the poorest of the poor communities around the world.” What’s a “Citizen Philantrhopist?” It’s someone who isn’t happy just making a donation, but wants to do more. They don’t have to be rich, but they do have to be willing to dig in for the cause. Citizen Effect “allows people to identify a project they believe in, raise capital through a variety of innovative tools, and maintain a direct and lasting relationship with their partner communities.” Sounds like a good idea to me.

What Effect Will You Have?

The best way to get a feel for what Citizen Effect does is to read their How It Works page and then browse through their projects. In a lot of ways Citizen Effect feels like a microfinance site, but the objective is somewhat different. Still, you get to pick the projects that you support. You’re not just sending off your money into a big black hole. If you like the idea of “focusing on small, but high impact projects,” then you should check out Citizen Effect’s jobs, which are posted on Idealist. Right now they have a couple of opportunities available, and one seems well suited to new or recent grads: National Grassroots Organizer. It looks like a great opportunity, so check it out and see if it makes sense for you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Citizen Effect?

Location Labs

Willy Franzen — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:31:24 +0000

I spent the end of last week in Munich and the weekend in Paris. It was a great trip, but I was a little thrown off. I travel a good amount within the US, and I didn’t realize how much location-based services have become a part of my routine when I visit a new city. I’m constantly using my iPhone for Google Maps, Yelp, Foursquare, Twitter, and a few other apps—all of which use GPS to help me make the most of my time in the city. In France and Germany my iPhone doesn’t get data, and free Wi-Fi is pretty tough to find except for at Starbucks. Location-based services are only becoming more and more essential to everyday life, which is why I’m interested in Emeryville, CA based Location Labs. They’re an Inc. 500 company that “provides advanced location-based technologies and scalable and secure software platforms that allow third-party developers to build applications and services that can remotely locate more than 150 million devices.” That’s led to a 655% three-year growth rate and $7.9 million in annual revenue last year.

Locating Jobs

While the companies like Foursquare, Yelp, Twitter, and Facebook get all of the press for what they’re doing with location-based services, Location Labs stays out of the spotlight to some extent. The reason for this is that the software that they build is for mobile phone developers, not consumers. Although you may actually use apps based on Location Labs products, you’d probably never know it. However, if you were a mobile app developer, you’d probably be much more familiar with names like Geofencing, Universal Location Service, and Sparkle Platform. If you want to dig deep into the world of location-based services, then a job at Location Labs would be well worth considering. If you take a look at their Job postings, you’ll see opportunities like Technical Writer, Front-end Web Developer, Product Data Analyst, and Smartphone Developer Evangelist. Most of these jobs require some pretty strong technical skills, so give them a close look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What kind of location-based apps do you use?

Global Visionaries

Willy Franzen — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 14:41:08 +0000

I don’t know if you’ve been watching much tv lately, but here in Chicago every commercial seems to be for a political candidate. These people keep claiming that they’re going to make the world a better place, but I’m not very optimistic. Politicians are a necessary evil, I guess, but what we really need more of is social entrepreneurs—people who truly put everything that they have into solving some of the world’s problems. Global Visionaries is a Seattle, WA based non-profit that “empowers youth from diverse socio-economic, ethnic, racial, and geographic backgrounds to become active leaders and global citizens who promote justice.” Young people (like you and me) are our best hope for social change, and Global Visionaries is all about providing even younger people (high schoolers) with opportunities to start making a difference through a variety of community development projects.

Are You a Global Visionary?

Global Visionaries’ programs combine localized leadership training with “a cultural immersion trip to Guatemala, and local and international service projects focused on social justice and environmental conservation.” And one of the interesting things that Global Visionaries does with their programs is that they intentionally “bring together 50% of [their] participants from low-income families and 50% from middle/upper income families.” Beyond their headquarters in Seattle, WA and Antigua, Guatemala, they also have satellite offices in San Francisco and Northern Colorado. Right now they only have one job posted in their Seattle office, but it seems perfect for a new grad. Global Visionaries is looking for a Development and Executive Assistant. Check it out and see if it sounds like something that you want to do.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Global Visionaries?

The Urban Institute

Willy Franzen — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 15:54:28 +0000

Yesterday I told you about Bonobos and their awesome men’s clothes. They’re having an amazing sample with ridiculous prices on a lot of their stuff. And on top of that you can get $50 off your first order.

One of the wonderful things about running this site is all of the reader e-mails that I get. Some of my favorites are from readers who have had success stories about jobs they’ve landed through the site, but I also love it when you guys introduce me to companies or organizations that I haven’t heard of. One reader recently wrote me to recommend The Urban Institute, where he had been temping. It’s a Washington, DC based non-profit that does “nonpartisan economic and social policy research.” They were founded in 1968 in response to President Johnson’s call for “independent nonpartisan analysis of the problems facing America’s cities and their residents,” and they now work in all 50 states and in more than 28 countries.

