Current Opportunities for Students
International Education/Public Relations Internship - Denver Center for International Studies (posted 9/30/08)
Organization BackgroundThe Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS) is a Denver Public Magnet School for grades 6-12 that focuses on world languages and global studies. We opened as a stand-alone school in 2006 after being a magnet program at West High School for 21 years, and this year (2008) will be the first we have all seven grades. DCIS is one of thirteen schools nationwide that are part of the International Studies Schools Network (ISSN) funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Department Background
The Community Relations Department currently consists of one full-time position and a number of volunteers. A grant application to expand the department to three paid positions is in process, and we hope to continue to develop the programs offered to our students as we are able to grow with new personnel. Work of this department includes: service-learning initiatives, recruitment, admissions, international travel, PR, community-based learning initiatives, guest speakers, global education programs, corporate partnerships, fundraising, strategic development, internships for students, and state advocacy.
Internships at DCIS
Graduate internships at the Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS) are designed to provide the graduate student with experience that will complement his or her work at a university. For those interested in the field of education, international studies, and public relations, the internship is useful in developing professional skills needed in moving on to a position after completing a degree. Often the experience assists students in deciding upon a professional direction in international education.
DCIS graduate internships may be taken for credit at some universities. Information about credit arrangements and documentation requirements must be obtained by the graduate student from the university. Prior to the beginning of the internship, the DCIS principal/internship supervisor must be advised about any documentation to be submitted to the university in order for credit to be established.
Internships involve activities with students and the staff at DCIS for a minimum of ten hours per week, up to full time, and may be established according to either the Denver Public Schools semester or university term calendars. Actual schedules are developed with the DCIS principal/supervisor and/or faculty members, at the mutual convenience of the intern and DCIS staff.
Purpose of the DCIS International Education/PR Internship Position
The person in this position would use their time and expertise to contribute to existing as well as new efforts coordinated in the Community Relations Department. This internship would require the time commitment of 6 months minimum, and would report to the current Community Relations Director. In light of the new DCIS school, we have growing PR needs and would benefit greatly from an Intern whose focus is on increased media and community presence.
Specific responsibilities
The DCIS International Education/PR Intern would:
· work closely with the Community Relations Director to create a good match between the Intern's interests and the school's needs.
· assist department with capacity-building to implement systems and structures for internal and external communication initiatives.
· help with the coordination of a launch event of the schoolÂ’s new Travel Resource Center (will involve PR campaign, interaction with press, work with students
and advisory board).
· play a significant role in coordinating International Education Week in November 2008.
· create promotional material about the school.
· research potential public-private partnerships to help meet DCIS' development goals.
· stay aware of current DCIS events and be as actively involved as possible.
· generate new initiatives for improving DCIS presence in the Denver community through various media resources.
· be open to changing needs of the school
Benefits for the Intern
Through working with the Community Relations Department, the Intern will have an exciting opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in the international education and PR fields, network with influential community members, and work with an exciting globally-focused organization. Although this position is unpaid, we are open to new ideas and projects that might connect as part of graduate-level coursework and will work with a university to confirm internship credit. As a nationally-recognized model for school reform and K-12 international studies, the Intern will have unique exposure to a cutting-edge educational setting.
Contact details
Please submit a cover letter along with your resume to Kate Farmer, Community Relations Director
kate_farmer@dpsk12.org
Please note that this is a guiding outline and will likely change according to the Intern candidate and his/her areas of expertise, and changing DCIS needs.
Research Opportunity - Front Range Earth Force (September 2008).
Front Range Earth Force (www.EF-den.org) engages young people as active citizens who improve the environment and their communities now and in the future.
Earth Force's Executive Director, Lisa Bardwell, would appreciate assistance with a qualitative study of life for young people after involvement in Earth Force's programs. She writes, "We are trying to capture some of the young people who have done Earth Force over the last 10 years and develop a piece on the impacts they report it having had on their lives. We may have some other young people interested in helping collect the stories, but it might be a very cool project for someone interested in looking at long term impacts of youth engagement programs."
Please contact Dr. Nick Cutforth (ncutfort@du.edu) for more information.
Research Opportunity - Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) (September 24, 2008)
The CDPHE STI/HIV Section is looking for someone to conduct focus groups and one-on-one interviews targeting gay and other MSM who live outside the metro Denver area - especially in rural areas of the state. This person would also work with two established groups of men that are addressing gay male health and related issues to help the Section identify the types of information that should be gathered as a result of the focus group/interview process. The focus group and interview information will be used as a resource in the development of a statewide strategic plan for HIV prevention among gay men/MSM.
The ideal candidate should have a great deal of knowledge of and connections to Colorado's gay male community.
Please contact:
George Ware, MS
STD HIV Section - Research and Evaluation Unit Colorado Dept of Public Health and Environment
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South A3
Denver, CO 80246
Phone: (303) 692-2762
Fax: (303) 782-0904
Internet: george.ware@state.co.us