One Day, One Job » outreach

HealthCorps

Willy Franzen — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:33:44 +0000

If you’ve been job searching for a while, there’s a good chance that you’ve picked up a daytime tv habit. That’s not the most productive thing to do with your time, but at least you know who Dr. Oz is. If you don’t know, he’s a heart surgeon who was made famous by his appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He now has his own show, but he also started a non-profit with his wife called HealthCorps. It’s based in New York, NY, and it’s aimed at “fighting the obesity and mental resilience crisis by getting American students and communities across the country to take charge of their health.” The organization was founded in 2003 and already has its peer mentoring programs in 54 high schools across 13 states. By the end of the year they expect to impact more than 100,000 students, and by 2015 they want to be in 100 high schools across all 50 states.

Join the Corps

The way HealthCorps structures their programs makes so much sense that I’m surprised more non-profits don’t have a similar structure. The base of their programs is focused on in-school programs targeted directly at changing student behavior. The next level is community outreach programs focused on getting more people involved beyond just the students. Finally, they do advocacy work at the national, state, and city levels. To get a deeper feeling for how HealthCorps does its work, watch this video (e-mail readers may need to click through):

If you like what you see, then you should probably check out HealthCorps’ jobs on Idealist. There are a ton of internships posted, but the only full-time job is for a Junior Accounting Analyst. Oddly enough, one of HealthCorps’ main ways of doing work is through their Coordinator position. It’s essentially a mentor for healthy living. You have to know to look for it, but there’s also a place to apply to be a HealthCorps Coordinator. I almost missed it, so they should probably do a better job of promoting it.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think of HealthCorps?

The Nature Conservancy

Willy Franzen — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:50:09 +0000

Last night I started watching Planet Earth and ended up staying awake later than I intended. This morning the same channel was on, and I ended up watching documentaries on Yellowstone. There aren’t many things that I find more fascinating than nature, so it’s easy for me to get caught up in these kinds of shows. It’s also why I think the work of The Nature Conservancy is so important. They’re an international non-profit organization based in Arlington, VA that is “the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.” The Nature Conservancy was founded in 1951, and since then they have grown their membership to more than 1 million people. The organization’s huge size gives it a ton of power and has enabled it to do some really amazing work.

Nature Over Nurture

Everything that The Nature Conservancy does is rooted in science. They gather facts first, and then they take action on a local and a global scale. That’s why they’ve been able to protect “more than 119 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide.” What strikes me most about The Nature Conservancy is that they take a “non-confrontational, pragmatic” approach that sets them apart from some other conservation organizations. This may occasionally limit their short-term effectiveness, but it ensures that in the long run The Nature Conservancy will have the respect and legitimacy to continue protecting ecologically important lands and waters. If you want to dig deeper into this topic, you should really check out The Nature Conservancy’s Why We’re An Effective Nonprofit page. There’s a ton more to check out on The Nature Conservancy’s website (like How They Work and Where They Work), but I’ll leave the rest of the research to you. If you like what the organization is all about, check out their Careers page. They have some great opportunities for new or recent grads including (sorry I can’t link to the postings, but it’s a bad applicant tracking system):

Burn Crew Technician (Glyndon, MN or Karlstad, MN or Center, ND or Clear Lake, SD)
Philanthropy Coordinator (San Francisco, CA)
Preserve Management Assistant – Prairie Forest Border Ecoregion (Cushing, MN)
Seasonal Field Representative (Keene Valley, NY)
Human Resources Coordinator (Austin, TX)
Stewardship Field Assistant (Brunswick, ME)
Prairie Recovery Specialist (Watson, MN)
Conservation Coordinator (Anchorage, AK)
Preserve Management / Bison Research Technician (Leola, SD)
Grassland Bird Technician (Minor, ND)
Digital Marketing Programmer Analyst (Arlington, VA)
Stewardship Assistant (Choteau, MT)
Communications Coordinator (Oklahoma City, OK)
Assistant Land Steward (Letts, IA)

If you love nature and want to work at a non-profit, it would be hard to beat a gig with The Nature Conservancy. So take a look at these positions, and see if any are a good fit.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about The Nature Conservancy?

Career Transition for Dancers

Willy Franzen — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:04:02 +0000

So far our survey says that you find the job search frustrating. Tell us more so that we can help.

