Community Health Capacity Builder - Internship

Commonwealth Corps

Service Internship Position Description

Madison Park Development Corporation

Health Equity & Wellness

Commonwealth Corps

Community Health Capacity Builder

The mission of the Commonwealth Corps service internship program is to engage Massachusetts residents of all ages, backgrounds, and identities in direct service to strengthen communities, address critical needs, and increase volunteerism. Through hands-on experience, Commonwealth Corps members gain professional skills and valuable knowledge while positively impacting diverse communities in our state. 

The Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA) is a private, nonprofit agency that oversees the program and supports host site partners and members to find success throughout the program year. The 2 Commonwealth Corps members with Madison Park Development Corporation will serve 10 months in a full-time capacity. They will join a diverse corps of members across Massachusetts who share a common desire to discover their passion and build their network in service to their communities and the Commonwealth.

The mission of Madison Park Development Corporation (MPDC) is to foster a vibrant, healthy Roxbury neighborhood that supports the well-being and advancement of the community. MPDC will host 2 full-time Commonwealth Corps Leadership Capacity Builders in the Community Action department, one of which will be placed with the Health Equity & Wellness program in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. Through their service, members will collaborate with identified resident leaders in the Health Equity & Wellness program to identify training needs, build programs, recruit additional volunteers, and enhance community partnerships, as well as conduct a community assessment and research process to identify community food guidelines.

 What You’ll Do:

Essential Responsibilities:

·        Complete a minimum of 1,500 hours of service, serving through June 22, 2024.

·        Attend a minimum of 6 Commonwealth Corps trainings and service events held by MSA post orientation.

·        Participate in a minimum of 1 hour of MSA-related activities each week. This include filling out timesheets, completing a bi-monthly reflection or check-in, or other MSA-related tasks or activities.

·        Conduct research and community analysis to identify a set of community food guidelines neighborhood food retailers

·        Facilitate resident work group meetings to create food community guidelines.  

·        Draft summary and make recommendations with the support of residents.

·        Draft Train the trainer curriculum and present to residents and staff, focused on community health education

·        Train at least three residents to facilitate a Meal Preparation and Participation series.(four classes per series)

Marginal Responsibilities:

·        Serve in partnership with Civic Engagement and Health Equity team to organize and engage residents in programming activities. This includes but not limited to taking notes, scheduling meetings

·        Support Bi-weekly Food Distribution at the Smith House

·        Becoming familiar with curriculum and attending Meal Preparation and Participation classes (nutrition education and cooking classes)

·        Be a part of the greater Commonwealth Corps community, including participating in cross-site learning groups, writing a short profile for the CC newsletter, connecting with other members on our online platforms, and attending optional social/service events.

Who You Are:

You must be:

·        A Massachusetts resident (see guidelines here) with legal authorization to work in the U.S.

·        18 years of age at minimum (member age range is 18 – 70+ years old)

·        Excited to give back to your community and interested in developing your skills and gaining new professional experiences

·        Able to balance service internship commitments with personal commitments in a sustainable way

·        1+ years of relevant health experience, preferably with a non-profit organization that engages in community organizing and/or resident leadership, or some other relevant experience in health or community organizing

·        Understanding of health equity and framework and the social determinants of health

·        Ability to listen and identify common ground.  

·        Ability to effectively convene and facilitate meetings

·        Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple projects at once

It would also be great if you:

·        Speak a language other than English -- multi-lingual candidates encouraged to apply, particularly individuals fluent in Spanish and English

·        Have some familiarity with the Roxbury neighborhood and experience in multicultural communities