The YOung Adult Leadership project
STUDENT LEADERSHIP
To apply, email cover letter and resume to yalpstudents@gmail.com
WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU GROW!
Y.A.L.P Student Leaders complete a 3-month rigorous leadership program during which they learn through the practical application of critical skills. These experiences will empower you with the confidence to transform knowledge into action and dreams into reality.
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
'Learning by doing' is at the heart of our program.
Our expectations are challenging – but our approach is simple and straightforward. You will be expected to plan, market, fund, coordinate and execute a successful garden installation within our three-month timeframe. But you won't be alone. An experienced mentor will support you each step of the way, making sure that you are on the right track. He/she will review your work, teach you new strategies, model best practices, and answer your questions. With your mentor's guidance and through your hard work, you will develop skills that you can carry with you into the workforce--skills such as leadership, communication, and project management, all while making a tangible contribution to your community.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
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Be able to participate in 30 hours of unpaid internship; 23 hours online, 7 hours on-site;
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Currently be enrolled in an undergraduate program;
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Interested in being mentored;
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A desire to develop soft skills such as leadership, project management, communication, collaboration and presentation skills;
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Self-motivated and able to work independently;
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Passion for our mission of developing interpersonal skills.
EMPLOYERS DESIRE SOFT SKILLS IN NEW HIRES
Today's competitive environment demands that recent graduates hit the ground running. Employers expect young people to come 'fully loaded,' already possessing a core set of professional skills (soft skills) such as: interpersonal skills, problem-solving abilities, a strong work ethic and the ability to learn from constructive feedback. Many companies are reporting a skills gap, according to a 2013 International Youth Foundation study.
“A number of critical skills truly make people stand out. The ability to express complex ideas with clarity and simplicity, to communicate one-on-one, within small groups and to larger groups, all in an engaging and accessible way.” -Mike Fenlon, US and global talent leader for PricewaterhouseCoopers.
“When companies are assessing job candidates, they're looking for the best of both worlds: someone who is not only proficient in a particular function, but also has the right personality,” said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder. “Along with responsibilities, it's important to highlight soft skills that can give employers an idea of how quickly you can adapt and solve problems, whether you can be relied on to follow through and how effectively you can lead and motivate others.”
Laszlo Bock, the Senior Vice President of people operations for Google said, “…in an age when innovation is increasingly a group endeavor, we also care about a lot of soft skills — leadership, humility, collaboration, adaptability and loving to learn and re-learn.”
The soft skills our internship helps promote
Project Management
Project management is the application of knowledge, tools, and resources to successfully achieve a desired outcome.
For interns, this means successfully planning and leading a community-driven event. This hands-on learning environment helps you hone project management skills and build confidence that can only be gained through experience.
“Project Managers are the most creative pros in the world; we have to figure out everything that could go wrong, before it does.” – Fredrick Haren
Leadership
Effective leadership unites individuals and keeps them engaged towards a common cause. Without leadership organizations flounder, individuals lose interest, projects go unfinished, and goals remain unfulfilled.
As an intern, you will learn how to engage the community. You will bring volunteers together and lead a diverse team towards completing the project you have planned.
“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” – Jack Welch
Collaboration
Collaboration means working effectively with others not just towards completion of a single project, but also towards the ongoing fulfillment of a mutual vision.
This internship provides you the opportunity to coordinate and implement plans with your peers and community members.
“Working with others to share ideas, take a point of view, defend a position, give and accept feedback, achieve consensus, and apply knowledge to a common goal lead to intellectual growth... students must have the opportunity to develop these skills in challenging collaborative environments.” – Nina Morel, Lipscomb University
Communication
Effective communication requires not only the ability to share your thoughts and ideas; it also requires skilled listening. According to employers, the most desirable candidates exhibit superior oral and listening capabilities, writing proficiency, presentation skills, and teamwork.
As an intern, you will strengthen your ability to communicate clearly and effectively as you meet with homeowners, accrue sponsorships, order supplies, organize volunteers, and lead the completion of a project.
“Communications, teamwork, and interpersonal skills are critical—everything we do involves working with other people.” – US tech sector recruiter
Presentation
Presentation proficiency allows you to gather and organize information, perspectives, and experiences and share them in a compelling manner with a broad audience. In this age of social media, presentation applies to both verbal and written communications. Whether you're crafting the perfect e-mail or speaking in front of a board committee, presentation is important! According to Forbes magazine, eighty-nine percent of employers say they want colleges to place more emphasis on oral and written communication.
As an intern, we will support you as you practice your professional communication and presentation skills.
“Presentation skills are the next competitive advantage. In this era of email, texting and voice mail, true face-to-face communication is becoming a lost art.” – John Fallon, teacher
Fundraising
Individuals with fundraising skills have a wide range of interpersonal skills. They are able to build relationships with donors, motivate, and train volunteers to get the job done. They also know how to effectively recognize donors and be persuasive in their dealings with them. Fundraising requires excellent communications skills, a great social media strategy and the enthusiasm to drum up support for your mission.
“When it comes to fundraising, if you are pursing your passion, you'll learn to become great at your craft because you'll care so much about perfecting the skills necessary to make that dream a reality,” – Adam Braun
Crowdfunding is a serious fundraising tool for those willing to learn. Crowdfunding can identify engage new supporters, bring in NEW major donors, and engage current donors in something playful, social and mission-focused. Donors will give more when they are offered a chance to fund a specific project.
Our projects are small enough to help you raise funds, develop fundraising skills and bring your project to fruition!
Contact us to find out how we can help you grow!