A Research Based Approach

Beyond hearing great things about what it’s like to work at The Urban Institute, I’ve also read some great things about what they’ve accomplished in 40+ years of operation. Yes, the list came from them, but you have to be impressed with a list of accomplishments like this one. And if you’re more concerned about the future, then you can take a look at The Urban Institute’s current projects. What I really like about The Urban Institute is that they are tirelessly focused on finding the facts, not promoting political opinions. It truly is all about the research. If you like what you see, then you should check out careers at The Urban Institute. Their current postings include quite a few opportunities for new or recent grads including Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center Research Associate, Health Policy Center Research Associate, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center Project Associate, Grants/Contracts Specialist – Center on Labor, Human Services and Population, Health Policy Center Research Assistant, Programmer/Analyst, and a few other positions. Check them out and see what interests you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about The Urban Institute?

Root Capital

Willy Franzen — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 17:46:08 +0000

Are you a current college senior who loves animals? Check out entry level opportunities with Nestle Purina for an awesome way to spend your time after graduation.

Up to this point I’ve been able to build my business with only my own investment and a little from my family. I don’t know if I’ll ever take outside capital, but I do know that most businesses require some form of investment to get off the ground. In the United States getting capital is pretty easy—there are both equity and debt options to fund your business. In developing nations, capital isn’t nearly as free flowing—mostly because the investments are far too risky. The microfinance movement has helped, but many upstarts are too big for the kind of capital that they offer. Root Capital is a Boston, MA based non-profit that has created “a new class of capital sitting between microcredit and commercial lending, enabling rural communities to unlock wealth and build sustainable livelihoods.” They seem to be modeled after for-profit investment firms, but there investments are obviously done with a very different focus.

The Root of Your Job Search

Since it was founded, Root Capital has “provided more than $200 million in credit to 282 small and growing businesses in 30 countries in Latin America and Africa with a 99% repayment rate from [their] borrowers and a 100% repayment rate to [their] investors.” Those are some amazing results from an investment standpoint, and they look even better when you consider how the investments have helped push forward the development of rural communities. If you look at where Root Capital works, you’ll see that they’re financing ecotourism businesses in Belize, coffee businesses in El Salvador, apparel businesses in Liberia, mango businesses in Burkina Fasao, and lots more. If you’re excited about international development, but also like the free market approach to investment, then you should check out Root Capital’s Jobs page. Right now they have a few opportunities that seem like good fits for new grads including Investor Relations Associate, Finance and Operations Assistant, Financial Analysis Fellow, and a couple of positions that are posted in Spanish that I can’t understand. The deadlines have passed for a few of these positions, but they were accepting applications on a rolling basis and haven’t taken the job postings down yet, so it’s worth a shot anyway.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Root Capital?

Kid Power

Willy Franzen — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 15:42:34 +0000

On Thursday I got to see Seth Godin at a live event that he put on in Chicago (it was awesome). One of the most powerful things that he said was on the topic of education and how our system is broken. He said that “parents should home school their kids every day from 3 PM to 10 PM.” He doesn’t mean helping them with homework or reteaching them what they learned earlier in the day. He means that parents should get their kids working on interesting problems that are stimulating and worth doing. Kid Power is a Washington, DC based non-profit organization “that provides [after school] educational programming for 275 youth from underserved communities.” They step in for parents who may not be available or equipped to provide their kids with “home schooling” opportunities.

Do You Have Kid Power?

Kid Power’s programs seem as though they could offer some pretty exciting opportunities for kids. There’s baking, gardening, sculpture, performing arts, and more. The goal is to empower “youth to become informed and engaged advocates for change in their own lives and in their communities.” Kid Power offers “after-school programs at six public elementary schools, two middle schools, and four neighborhood/DPR sites,” so they’re operating on a relatively small scale now, but that’s how successes start. If you’re intrigued by their programs, you should check out their jobs on Idealist. There’s only one position posted right now—Spanish Speaking Site Coordinator. It’s only part-time, but the non-profit job market is tough right now, so this is the kind of opportunity that you shouldn’t be overlooking.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Kid Power?

Ubuntu Education Fund

Willy Franzen — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 15:51:32 +0000

When I came across a job posting that mentioned Ubuntu, I assumed it had something to do with software. I’m kind of a geek sometimes, so I was thinking about the Linux operating system named Ubuntu (which is the #1 result when you search the word in Google). It turns out that Ubuntu, according to Wikipedia, is also “an ethical concept of African origin” that focuses “on people’s allegiances and relations with each other.” The Ubuntu Education Fund may not be teaching anyone about Linux, but they’re certainly using the idea of Ubuntu to make the world a better place. They are based in Port Elizabeth township in South Africa, where they reach “over 40,000 children with life-saving health and educational resources and services.” The Fund also has offices in London and New York City, which enable them to grow and support the on the ground operations in South Africa.

What Does Ubuntu Mean to You?

