SEMESTER  INTERNSHIPS  AVAILABLE  Fall  2013  www.ruralmigrantministry.org  

 

Rural  &  Migrant  Ministry  is  a  non-­‐profit,  non-­‐sectarian  organization  that  works  for  the  creation  of  a  just,  rural  New  York  State  through:

• Nurturing leadership • Standing with the disenfranchised, especially farmworkers and rural workers • Changing unjust systems and structures

 

Catskill  Positions    

The  Youth  Economic  Group  is  a  multicultural  group  of  high  school  aged  students  who  work  cooperatively  with  a  determination  to  create  economic  opportunities  and  alternatives.  Members  have  a  special  commitment  to  social  justice,  and  incorporate  principals  of  fairness  and  environmental  sustainability  in  their  youth-­‐run  business:  Basement  Bags.  They  design,  produce,  and  market  environmentally  friendly  tote  bags  in  their  storefront  studio  on  109  Main  Street.  

There  are  several  exciting  internship  opportunities  in  the  Catskill  region:  

1. Youth  Economic  Group  (YEG):  Facilitating  Meetings  (8+  hours/  week)  2. Design  Intern  (4  or  8  hours/  week)  3. Business  and  Accounting  Intern  (4  or  8  hours/  week)  

 For  more  information,  call  Katia  Chapman  (Intern  Coordinator)  at  845-­‐309-­‐8420,  or  Jillian  Rahm  (YEG  Coordinator)  at  845-­‐798-­‐8275.  You  can  also  email  Katia  at  ktachapman@gmail.com  

FACILITATING  YEG  MEETINGS  

The  Youth  Economic  Group  meets  every  Sunday  afternoon  (1-­‐3:30pm),  and  on  occasional  weeknights.  During  weekly  meetings  the  group  checks  in  about  their  week  to  build  community  support,  and  discusses  upcoming  events  and  opportunities.  We  also  use  this  time  to  talk  to  guest  speakers,  draw  designs,  and  learn  about  local  issues  and  economics.  On  some  weekends  the  members  of  the  cooperative  attend  educational  trips,  produce  their  bags  for  sale,  or  sell  their  bags.  

It  requires  work  to  bring  approximately  12  students  together  from  three  school  districts  (Monticello,  Liberty,  and  South  Fallsburg).  We  need  help  with  transportation  to  and  from  the  meetings.  We  provide  van  training  and  supervision  until  the  driver  is  comfortable.  We  also  need  people  to  act  as  mentors  during  the  meeting,  and  help  facilitate  discussions  so  that  they  go  smoothly.  

This  position  requires:  

• Available for Sunday afternoons (11:30 – 4:30 including transport) AND/OR occasional other nights • Driver’s license and willingness to learn to drive a van • Passion to be an ally for justice • Preference for students who can commit one year

 

DESIGN    

YEG  members  create  their  own  designs  based  in  messages  of  justice  and  peace.    Members  need  help  at  all  stages  of  the  design  process,  from  conceptualizing  how  to  put  their  message  into  an  image  to  getting  it  precise  enough  for  printing.  We  need  help  from  visual  artists,  and  from  students  adept  at  adobe  or  other  design  software.  Interns  should  be  prepared  to  be  patient,  and  have  a  willingness  to  guide  a  student  through  the  artistic  process  without  overpowering  his  or  her  original  design.    

This  position  requires:  

• Available for Thursday afternoons/nights (3:00 – 9:00 including transport) AND/OR occasional weekends • Knowledge of design software or drawing skills • Passion to be an ally for justice

 

 

BUSINESS  AND  ACCOUNTING  

The  Basement  Bags  business  has  been  earning  revenue  for  two  years  now.  We  have  the  information  required  to  really  study  our  business,  and  what  our  opportunities  are  to  make  it  more  sustainable  in  the  future.  We  need  an  intern  who  is  excited  to  look  at  the  numbers  we  have  from  sales  and  expenses,  and  help  us  develop  needed  data  such  as  sales  projections,  cost/benefit  analyses,  and  book  keeping.  We  are  working  with  a  consultant  who  was  previously  the  CFO  of  a  major  corporation  and  has  experience  teaching  grad-­‐level  economics.  This  internship  is  also  an  opportunity  to  work  closely  with  two  members  of  YEG  and  the  consultant  to  create  our  bookkeeping  system  and  update  the  books  regularly.    

The  internship  does  not  require  attendance  at  every  YEG  meeting.  Interns  should  expect  to  be  relatively  flexible  in  their  scheduling.  Some  work  will  be  done  independently,  or  at  times  with  Katia  Chapman  or  our  accounting  consultant  and  other  allies.  

This  position  requires:  

• Available during the weekdays, and preferably some Sunday meetings • Knowledge of accounting and business. If not at an advanced level, should be willing to study more. • Passion to be an ally for justice • Driver’s license