You often hear about professional athletes who go broke within a few years of retirement by frivolously spending away the millions that they earned. But what about the athletes that never even earn millions? They have it way harder. They spend most of their lives developing a career that is tied to their physical capabilities, and when they have to retire 20-30 years before most people, they’re left with a pretty tough outlook. This is true for players of nearly all sports that you can play professionally, but it’s also true for dancers. That’s why the non-profit Career Transition for Dancers exists. They’re based in New York, NY; Chicago, IL; and Los Angeles, CA; and they “are committed to providing the experience, insight and resources dancers need to define their career possibilities and develop rewarding post-performance careers.” Dancers, much like other athletes, still have a ton of value to offer after their bodies stop being able to keep up–Career Transition for Dancers helps them put their skills to work.

A Career Transition for You

Believe it or not, Career Transition for Dancers has been around since 1985. You can read up on the organization’s history here. Since then they’ve working in a number of program areas including career counseling, national and local outreach projects, scholarships and grants, maintaining a gallery, and providing online resources. They “have provided over 51,650 hours of individual and group career counseling, with a dollar value of over $4 million, and awarded over $3 million in educational and entrepreneurial support,” so they’re having a serious impact. If you love dance and want to help dancers take the next step in their careers, then you should check out Jobs at Career Transition for Dancers on Idealist. Right now they only have one position posted, but it’s a perfect fit for a new or recent grad: Gala and Client Outreach Coordinator (New York, NY). Check it out and see if it moves you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Career Transition for Dancers?

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?

VOICES of September 11th

Willy Franzen — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:06:26 +0000

We all have our own September 11th stories. I shared mine last year when I wrote about the National September 11 Memorial Museum. These stories, whether they are from the front lines or from people thousands of miles away, are what will ensure that we continue to use the memory of those whose lives were lost 10 years ago today as a positive force. VOICES of September 11th is a non-profit organization that was founded by two women who lost loved ones in the attacks to serve as “an information clearinghouse for those affected by the attacks through the use of a Web site, electronic newsletter, direct mailings and media outreach.” They are based in New Canaan, CT with a satellite office in New Brunswick, NJ, and they have expanded their mission over the years to include “providing continuity of care to promote resiliency and address the long-term issues” of those who were directly affected by the attacks.

Share Your VOICE

VOICES of September 11th seems to continually adapt as the needs of people affected by September 11th change. They’ve been quite busy preparing for the 10th anniversary, and I’m sure that the coming years will mark another chapter in the evolution of the organization. To get a better sense of what exactly VOICES does, you should visit their website at VoicesOfSeptember11.org. You’ll be able to see exactly what they’ve been working on. If you like what you see, you may want to consider a job with them. Their Jobs page doesn’t show any openings right now, but they do have Internship and Volunteer Opportunities. And you can always reach out to them to see if they might be able to find a place for you to fit into the organization.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

How are you commemorating September 11th?

Pathways to Housing

Willy Franzen — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 17:38:43 +0000

It’s hard not to notice homelessness when you live in a big city like Chicago. I can’t even leave my apartment without seeing a panhandler–there’s one guy who is always sitting in front of the Starbucks down the street during the day and in front of the Hooters next door at night. I don’t give him money because I don’t think that it helps solve the root of the problem, but I often think about what would be an effective solution. Pathways to Housing is a non-profit organization that seems to have it figured out. They’re based in New York, NY with offices in Burlington, VT; Washington, DC: and Philadelphia, PA, and they’ve taken a “housing first” approach that is focused on “addressing homelessness among people with psychiatric disabilities.” In other words, they provide housing before any other services, and they’ve found that this is a far more effective way to attack the root causes of homelessness.

Where Does Your Pathway Lead?

If you give a person a home, they’ll quite obviously no longer be homeless. But you won’t have really solved anything. However, Pathways to Housing has found that providing housing first makes it far easier to offer “supportive treatment services in the areas of mental and physical health, substance abuse, education, and employment.” It’s a counterintuitive model, but it seems to work. You can read more about it and how it’s now being used all over the world here. If you like what Pathways to Housing is doing, you’ll want to check out their Work with Us page. For some reason their Job Openings link won’t work for me, but you can check out their current postings on Idealist or try using our job search engine. There are some entry level Assistant and Coordinator type positions.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Pathways to Housing?