The Ubuntu Education Fund’s model for development is based on 8 pillars. They are: Community Involvement, Accountability, Legitimacy, Evaluation, Organizational Learning and Growth, Sound Financial Management, Creativity, and Long Term Thinking. These are the basis for a number of programs that include an Empowerment Initiative, HIV Prevention Outreach, a Clinic, and Child Care and Support. It’s amazing that the Ubuntu Education Fund has been able to take their community focused approach and take it to such a large scale. It goes to show how serious the needs in the Port Elizabeth township are. If you feel called to join the Ubuntu Education Fund, you can find out more by checking out their Jobs page. However, you should note that their only current job posting is on Idealist, and it’s for an Assistant to the Managing Director in New York City.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What did you think of when you first read Ubuntu?

The Financial Clinic

Willy Franzen — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:50:30 +0000

When I have a personal finance question, curiosity, or problem, I look to Ramit Sethi for help. His book I Will Teach You To Be Rich and blog by the same name are amazing resources for anyone regardless of financial standing or background. Although people love to blame Wall Street and other societal causes for their own financial misfortune, the truth is that a little education can go a long way in helping people achieve financial success. While Ramit provides educational resources for individuals, The Financial Clinic, a New York City based non-profit, provides a more hands-on approach to promoting economic progress. They call it “a Peace Corps for financial stability.” The truth is that most college students and new grads have enough of their own financial struggles, but if you’re the type of person who has a plan and a system, then The Financial Clinic might be worth taking a closer look at.

Walk in to the Clinic

The Financial Clinic was founded in 2005 to help “build working poor families and individuals’ financial security by addressing their immediate financial challenges and helping them create trajectories for long-term goals and financial mobility.” If you replace “working poor families” with “new grads” and “financial” with “career,” then it kind of sounds kind of like what I’m doing. Anyway, The Clinic focuses on five distinct practice areas, which are Assets, Banking, Credit, Debt, and Taxes. They have a ton of resources and partnerships to help them focus programs on each of these areas, but the key to getting the work done on the ground is their Fellowship Program. You can find the full rundown here, but the basic gist of it is that recruits “devote a year to counseling individuals and families through immediate crises such as consumer debt, home foreclosure and tax difficulties.” It sounds like an amazing program, so take a look and see if it fits you. I had trouble with the application link, so you may want to use the contact information posted on Idealist.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Are you financially literate?

OneAmerica

Willy Franzen — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:02:26 +0000

Watching the fighter jets scream across the sky during practice runs for the Chicago Air and Water show reminded me of September 11th. I was standing on the beach watching smoke billow from the Twin Towers and could see fighter jets—the only planes in the sky—cruising along as they patrolled the air. I also remember having a sense of anger, and wanting to have someone to blame for the atrocities. I think that most people shared that feeling, at least initially, but some were far less rational about how they dealt with it. September 11th was obviously a terrible day for every American, but it was also the day when life got much harder for people in American of Arab, Muslim, South Asian and other backgrounds. That’s why Seattle, WA based OneAmerica (formerly Hate Free Zone) was founded immediately after September 11th. Their mission is “to advance the fundamental principles of democracy and justice through building power in immigrant communities, in collaboration with key allies.”

OneAmerica OneYou

Beyond facing discrimination, Arabs, Muslims, South Asians in America have also been adversely affected by new government policies. OneAmerica helps give these people a voice in the political process. By working directly in the affected communities, OneAmerica is able to build trust and get people mobilized in a way that can make a difference. OneAmerica does this by focusing on four areas: Civic Engagement, Community Organizing, Policy Advocacy and Research, and Communications and Media. If you’d like to be a part of the work that OneAmerica is doing, then you should take a look at their jobs on Idealist. Right now they’re looking for an Individual Giving and Development Coordinator and a Field Organizer, so check out the full descriptions and see if they get you excited.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think about OneAmerica?

National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

Willy Franzen — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:44:54 +0000

I’ve done a good amount of traveling this summer, and it just so happens that a number of the cities that I’ve visited have significant homeless populations. San Diego stands out the most, but there’s also Denver, San Francisco, and my home, Chicago. It showed me how serious mental health issues can become for individuals and communities. Obviously, mental health issues affect people from all walks of life, but with the homeless it’s visible in a way that most other mental health issues aren’t. The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is a Washington, DC based organization that acts as “the unifying voice of America’s behavioral health organizations.” They support more than 1,700 member organizations and serve the “more than 6 million adults and children with mental illnesses and addiction disorders.”

Fighting for Our Future

The best way to get a feel for the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is to watch the video that I’ve embedded below called “Fighting for Our Future.”

The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare “advocates for public policies that ensure that people who are ill can access comprehensive healthcare services,” which means that they’re involved in all kinds of interesting work. If you’d like to be a part of it, you’ll want to check out their Jobs page. It actually doesn’t have their only posting right now, but I was able to find it on Idealist. They’re looking for a Membership Associate, and the position appears to be suitable for new or recent grads (although the description is a bit unclear on that).

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare?