UNC’s Partnerships in Aging Program is looking for three interns to assist with affordable housing projects, senior center accreditation, and transportation for seniors for the 2020-21 academic year. Additionally, Pee Wee Homes, an affordable home builder in Chapel Hill, is looking for a part time administrator. All three UNC-funded positions run for the entire academic year, while the Pee Wee Homes position runs for a calendar year. Applications for all four positions are due by September 14th.
The Partnerships in Aging Program (PiAP) is a campus-wide program at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill which seeks to challenge stereotypes that frame aging as an experience of diminishment and loss. By collaborating with organizations and institutions, PiAP nurtures dialogue about the personal and societal meaning of having a long life and advances civic engagement as a way to bring about a new kind of aging. PiAP provides expertise and resources to UNC faculty, students, and community partners seeking to reframe the aging experience, together.
Graduate Intern – Orange County Affordable Housing Coalition
(Offered in Collaboration with UNC’s Partnerships in Aging Program)
About the Coalition
Orange County Affordable Housing Coalition (OCHAC) is an association of non-profit housing developers, social service providers, advocacy groups, and local government partners working together to provide housing opportunities for all in Orange County, NC. Our mission is to foster collaboration among providers and advocates to support affordable housing development and preservation in Orange County.
OCAHC was established in 2013 to highlight the needs and opportunities for increasing housing affordability in Orange County and to foster communication and collaboration among housing providers and advocates. Since that time, the coalition has expanded to meet the growing need of housing in the Orange County community.
Description
OCAHC is seeking an intern who will help us refine the mission of the coalition and set strategic priorities for the future of the coalition by facilitating focused conversations and turning these conversations into clear written guidance that will be utilized to clarify our purpose and processes. The intern will also provide additional support to OCAHC on a variety of tasks during monthly committee and subcommittee meetings.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Participate in monthly OCAHC meetings, taking and distributing minutes (2nd Friday of every month from 9-10:30am)
- Facilitate group discussions and interview individual members to further define the mission and future of the coalition
- Research best practices of other housing coalitions nationally
- Determine the role of advocacy within the coalition’s efforts
- Develop a concise public-facing document articulating the mission, vision, and values of the coalition
- Create a more robust infrastructure for sharing documents and organizing communications among members
- Make occasional updates to OCAHC website (orangehousing.org); no web design or coding skills required
Qualifications and Experience
- Believe that housing is a human right, and be committed to supporting the activities of a coalition that advances just and equitable practices
- Be a UNC graduate student in City and Regional Planning, the School of Government, Public Health, Public Administration, Social Work, Occupational Therapy or related field.
Position Details
This 6-hour/week position will be mentored by Jennifer Player, CEO and President of Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. Work can be accomplished remotely during the time of COVID. Weekly mentor meetings can be scheduled at the convenience of Jennifer and student schedules. Compensation is $20/hour. This position will be ongoing from Sept. 2020-April 2021.
Application
Submit a resume and cover letter to Jennifer Player at jplayer@orangehabitat.org. Priority will be given to applications received by September 14, 2020.
We strongly encourage applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ applicants.
Graduate Intern – Orange County Department on Aging – NISC (National Institute of Senior Centers) Accreditation Process
(Offered in Collaboration with UNC’s Partnerships in Aging Program)
Description
Assist with national re-accreditation of 2 Orange County Senior Centers
Time Period
8 hours/week throughout the academic year: Sept 2020 – May 2021
Compensation
$20/hour – Funding and administration for this internship is provided by UNC’s Partnerships in Aging Program
Work Location and Hours
The intern will work on-site at the Seymour Center, 2551 Homestead Rd. Chapel Hill, on Mon, Wed or Fri. between 2 and 5 pm. Work hours are flexible and can be negotiated. The Senior Centers are closed for group activities and all work processes are conducted using COVID-safety practices*.
Mentorship
The intern will work directly with, and be mentored by Myra Austin, Senior Centers Administrator. Myra will be the team leader for the re-accreditation process.