Atlantic Council

Willy Franzen — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:45:49 +0000

Our country’s relationship with Europe started off pretty rocky. There were all kinds of conflicts including the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Spanish American War, and plenty of others. It wasn’t really until after World Wars I and II that U.S-Europe relations really began to stabilize. That’s why in 1961 The Atlantic Council was founded. They are a Washington, DC based think tank that “promotes constructive U.S. leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the central role of the Atlantic community in meeting the international challenges of the 21st century.” Over the organization’s 50 years its mission and programs have evolved, but they remain focused on maintaining a constructive trans-Atlantic dialogue.

Join the Council

I realize that it’s kind of hard to grasp what think tanks actually do–especially when their mission is something as nebulous as promoting “constructive U.S. leadership and engagement in international affairs.” Here are some things that the Atlantic Council is working on that will give you a better idea of what they actually do:

identifying and shaping responses to major issues facing the Atlantic Alliance and transatlantic relations;
building consensus on U.S. policy towards Russia, China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan;
promoting balanced responses to growing energy needs and environmental protection;
drafting roadmaps for U.S. policy towards the Balkans, Africa, Cuba, Iraq, Iran, and Libya;
engaging students from across the Euro-Atlantic area in the processes of NATO transformation and enlargement

To really get to know more about the Atlantic Council, you can take a look at the Atlantic Council’s Programs and Publications. If you’re interested in getting involved, then head over to The Atlantic Council’s Jobs page. Right now they’re looking for an Outreach and Public Events Assistant – Office of Development and External Relations. Give it a look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about the Atlantic Council?

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?

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?

Ahkun

Willy Franzen — Sun, 15 May 2011 14:08:43 +0000

The last century or so has been all about mass produced goods. Everybody wants what everyone else has. If all your friends had a Chinpokomon, then you’d want one too. That’s starting to change. More and more people are interested in handcrafted, bespoke goods. Consumerism is changing, albeit slowly. Additionally, more and more people are looking to do good when they make purchases. Whether it’s wearing a Livestrong bracelet or TOMS Shoes, people like showing off their inner “do gooder.” Ahkun is a New York, NY based non-profit that serves the intersection of these two consumer trends. They “work with entrepreneurs who have received microloans” by connecting “them to the global marketplace–creating sustainable businesses and closing the gap between microfinance lenders and borrowers, consumers and producers.” In other words, Ahkun allows you to buy handmade goods from people who are doing their part to grow developing economies.

Ahkun Means Thank You

It’s cool enough to get a hand knitted scarf or hand sewn dress made by some hipster in Brooklyn, but it’s even cooler to get a scarf made by a woman who is helping to build her community in Cambodia. Even in a most selfish act like buying something for yourself, you can do good because of the power of Ahkun. They’re a very new non-profit, and they’re only in the early stages of working with entrepreneurs who have been funded through Kiva, but there’s a ton of promise here. They’re not explicitly hiring full-time, but most early stage non-profits aren’t. They do have unpaid internships posted on Idealist in Outreach and Partnerships, Strategy and Marketing, and Development and Fundraising. Maybe you can start a conversation with them about a bigger, more permanent role. You’d have to be able to offer a lot of value early on, but it’s worth a shot.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Would you buy something from Ahkun?

Washington Wilderness Coalition

Willy Franzen — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 13:30:17 +0000

Sponsored Jobs: Love restaurants and looking for an entry level job? SinglePlatform has a ton of positions that are perfect for you. They’re our sponsor this week, and you can check out all of their positions here.

Yesterday I was too busy talking about candy to mention that it was Earth Day. Luckily, a good friend reminded me that I should probably cover an environmentally minded non-profit today. I did a quick search, and came across the Washington Wilderness Coalition. They’re based in Seattle, WA, and they aim to “to preserve and restore wild areas in Washington State through citizen empowerment, support for grassroots community groups, advocacy and public education.” That’s something that I can get behind since I’ve enjoyed Washington State’s wilderness. In 2007 I spent a day fly fishing the Klickitat River. I didn’t catch anything but one tiny rainbow trout/steelhead, but I got to enjoy the scenery and spot some cool wildlife. It’s just the kind of place that Washington Wilderness Coalition aims to protect, and it’s definitely worth protecting.

