Amherst Community Connections Internship Program
Thank you for your interest in interning with Amherst Community Connections! We offer two internship sessions: Summer and Fall/Spring. Spanish-proficiency is preferred.
Work Hours:
Fall/Spring semester interns work 12 hours/week (usually from 8:30am-12:30pm, 3 days per week) for 2 consecutive semesters.
Summer interns work at our office for 40 hours/week (usually for 8 weeks).
This internship is in-person at the Amherst Community Connections office located in Amherst, MA.
Internship Responsibilities:
Interns support participants through casework: filling out subsidized housing applications, assisting with employment searches, and applying for food stamps, discounted utilities, and other public benefits. You will work face-to-face with low-income and unhoused community members, which requires patience, empathy, and commitment.
You will learn about barriers to housing access, the social determinants of health, and government assistance programs through hands-on experience working with our participants. You will also collaborate with other interns on advocacy issues–writing letters to state senators and government officials, meeting with other housing agencies in the area, and attending workshops.
You will have access to our caseworker’s manual, housing programs manual, and benefit programs manual. Additionally, interns participate in daily staff meetings where we discuss cases, problem-solve, and collaborate to arrive at solutions. All interns shadow other caseworkers, meet with their case manager one-on-one for feedback and support, and receive daily written feedback on their casenotes.
Eligibility:
Committed to working 12 hours per week for 2 consecutive semesters (if applying for Fall/Spring).
Be at least a sophomore when applying.
Must have Federal Work Study award or other source of funding.
Application
Please download and fill out the application form. Email the application form along with a copy of your resume to ACCinAmherst@gmail.com
FAQ’s and Testimonials from Past Interns
What are the responsibilities of an ACC Intern?
“My responsibilities as an intern at ACC included working one on one with participants to see how I could best help them that day. For example, one day I could be helping a participant search for an affordable apartment and the next day I could be assisting a participant creating a resume or searching for a job. Furthermore, I assisted participants file for Section 8 housing, SNAP benefits, and other financial assistance. I also had the opportunity to interview people who donated to ACC, manage social media, and co-facilitate the Wednesday Incubator Group Meetings” - Kristen Connor
“I worked one-on-one with homeless and low-income individuals to help them call therapists, doctor’s offices, probation officers, legal aid offices, or the DMV… to make appointments. I sat with participants and looked through listings on craigslist and other websites, helping the participant look for an apartment or for employment and write a resume. Additionally, many times, I helped participants to fill out application forms for SNAP benefits, SSI/SSDI, fuel assistance, and MassHealth. I also simply sat with participants, speaking with them about issues that are bothering them and helping them to work through the problems in constructive ways that produce realistic solutions” - Kyra Simpson
What experience can I get out of working with ACC?
“The internship is a great environment for producing social workers and other people suited for similar professions. However, the part I most enjoyed was the process of investigative research and designing research for consumer consumption. The publication of the newsletter and writing the articles that it entails is something that captured my attention. I intend on majoring in journalism, and hopefully continuing to do similar work throughout my career. Working at ACC helped me develop many skills and identify what sort of work I enjoy and would like to pursue. It has overall been an incredibly beneficial experience for me, and is work that I am proud and happy to be doing." - Owen Bailey
“Before interning at Amherst Community Connections, I had no idea what it was like to work in the human services field. I had experience engaging with people who use SNAP benefits, but I had no prior experience with people who were homeless or had mental health issues. This internship experience made me see that it takes a lot of persistence and hard work to be in this field. I am still deciding if this field is the right career choice for me, but I would not change anything about the experiences I have gained over the past few months." -Lauren White
What are some challenges an intern may face?
“The most challenging thing about this internship is that there aren’t quick solutions. It’s frustrating that it takes so much time to achieve goals like finding people housing, especially when people are reliant on shelters during that time. One positive thing that I have gained from this challenge is watching how resilient people are. It has been empowering to watch people try to work towards their goals despite their frustrations and challenges. The challenges that I have faced in the past year at ACC have helped to make it a better experience because the challenges have made it more fulfilling, and because it is during challenges that we experience the most growth." -Lily Frank
“While I have enjoyed the work I have done at ACC, there have certainly been challenges in learning how to tackle tasks that are new to me. For example, planning a publicity timeline for Valley Gives was unexplored territory for me, so I had to learn quickly and find out how to do the job effectively. The fast paced environment at ACC means you have to be able to adapt quickly and maintain some flexibility. Though some tasks were challenging, I learned a lot and can take my new skills with me to my next stage in life.” - Elizabeth Woods
How has the staff at ACC supported you?
“I am proud to say that ACC always leaves the community in a better place even if it was just helping one individual that day. Hwei-Ling Greeney, the executive director, works tirelessly while maintaining strong personal connections, not only to the community members, but also her interns making everyone feel welcome.” -Natalie Scott
“…it has been a great experience being able to work with and learn from the ACC staff. Namely, Hwei-Ling, Lillian, and Priya have each taught me so much… I have learned concrete skills such as doing intake notes with clients, applying for federal benefits, searching for affordable housing, and writing resumes/cover letters for folks. …I have learned how to listen, offer advice, and challenge/empower participants to take a degree of action into their own hands.” - Gabe Zarkadas