About Orange County Department on Aging
Orange County Department on Aging (OCDOA) is a one-stop resource where older adults and caregivers can meet their social, mental, physical, financial, and day-to-day practical needs. We offer integrated aging services and programs at our two senior centers including, wellness and education classes, job search advice and workshops, daily (M – F )nutritious lunches, trips, volunteer opportunities, and much more.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Research, review and revise previous National Accreditation documents
- Work with OCDoA staff to formulate and help facilitate the two senior center self-assessment committees.
- Work with staff and the committees to complete the self-assessment process.
- Assist the staff and the 2 senior centers to evaluate its level of compliance with the national standards and completes tasks to bring us into compliance.
- Work with staff to complete the 2 OC Senior Centers online profile
- Assist staff in notifying NCOA’s NISC Program Manager when the online notebook is complete.
Qualifications and Experience
- Graduate student in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Public Policy, Public Health or similar discipline.
- Preference will be give to applicants with prior experience in communications, journalism, or public relations, or public policy
- Excellent organizational abilities and skills
- Research and interview skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and other virtual and large document platforms
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- A Team Player
- Skill and ability to work with older adults, volunteers, and staff
- Flexibility in work schedule based on intern and staff availability (may require some on-site work on certain days – M, W, F)
Benefits
- Understand national accreditation processes applied to government organizations and the resulting budget implications
- Witness a local government agency and a national government organization working simultaneously to achieve a desired outcome
- Understand the process of managing and organizing a local government department, including policies and procedures
Physical Requirements
- Internships pose no special physical requirements, and the Department on Aging encourages people with diverse abilities to apply.
- *The OCDoA is practicing safe precautions as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing, face coverings while in shared office areas, proper handwashing or use of hand sanitizer, and limited number of patrons are in our large, spacious buildings at this time.
Application
Submit a resume and cover letter to maustin@orangecountync.gov . Myra Austin, Senior Centers Administrator. Preference will be given to applications received by September 14, 2020.
Grad Intern – Orange County Department on Aging (OCDOA)
(Offered in Collaboration with UNC’s Partnerships in Aging Program)
Description
Graduate Intern supporting Transportation for Seniors. The Transportation Intern will focus on expanding Orange County’s Volunteer Driver Program (VDP) through co-development of a rideshare web/mobile app with our non-profit partner Code the Dream. Additionally, the intern will be working with the Aging Transitions team on a virtual event planned for early December for Older Driver Safety Awareness Week. This is a new idea, and will be loosely framed around a presentation currently being developed on “Driving: Planning for Retirement” for this fall’s Caregiver Summit.
About the OCDOA and Transportation for Seniors in Orange County
Orange County’s Department on Aging is committed to educating older adults about the availability and use of existing transportation services, taking leadership to foster cooperation and collaboration among Orange County’s transportation providers, and working with local stakeholders to expand the current transportation system and create alternatives such as volunteer-driver programs. Current services include:
- A dedicated Transportation Help-line is available M-F 8am-5pm. The Help-line receives an average of 85 calls per month from clinicians looking for transportation resources for a patient or a resident who is becoming temporarily or permanently transit dependent.
- The Volunteer Driving Program (VDP) provides necessary trips for seniors that have no existing public or non-public transit options that meets their needs. The program has grown from 9 to 15 volunteer drivers and has provided 426 one-way rides this past year.
- Community outreach and Travel training provided through regularly scheduled speaking engagements, community events, classes, day trips and one-on-one trainings
- Master Aging Plan (MAP) Transportation Workgroup serves as a hub for improving transportation in the area by bringing together social service, transit, and health organizations for regular meetings to improve transit.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Become a team player in our efforts to provide seniors with more transit opportunities via community education, new technologies, and 1:1 training.
- Enjoy working with a diverse set of stake holders to accomplish a high priority community goal.
- Have an interest in project management, specifically; planning, marketing, and implementing a community-wide event.
- Be self-directed, take initiative, troubleshoot challenges, and reach out proactively for support.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will be a UNC graduate student in City and Regional Planning, the School of Government, Public Health, Public Administration, Social Work, Occupational Therapy or similar discipline.
