Office of Religious and Spiritual Life Faith Based Internships
The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life is partnering with several Los Angeles Area faith based organizations to offer internship opportunities for Occidental students. These internships will provide students who may be considering a career in faith based or nonprofit organizations with tangible and practical work experience.
Each internship will have specific job responsibilities for student interns. In addition, students will engage in directed vocational and theological reflection to discern how their spiritual commitments and/or value systems may be informed, challenged and enriched through this type of work. The ORSL sponsored internships are zero credit internships. This means that the internship will appear on the student’s official Occidental transcript but no academic credits will be given for the internship.
Students interested in applying for these internships should complete the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life Internship Application and return it and a resume to the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. Students will also need to fulfill the zero credit internship requirements as specified by the Career Development Center upon being accepted as an intern through the ORSL program.
To download an ORSL Internship Application, click here. ORSL Internship Applications are also available in our office and at the Career Development Center.
Internships Descriptions
Four faith based organizations are offering internships in conjunction with ORSL. These are summarized below. For more information, contact the Rev. Susan Young at young@oxy.edu or click on the link associated with each internship.
Peace and Justice Internship, All Saints Episcopal Church: All Saints Church is a large and dynamic church located in the urban center in downtown Pasadena with a presence in regional Los Angeles. The church has a long history of interfaith relationships and a commitment to local, national and global issues of peace and justice. All Saints is offering a new internship to assist the church in its weekly peace and justice Sunday action. The internship would involve: (1) research in peace and justice issues relating to concrete weekly actions to be taken by the congregation; and (2) follow up on a weekly conference call that identifies particular issues that warrant urgent action. To find out more about All Saints Episcopal Church and the internship, click here.
Community Organizing and Service Internships, Immanuel Presbyterian Church: Immanuel is a multi-cultural, bi-lingual urban community located in Wilshire Center/Koreatown in Los Angeles. The congregation has a long history of community engagement and an ongoing commitment to work for justice and peace. Immanuel is offering one or two internships for students. All interns will undergo an initial period of training period and receive exposure to the diverse programs at Immanuel. Interns will then select a primary focus area that best reflects their interests. Potential areas include research, advocacy, and service in one of the following areas: (1) the Food Pantry and Community Services for low income and homeless families; (2) Holistic Healing Center to support holistic change and the healing arts and ongoing health initiatives; and (3) Community Organizing related to Education Reform and Achievement Advancement Strategies. To find out more about Immanuel Presbyterian Church and the internships, click here.
Environmental Justice Program Internship, Progressive Christians Uniting: Progressive Christians Uniting is a movement of progressive Christians who strive to be a prophetic presence in the church and the world, steadfastly proclaiming the radically inclusive love of God and faithfully seeking justice for all of God’s children regardless of race, gender, age, class, background, or sexual orientation. PCU is looking for an intern to help develop a new program in environmental justice. This could include: researching and developing a resource guide to environmental justice organizations in Southern California; helping to organize a major conference for April 2007; developing grant proposals, liturgical and theological resources, an interactive website, and communications materials around the environmental justice program; and other responsibilities. To find out more about PCU and the internship, click here.
Education and Community Service Internship, Saint Ignatius of Loyola Elementary School: St. Ignatius of Loyola School is an elementary school that responds to the needs of 275 students in the Highland Park area of Los Angeles. The student body is 85% Latino, 7% Filipino and 7% Caucasian. The school is seeking an intern who is interested in education and community and civic engagement. Areas of focus for the internship could include: (1) serving as a volunteer classroom aide, (2) working as an after school tutor, or (3) serving as the Volunteer Service Club Coordinator. To find out more about St. Ignatius and the internship, click here.
