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LEADERS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The Leaders for Social Change program compliments a St. Olaf education by providing an opportunity for students to complete a community-based internship or research project in Northfield or the Twin Cities while participating in ongoing academic and vocational reflection with faculty, staff, community leaders and alumni. Student participants explore connections between theory and practice, discern their vocations and gain professional skills that will prepare them to foster the common good in future civic and work roles.

The academic internship (or research experience funded through the Center for Undergraduate Research & Inquiry) enables students to work with nonprofit, public or for-profit organizations seeking to address goals such as poverty reduction, community and economic development, environmental sustainability, education or community health. Interns make valuable contribution and gain communication, leadership, research, teamwork and interpersonal skills.

The program expands on a typical internship experience by providing opportunities for ongoing academic, personal and vocational reflection. Weekly Civic Engagement Seminars with faculty, staff and community leaders encourage students to critically examine community issues and approaches to social change from multiple perspectives. Living in a community house with other participants fosters meaningful conversations and a source of personal support. Reflective writing and discussions encourage students to discern their vocational and career interests in light of their internship experiences.

Click here to view the 2012 program description & application information.

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2011 Leaders for Social Change Interns

• Project Presentation Video
• Creating more leaders for social change - St. Olaf News Article
• Interns that eat together, learn together - Northfield News Article
• Chapel Service for September 22, 2011 - Karl Turnlund '12, Amy Chatelaine '12
  

Northfield House - Click on the intern name below to see their bio and poster presentation

Karl Turnlund ’12         Eric Klein ’12         Amber Hesse ’12         Thando Kunene ’13         James Daly ’13         Kara Donnithorne ’12         Taryn Arbeiter ’12         Maria Ward ’12         Alyssa Lynne ’12         Bob Kelly ’12

Northfield Healthy Community Initiative Summer PLUS (Northfield Public Schools) Northfield Community Action Center So How Are the Children (SHAC) Cannon River Watershed Partnership & Nfld Transit SEEDS Farm Intern CURI - Immigration in Faribault CURI - Immigration in Faribault CURI - Economic Impact of the Arts in Northfield CURI - Economic Impact of the Arts in Northfield

Twin Cities House

Arielle Johnson ’12         Amy Chatelaine ’12         Jon Laven ’12         Kate Bjorklund ’13         Rachel Johnson ’13         Richard Aviles ’13         Jordan Montgomery ’13

Transit for Livable Communities Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy Community Design Center of Minnesota Minnesota AIDS Project Project for Pride in Living Youth Farm & Market Project Take Action Minnesota

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2010 Leaders for Social Change Interns

• Student Profiles & Reflection Essays
• Leaders for Social Change / A Faculty Perspective - Tom Williamson
• Faculty Reflection - Mark Allister
• A piece of land with a purpose - News Article
  
• Chapel Talk: September 23, 2010 - Kevin Clifford ’12, Signe Knutson ’11 & Colin Martin ’12

2010 Leaders for Social Change Summer Interns and their respective placement sites:

James Cahalan `11	Hope Center
Kevin Clifford `12	Summer PLUS & Hope Center
Julia Coffin `12	Summer PLUS
Natasha Hegmann `11	SEEDS Farm
Signe Knutson `11	Northfield Community Action Center
Colin Martin `12	SHAC (So How Are the Children?)
Daniel Murphy `11	Northfield Community Action Center
Chelsea Wagner `11	SEEDS Farm
Andrew Wilson `11	Northfield Union of Youth (The Key)

Faculty Supervisors: Mark Allister (English), Dan Hofrenning (Political Science) and Tom Williamson (Sociology/Anthropology)

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2009 Leaders for Social Change Interns

• Slideshow of the 2009 program
• Chapel Talk - Allison Bengfort '10, Kelly Harrington '10, Kyle Svingen '11; Interns with Leaders for Social Change (September 24, 2009)

2009 Leaders for Social Change Summer Interns and their respective placement sites:

Allison Bengfort '10	Community Action Center of Northfield
Nick Coley '10	Independent project on land-use and city planning
Cameron Field '10	Northfield Environmental Quality Commission
Kelly Harrington '10	Center for Sustainable Living and Valley Creek Community Farm
Rachel Kitze '11	Cannon River Watershed Partnership
Jenny Kramm '10	SummerPLUS
Anne Steeves '10	War Kids Relief
Kyle Svingen '11	Northfield Healthy Community Initiative
Tommy Van Wylen '11	Northfield Healthy Community Initiative

Faculty Supervisors: Mary Carlsen (Social Work), Eric Fure-Slocum (History) and Tom Williamson (Sociology/Anthropology)

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2008 Leaders for Social Change Interns

• Slideshow of the 2008 program
• Chapel Talk - Ryan Doyle '09, Monika Hartsel '09, Andrew Nussbaum '10; Interns with Leaders for Social Change (October 2, 2008)
• St. Olaf College article about the 2008 LSC program - New program pairs Oles with local nonprofits (September 30, 2008)

2008 Leaders for Social Change Summer Interns and their respective placement sites:

Michelle Anklan '09	Centro Campesino
Ryan Doyle '09	Center for Sustainable Living
Maren Gelle '10	Health Community Initiative & Summer Ventures
Chad Goodroad '09	Valley Creek Community Farm
Katie Greene '09	Upward Bound
Laura Guzman '10	HealthFinders Collaborative
Monika Hartsel '09	Northfield Community Action Center
Wade Hauser '09	Health Community Initiatives & Summer Ventures
Andrew Nussbaum '10	Health Community Initiatives & Summer Ventures

Faculty Supervisors: Mary Carlsen (Social Work), Eric Fure-Slocum (History) and Heather Campbell (Education)