Join the Coalition

Washington Wilderness Coalition is over 30 years old and 10,000 members strong, and they keep working to idnetify new issues and put together new projects to achieve their mission of preserving Washington’s wildlife. Some of the issues that they’re currently concerned with include mining, logging, off-road vehicle access, and endangered species. One of the organization’s relatively early successes was raising “the public support necessary to pass the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act, which protected over a million acres of wilderness.” You can read about more recent successes here. If you like what you see, then you should check out Washington Wilderness Coalition’s Jobs page and their Idealist page. Right now they’re looking for a Volunteer Coordinator and a Telephone Outreach Organizer and Membership Assistant (part-time). The latter position is posted on the organization’s Jobs page, so give it a look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about Washington Wilderness Coalition?

Urban Dove

Willy Franzen — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:09:59 +0000

I’ve mentioned before that I’m on the board of National Coaching Fellows, a non-profit that aims to close the achievement gap by using sports coaches as positive influencers. Now that you know that, you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that I’m a big believer in the power of extracurricular activities as tools to improve education. That’s why I was so interested in Urban Dove when I came across them. They’re a New York, NY based non-profit organization that “was founded in 1998 with the belief that all children, regardless of their economic or social background, should be taught the critical skills needed to succeed, and be given the support, encouragement, and opportunity to practice those skills in the real world.” The organization was founded by a former coach and teacher, and it focuses on energizing, educating, and empowering youth.

A Bird in the Hand

Urban Dove pursues their mission through four core programs. The first is HiRisers, which is an after-school program where high school students are trained to work with elementary and middle school students. The second is College All-Stars. This program educates students and their families on the ins and outs of the college application process. The third is Lenox Project, which takes HiRisers participants and sends them to camp for a week in the summer. Finally, the fourth program is Net Gain Project, and this provides free basketball court space for 16 schools that wouldn’t otherwise have access to courts. If you’re excited about these programs and want to be part of “creating a supportive, positive environment where kids can develop the life skills and confidence they need to reach their full potential,” then you should check out Urban Dove’s jobs on Idealist. Right now they’re looking for a College Access Coordinator and a Summer Group Leader. Take a look and see if these jobs might make sense for you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Urban Dove?

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?

Rock the Earth

Willy Franzen — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 14:48:31 +0000

Music has always been connected with social change. There’s just something about it that gets people motivated to take action. But often the music can also be a distraction. It takes a delicate balance to combine the power of music with a specific cause to elicit a positive response. That’s what Rock the Earth is all about. They’re a Denver, CO based non-profit organization that is “dedicated to protecting and defending America’s natural resources through partnerships with the music industry and the world-wide environmental community.” They were founded in 2002, and since then they’ve been “defending the planet one beat at a time.”

What Are You Rocking?

Rock the Earth identifies specific projects and works tirelessly to increase awareness about a variety of environmental threats. Some of their past projects include protecting wilderness from drilling on Colorado’s Roan Plateau, protecting marine ecosystem off the coast of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, and targeting cruise ships for their discharges and emissions. They’ll often tie in their music partners to help with specific causes. There are some big names on their partner list including Alanis Morissette, Allman Brothers Band, Barenaked Ladies, Dave Matthews Band, Guster, Incubus, Ozzy Osbourne, Phish, Tom Petty & the Heatbreakers, and lots more. If these artists aren’t tied to specific causes, then they’re participating in the Rock the Earth Tours. If you’re digging what Rock the Earth is all about, then you should check out their jobs on Idealist. Right now they’re looking for an Office Administrator. It’s not totally an entry level job, but I’m pretty sure that the right new grad could be a great fit for this position.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Are you rockin’ the Earth?

Volunteers of America

Willy Franzen — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 15:22:13 +0000

When you’re job searching, volunteering is a great way to both put your skills to use and develop new skills. There are countless non-profit organization that put volunteers to work in situations where they can really make a difference. One of our country’s largest volunteer organizations is Volunteers of America, which is a faith-based non-profit headquartered in Alexandria, VA. With their staff of 16,000 paid employees and 70,000 volunteers, they’re able to help “more than 2 million people in over 400 communities in 48 states.” Since the organization was founded in 1896, they “have supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable groups, including at-risk youth, the frail elderly, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, people with disabilities, and those recovering from addictions.” An organization that has been around as long as Volunteers of America has must adapt to changes over the years. While they continue to remain focused on providing neighborly aid to all people, it looks like Volunteers of America is putting more emphasis on helping the growing population of aging Americans.

