Servant Leader Intern

Ujima Freedom School
Champaign, IL
Position Title: Servant Leader Intern
Nature and Scope
CDF's mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. The CDF Freedom Schools ® program is a direct service initiative coordinated nationally by the Children's Defense Fund in partnership with local community organizations. It is an educational and cultural enrichment program that provides summer options for children and strengthens family and community involvement.
The mission of CDF Freedom Schools programs is to boost student motivations to read, generate more positive attitudes toward learning, increase self-esteem and connect the needs of children and families to the resources of their communities. The program serves children in grades kindergarten through twelfth for six to eight weeks.
College-age young people and recent college graduates play a key role in the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools® program as Servant Leader Interns. The activity based Integrated Reading Curriculum (IRC), which is aligned to the Common Core State Standards, integrates reading, conflict resolution, and social action, and is designed to promote social, cultural, and historical awareness. College-age young adults and recent college graduates play a key role in the CDF Freedom Schools program in the position of Servant Leader Intern. Servant Leader Interns have access to further leadership development and networking opportunities geared toward continued direct service and advocacy on behalf of children and families.
Responsibilities

• Serve as a positive role model for all scholars.
• Supervise and maintain safety of scholars.
• Maintain a professional decorum.
• Set up, manage and break down classroom space according to standards outlined by CDF and the sponsor organization.
• Engage a maximum of 10 scholars per class in the Integrated Reading Curriculum.
• Attend all required Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute training sessions.
• Work with site staff to ensure that all program components are implemented with fidelity.
• Serve as a Harambee! leader each day of program operation.
• Serve as a leader of afternoon activities and other special events; chaperone field trips.
• Participate fully in the National Training (1st, 2nd, and 3rd year Servant Leader Interns only).
• Report any issues or concerns regarding program operation to the Site Coordinator.

Qualifications

• Must have completed at least one year of college in good academic standing (typical age range is 18-30).
• Capability to teach synchronous lessons virtually
• Ability to motivate others and work as part of an intergenerational team.
• Solid commitment to the success and well-being of children.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Exhibit positive behavior and attitude, modeling a mature and professional demeanor.
• Maintain or have graduated with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA (transcript required - unofficial)
• Ability to motivate others and work as part of an intergenerational team
• Strong appreciation and understanding of individual cultural history and the willingness to be open and respectful of all cultures
• Willingness to strive for excellence in all areas and ability to think critically and analytically

Terms of Employment: Internship Training and Summer Internship: June 2023 - July 2023
Internship Training: June 1 - 8
Summer Internship: June 12 - July 21 (7:30am - 3:30pm)
Compensation: $4,000 stipend for training and internship
Applicants hired by April 30th will receive a sign-on bonus of $100 on June 1st.
Before employment can be confirmed, all potential candidates must be about to pass a background check.
In order to apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, and 1-2 page essay (prompt below) to Cessily Thomas at cessily@dreaam.org by April 30.
Essay Question: Please submit a Word or .pdf file with your application. (12pt font/double spaced)
Which historical leader or organization from the Civil Rights era or Freedom Summer Project would you like to see return today to assist with providing organizing leadership regarding social and education dilemmas within the African American community? Please explain their past accomplishments that impressed you the most and where and how you envision them providing services today.
You may NOT use Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, or Malcolm X.
Ujima Freedom School is co-sponsored by DREAAM, Champaign Unit 4 Schools, and University of Illinois. Open until filled.