Hours and Duration
Expected commitment is 6 hours/week throughout the academic year, Sept 2020-May 2021. Intern will be encouraged to participate in a weekly (virtual) meeting with Code the Dream, Mondays at 1pm. Other hours are flexible and can be performed on-site or remotely.
Compensation
$20/hour
Application
Submit a resume and cover letter to Alison Smith, Transportation Specialist* @ alsmith@orangecountync.gov . Priority will be given to applications received before September 14, 2020
*The Transportation Specialist (Mobility Manager) is part of the OCDOA Senior Transportation Expansion, Assessment and Mobility Management (STEAMM) project that is funded through the Section 5310 enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities by the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO).
Part-Time Program Administrator – Pee Wee Homes
About Pee Wee Homes
Pee Wee Homes builds, manages, and supports affordable, accessible, small homes — homes that individuals with fixed income or earning minimum wage can afford; homes that allow older individuals to age in community; and, importantly, homes that support independence in the context of community. Pee Wee Homes is a nonprofit organization based in Chapel Hill, NC. Pee Wee Homes has completed two small development projects over the last 3 years, with 5 residents who have all made transitions out of homelessness.
About the Position
Pee Wee Homes has received abundant interest from our community in building additional units across town, with inquiries from faith communities, local governments, and private landowners alike. The need for these homes is tremendous, and we are hiring this part-time administrator to level up our capacity, enabling us to better leverage these opportunities for growth and impact. To date, we have done our work as an all-volunteer organization; we have come to acknowledge that as long as we remain all-volunteer, our potential for growth is strictly capped. In order to provide the needed attention to an increasing number of tenants, to continue to raise funds and find new ways to finance and build homes, to collaborate with others to identify building sites (these small homes can be built on patches of land too small for other kinds of construction!), and to expand and flourish as an organization, we are making the exciting step of hiring a Part-Time Program Administrator.
Duties
Tenant Support:
- Support our growing base of tenants through regular check-ins and community-building activities (5 current tenants)
- Coordinate timely response to tenant concerns or challenges
- Steward the tenant selection process when new units become available (~Once per year)
- Maintain contact with sub-contracted property manager to ensure monthly maintenance
duties are performed and repairs are conducted in a timely manner
- Administer annual lease recertification process for tenants
Organizational Development:
- Assist our fledgling nonprofit with building the infrastructure and organization needed to sustain and create high-quality affordable housing with the Pee Wee Homes model
- Coordinate meetings of the Board of Directors and Committees, acting as a Project Manager to ensure follow-through and completion of initiatives
- Facilitate the creation of key organizational policies for proper stewardship and best-in-class property management
- Supervise 1-2 volunteer interns seasonally, hired at the discretion of the Program Administrator based on organizational needs
- Assist in completion of administrative duties essential to maintaining the organization
Partnership Development, Resource-Raising, & Communications:
- Pursue dialogue with interested faith communities and private landowners about building Pee Wee Homes on their property, providing technical assistance and process support to turn these exploratory conversations into real housing (3-4 interested parties per year to start)
- Recruit new opportunities for development through proactive outreach activities and fundraising, including interest meetings and tours, public speaking, and workshops to engage in-depth about possibilities with prospective entities
- Develop newsletter and external communications, including website language
- Support development program, facilitating conversations and exploring possibilities related to individual donors, grants, and other opportunities
Qualifications
A successful candidate for this position will:
- Be a self-directed team member who takes initiative, troubleshoots challenges, and reaches out proactively for support
- Demonstrate a track record of project management and/or people management skills
- Feel comfortable building the plane while flying
- Have experience in related fields (nonprofit management, homeless services, affordable housing, case management, property management)
- Believe that housing is a human right, and be committed to building an affordable housing nonprofit that centers just and equitable practices
Position Details
This part-time, salaried position will report to the chair of the Board of Directors and will be based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Expected commitment is 10 hours per week. Compensation is $1,000 per month. This is a grant-funded position for 1-year. The hope is that additional funding will be obtained to extend employment.
Application
Submit a resume and cover letter to info@peeweehomes.org. Priority will be given to applications received by September 14, 2020.
PWH is an equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ applicants.