Volunteer for a Job

Volunteers of America has a nice video on their About page that goes more in-depth in describing how they work and what they do. I’ve embedded it below (e-mail readers need to click through).

Volunteers of America also has this Overview sheet that provides some really specific information about the organization’s work. If you’re moved by their mission, then you’ll want to check out Volunteers of America’s job opportunities. They separate these into three groups: National Office, Nationwide, and Health Services. The Nationwide section actually has over 200 positions posted, along with 25 entry level opportunities, so it probably makes the most sense to check out. They have a wide range of opportunities, and they’re in a variety of locations, so you should be able to find something that piques your interest.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Volunteers of America?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Willy Franzen — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 13:56:39 +0000

Generally, we as a society trust scientists. We see them as unbiased and smarter than us, so we look to them when we need answers to complex questions. However, we often don’t respond to those answers as well as we should. Part of the problem is that science is ever changing—what was thought to be true last year has now been updated (or reversed) based on new research. When you have different experts on the same subject saying different things, you as a layperson don’t know whom to listen to. But when scientists come together on an issue and vocally push for action, it’s time to listen. The Union of Concerned Scientists is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1969 “by a group of scientists and students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to protest the militarization of scientific research and promote science in the public interest.” They’re based in Cambridge, MA, and they are “now an alliance of more than 250,000 citizens and scientists” with members “from all walks of life: parents and businesspeople, biologists and physicists, teachers and students.”

Show Your Concern

The Union of Concerned Scientists focuses on three fronts: government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices. By being vocal in these three areas, they hope to help build a safer and healthier world. The key area of focus for the Union of Concerned Scientists is very clearly the environment, which makes sense if you look at their specific program areas which include Scientific Integrity, Global Warming, Clean Vehicles, Clean Energy, Nuclear Power, Nuclear Weapons and Global Security, and Food and Agriculture. If you want a closer look at the kind of work that the Union of Concerned Scientists does, then you can take a look at their history of accomplishments. If that list inspires you, then it’s time to start thinking about getting a job with the Union of Concerned Scientists. Their Jobs page shows two openings that look well suited for a new or recent grad: Benefits and Accounting Associate (Cambridge, MA) and Program and Outreach Associate (Washington, DC). Both jobs look really interesting, so see if they’re what you’re looking for.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about the Union of Concerned Scientists?

Plan

Willy Franzen — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 16:57:02 +0000

It’s hard to imagine anything more precious than childhood. It’s a period of life that is meant to be carefree and full of potential. Yet so many children across the world endure suffering and hardship, and even worse there is little or no hope for a brighter future. Plan is an international development non-profit organization that works “to promote child rights and lift millions of girls and boys out of poverty.” They do work in “48 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas” while raising funds in 21 countries. In the 70 years that Plan has been operating, they’ve improved the lives of more than 1.5 million children in communities totaling 9 million people. That’s massive impact. Plan is headquartered in Warwick, RI, and they also have a presence in Washington, DC. By focusing on children, Plan is able to not only help those who are most vulnerable, but also to help build a future generation that is prepared to offer a better life for their children.

What’s Your Plan?

Plan’s programs focus on eight core areas: Education, Protection, Economic Security, Health, Sexual Health (including HIV), Emergencies, Water and Sanitation, and Child Participation. They’ve identified these as the most pressing needs for children across the world, and they’re working hard to ensure that both immediate and long-term needs are taken care of for the children of the world. The Plan website is really comprehensive, so you can learn all about the kind of work they do and how they do it. If you want a quick overview, you may want to check out the Plan FAQ. If you like what you see, then it’s time to take a look at jobs at Plan. Right now they only have one position that seems suitable for a new grads. It’s a Donor Services Representative position on their Finance team. Take a look, and if it’s not for you, keep your eye out for other jobs at Plan.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Plan?

StudentsFirst

Willy Franzen — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 16:46:10 +0000

Sometimes it seems that I’m destined to cover a company or organization. Their name will just keep popping up wherever I look. That seems to be the case with StudentsFirst, a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that was “formed in 2010 in response to an increasing demand for a better education system in America.” I’d already come across them a few times when a reader recommended that I check out the organization, and then they popped up in one of my friends’ Facebook statuses. That was enough for me to take a closer look. StudentsFirst is a grassroots movement “designed to mobilize parents, teachers, students, administrators, and citizens throughout country, and to channel their energy to produce meaningful results on both the local and national level.” Unlike many non-profit organizations in the education space that are focused on working at the school level, StudentsFirst is more about activism and advocacy. They believe that building a movement is the key to improving educational outcomes across the United States.

Be One of the First at StudentsFirst

StudentsFirst was founded by Michelle Rhee, the former Chancellor of D.C. Public Schools and founder of The New Teacher Project. She’s been working in education for 18 years, and throughout that time she’s become convinced that “students of every background and ZIP code can achieve at high levels.” StudentsFirst is aimed at making this a reality. The organization is all about encouraging stakeholders to Take Action, and they especially want people to do so by starting and participating in local groups. If you take a look at StudentsFirst’s Jobs page, it’ll be quite obvious that they’re just getting their start. They have job offerings all the way from the C-level down. The two jobs that seem most appropriate for new grads are Correspondence Associate and Teacher Outreach Coordinator. There’s a lot of opportunity here, so give them a nice long look and see what suits you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think of StudentsFirst?

RecycleBank

Willy Franzen — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:05:00 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I try to recycle when its convenient. Like the time my college roommates threw a huge party and I stole all of the empty cans and returned them for the nickel deposits. It was easy money. But I must also admit that I’ve thrown away plenty of recyclables when there wasn’t a proper receptacle for them. Environmentalism is great; however, people respond to incentives, and a healthy Earth a century down the road isn’t much of an incentive for the average person. People need a push, and that’s exactly what RecycleBank does. They’re a New York, NY based company that rewards people for “taking positive green actions.” By doing things like recycling at home, you can earn RecycleBank points. Those points can be redeemed for rewards ranging from Amazon Gift Cards to museum memberships, with lots and lots of other options in between—you can even donate your points.

Take It to the RecycleBank

Now, RecycleBank doesn’t make it all that clear how their business works—even their How It Works page doesn’t do a great job of describing the basic idea. From what I’ve gathered, RecycleBank is all about partnerships. They start with municipalities and haulers, since they’re the ones in charge of local recycling programs. This way you can keep bring your recyclables to the curbside like normal, but RecycleBank works with haulers to record exactly how much you are recycling (and you don’t need to sort your recyclables). The next set of partnerships is with Material Recycling Facilities that end up processing all of the recyclables that go through the RecycleBank program. Then come the advertisers (both local and national)—these are the companies that supply the rewards. They get new market exposure to environmentally conscious consumers in return for providing rewards for RecylceBank members. That’s the only cost. Finally, there’s you, the end user and recycler. If you sign up, you can earn 2.5 points per pound of recyclable material up to an annual cap of 5,400 points per year. It’s hard to find out what those points are actually worth without signing up, but I’m sure you can get some pretty good stuff.

If you’re excited about the nexus of marketing and recycling, then you should check out jobs at RecycleBank. They have quite a few positions open, though most of them require a decent amount of experience. The Outreach Specialist is probably the best fit for a new or recent grad (and they say they want 3 years of experience). There are also some Software Development positions available, but those also seem targeted towards more experience hires. The best option is to reach out to them without applying to a specific position. You can e-mail jobs@recyclebank.com and tell them what you think that you can add to their team. It can’t hurt—they’ve had a lot of interns in the past, (in Community Outreach, Finance, Social Media, and Design) so they certainly value young talent.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you recycle?

U.S. Agency for International Development

Willy Franzen — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 15:20:46 +0000

During my vacation I’ve been reading a number of books including President Bush’s Decision Points. I’ve enjoyed it so far, and the chapter on Afghanistan reminded me to take a look at the U.S. Agency for International Development (better known as USAID), which a reader recommended I write about a few months ago. They are “the principal U.S. agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms.” Right now they’re playing a huge role in moderating the impact of the war in Afghanistan on civilians, while they’re also heavily focused on helping those in Pakistan who have been affected by the earthquake. While USAID’s budget is less than one half of one percent of the federal budget, their impact feels much greater.

Aid for Your Job Search

The U.S. Agency for International Development advanced U.S. policy objectives in three areas: economic growth, agriculture and trade; global health; and democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance. They work all over the world with the goal of “expanding democracy and free markets while improving the lives of the citizens of the developing world.” USAID’s work is obviously extensive, so summarizing it isn’t very easy. Your best bet is to read about all of their programs here. There is an unbelievable amount of information on the USAID website, so if you’re considering a career with them, you should really spend a good amount of time learning about the ins and outs of the the agency. Then you can head over to their Careers page. There are so many different kinds of opportunities at USAID that it can get kind of confusing, but you’ll probably want to look at their Development Leadership Initiative page and their Fellows Program page. There are way too many different kinds of opportunities to list, but you should be able to find all kinds of cool options with USAID in a variety of locations. While you browse through them, I’ll be reading on the beach.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you read any good books lately?

Pencils of Promise

Willy Franzen — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 14:09:05 +0000

What do you want most in the world? Maybe it’s changed since yesterday because of something left under the Christmas tree, but chances are that changing the answer to that question isn’t so easy. For a small boy begging on the streets of India, the answer was pretty simple. A pencil. Adam Braun is a guy who gave a kid a pencil, a smile, and a promise of a better future. Adam Braun continued backpacking across the world, and giving out pens and pencils—thousands of them. Eventually his idea turned into a non-profit organization called Pencils of Promise. They’re based in New York City, and they now build schools for the 75 million children in the world who don’t even have access to a pre-school education. As important as schools are, the pencils and backpacks still play a huge role in what Pencils of Promise does.

Show Some Promise

The best way to get a feel for Pencils of Promise is to watch this 99-second video. It will give you a quick rundown of who they are and what they’re doing (e-mail readers need to click through).

After the video you may want to read the Pencils of Promise story and look at their current, upcoming, and completed projects. They’re making a difference one village at a time, and the pace at which they’re doing it is impressive. If you’re move by Pencils of Promise’s success, then you should consider a job with them. They seem to post everything on Idealist, and right now they’re looking for a Creative Technologist. It looks like a really cool position for a tech savvy grad, so check it out. They also have a number of volunteer opportunities and a Nicaragua Coordinator Fellowship.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you ever given anyone a pencil?

Disaster Accountability Project

Willy Franzen — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 16:33:33 +0000

We got a few inches of snow here in Chicago yesterday. It wasn’t an all out disaster like it might have been in a southern state where an inch of snow is cause for shutting down everything, but I’m sure it caused a few headaches for people. Even simple things like a small snowstorm remind us that we can’t control everything. Disasters, whether they’re caused by weather, accidents, terrorists, or negligence, are always a risk. There’s not much that we can do to prevent most types of disasters, but we can always be better prepared to cope with them. The Disaster Accountability Project is a West Hartford, CT based non-profit organization that aims to improve “the nation’s disaster management systems through public accountability, citizen oversight and empowerment, whistle-blower engagement, and policy research.”

Finding Opportunity in a Disaster

It should be no surprise that the Disaster Accountability Project was started in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. It was a natural disaster that was actually predicted to happen (even if only a few days in advance), yet it was mismanaged at nearly every level. If our governments can’t adequately prepare for what they know is coming, how will they ever deal with things like major earthquakes that come out of nowhere? The Disaster Accountability Project exists not only to push for better government preparedness, but also to blow the whistle when disasters have already happened and aren’t being addressed adequately. If this is a topic that you’re passionate, then you should get involved with the Disaster Accountability Project. They don’t have any jobs posted right now, but they have a ton of volunteer opportunities that could turn into jobs in the future. They’re especially looking for people with the following skills: online research (basic, policy, legal), organizing & outreach, fundraising (small and large donations, grant research and writing, evening planning), writing, graphic design, and web design & programming.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Are you prepared for a disaster?

The Forum for Youth Investment

Willy Franzen — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 14:19:23 +0000

I’m sure that plenty of you are feeling unprepared for the world. Thinking about your career can be intimidating, stressful, and overwhelming. The truth is that if you’re reading this, you’re probably more prepared than most people your age. In general our country’s youth aren’t as well prepared for adulthood as they should be, which is why The Forum for Youth Investment, based in Washington, DC, is so focused on their Ready By 21 program. The organization’s research shows that “only four in ten young people entering their 20s are doing well – healthy, connected and ready for college, work and life” while “two in ten are doing poorly.” The Forum for Youth Investment wants to change that. They’re calling for leaders in education, business, government and community-based organizations to change how they do business and start using “bigger goals, bolder strategies, better data and broader partnerships to improve programs for children and young people.”

Invest in You(th)

The Forum for Youth Investment describes itself as an “action tank” as opposed to a think tank. They want to do whatever it takes to make sure that our nation’s young people are “ready for college, work, and life.” What I really like about The Forum for Youth Investment is that they base their programming on heavy research. Data is essential to their mission, so their actions aren’t led by ideals as much as they are driven by facts. Ready By 21 is all about bringing the research to life and moving towards a time when every individual is ready to do well by the age of 21. It should hit close to home for a lot of you, so if you’re moved by this mission, you should check out jobs at The Forum for Youth Investment. Right now they’re looking for an Outreach & Engagement Associate. Give it a look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about The Forum for Youth Investment?

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?

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?

LitWorld

Willy Franzen — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:23:43 +0000

It amazes me that after all of these years, the written word is still so powerful. Audio and video mediums started to take over with the advent of radio and then television, but the Internet brought writing roaring back. Take me for instance. With no job and barely any experience even looking for one, I was able to build a business that is helping over a million job seekers every year. It all started with reading. I scoured the Internet for new ideas and perspectives on how I could best serve my market. But it really took off when I started to write and share what I learned with all of you. I truly believe that if you have strong reading and writing skills, you can do nearly anything, and I think the people at LitWorld would agree with me. They are a New York City based non-profit organization that works “to cultivate literacy leaders worldwide through transformational literacy experiences that build connection, understanding, resilience and strength.” LitWorld’s main focus is on children, since they’re the ones who stand to gain the most from literacy.

Join the LitWorld

The way that LitWorld goes about spreading literacy is pretty cool. They believe that stories are essential to all children. By giving children the ability to tell and share their own stories through writing and reading, LitWorld is able to give children “the power to transform their lives.” And through that “children’s stories then become a force for justice and change in the world.” I couldn’t agree more. As I’ve told my story of being a frustrated job seeker, I’ve been able to transform the lives of a number of readers who landed jobs with companies that I introduced them to. Hopefully you’ll be next. Just as I have big goals to keep putting people into exciting jobs, LitWorld has some serious ambition. By 2014 they want to “help one million children learn to read.” By 2015 they want to “implement [their] three-year literacy strategy in eight additional countries.” And by 2016 they want to “equip ten thousand literacy leaders to effect change that will impact ten million children.” Those are big, audacious goals, but they’re doable with the right people. They’ve already put together a strong team, and their Get Involved page makes it look like they want to add to it. They don’t specifically mention Jobs (nor does their Idealist page), but I strongly recommend that you use the contact information on their Get Involved page to inquire about how you might fit into their story.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about LitWorld?

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?

Underwater Adventures Aquarium

Willy Franzen — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:52:05 +0000

When I’m doing my daily research and looking for interesting jobs or internships, I often find postings on third party job boards. I’m not a big fan of job boards, so I try to go directly to the employer’s site to get information on the opportunities. Today I was Googling an internship, and the first result was completely unrelated. Luckily, it was a way more interesting internship with Underwater Adventures Aquarium at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. It’s the world’s largest underground aquarium, and it’s just the kind of place that you might end up at during a summer vacation road trip. They say it’s like scuba diving without getting wet. There are 1.2 million gallons of water, and there’s a “300 foot-long curved tunnel, complete with a moving walkway that simulates a scuba diving adventure.” Underwater Adventures has sharks, octopuses, jellyfish, and all kinds of fish, and you can watch them all get fed. They even offer birthday parties where you can sleep with the sharks.

Take Your Job Search Underwater

Judging from the excitement that Shark Week generates among my friends, there are plenty of you who would love to work at an aquarium. Whether it’s sharks, sea turtles, boring old fish, or one of their other 5,000 aquatic creatures that get you excited, Underwater Adventures (which will soon be rebranded as Sea Life Centres) is worth checking out. They don’t really have a great About page, so the Wikipedia article on them is the best place to get background information (beyond making a visit, of course). If you like what you see, then you should consider jobs at Underwater Adventures Aquarium. Right now they have positions available that include Animal Interpreter, Box Office Sales, Energetic Mascot, On-site Educator, and Outreach Educator. There are also some more advanced positions in Sales/Marketing. Take a look, hold your nose, and dive in.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you ever visited Underwater Adventures Aquarium?