Internships
Girls’ LEAP Internships for Undergraduate College Students
About Girls’ LEAP:
Girls LEAP is focused on creating social justice and gender equality through assault prevention. Our unique programming is youth centered to give girls access to building emotional resiliency skills when they need them the most: during adolescence when they are at the highest risk for assault. We work with girls aged 8-18 throughout the greater Boston area and have deep community and feminist roots in Boston and Cambridge.
Who You Are:
You are interested or even passionate about social justice work and the future of intersectional feminism. You are excited to learn from youth and peers as well as Girls’ LEAP staff. You hold a high standard of excellence for your own work yet are willing to learn and improve through owning your mistakes. You can demonstrate a clear commitment to improve your community through past work, volunteering, or other active engagement in a community- based group or initiative.
About the Teaching Assistant Internship:
As a Teaching Assistant with Girls’ LEAP you will have the opportunity to learn a multitude of skills focused around the growth and support of youth. The internship is tailored to suit the goals of students interested in pursuing careers in social work, youth advocacy, counseling, education, psychology, women's and gender studies, journalism, movement arts, and more. A background in theatre, sports, or movement arts, and/or second language skills is a plus. LEAP staff will work with you to develop an internship that meets your academic and professional goals. Interns are trained as “Teaching Assistants” that teach physical self-defense and socioemotional skills in Girls' LEAP Programs and Workshops, and receive mentoring and ongoing supervision with Girls' LEAP staff and Lead Teachers. Interns may also assist with projects such as event planning, research, data management, and more.
Requirements and Hours:
Interns must attend the weekend-long physical and social-emotional skills training. Training dates will be communicated each session once planned:
- Friday Evening 5:00pm-7:00pm (Virtual)
- Saturday: 10:00am-5:00pm (In-Person)
- Sunday: 10:00am-5:00pm (In-Person)
Direct service hours in LEAP Community Programs are scheduled weekly on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays, in three-hour time-blocks. Fall Programming runs from mid- September-December and Spring Programming runs mid-February-May. Students must have one of these afternoons open, budgeting time for transportation, to be eligible for an internship with LEAP. Additional hours are scheduled with the Program Director.
Internship - Option 1 (Teaching Assistant Internship)
-Hours are approximate-
20 hours - Physical Skills Training Weekend in September (Mandatory)
30 hours - Girls LEAP Program: 3 hours, once a week for 10 sessions on a MTWTh afternoon 30 hours - Girls LEAP Program: 3 hours, once a week for 10 sessions on a MTWTh afternoon
10 hours - Weekly supervision meetings, ongoing training, Teaching Assistant “chapter” meetings
Internship - Option 2 (Teaching Assistant Hybrid Internship)
-Hours are approximate-
20 hours - Physical Skills Training Weekend in September (Mandatory)
30 hours - Girls LEAP Program: 3 hours, once a week for 10 sessions on a MTWTh afternoon
10 hours - Weekly supervision meetings, ongoing training, Teaching Assitants“chapter” meetings
30 hours - Projects determined in consultation with supervisor in areas of student interest: research, data management, social media, fundraising, outreach, or curriculum development. ~3 hours/week. Please email for more details on current projects.
Core Competencies
- Engages with curriculum components and physical skills;
- Demonstrates an initial understanding of the strength-based approach while working with participants and other staff;
- Demonstrates leadership through active listening;
- Demonstrates commitment to a culture of consent, and ability to guide students through challenging material while respecting emotional and physical boundaries;
- Demonstrates a nuanced understanding and awareness of body language;
- Willingly accepts direction and feedback during program time;
- Demonstrates an initial understanding of appropriate and clear boundaries with participants ; ● Willing to learn one-on-one classroom and behavior management techniques.
Responsibilities
- Leads small group discussions and activities with program participants;
- Uses open ended questions to encourage participation;
- Participates in physical demonstrations during programming;
- Provides one-on-one physical instruction with program participants;
- Provides strength-based feedback to participants;
- Asks questions of Lead Teachers and other junior staff in order to continue learning and better serve youth;
- Shows dedication/enthusiasm to work with girls;
- Displays a consistent positive attitude;
- Practices honest and clear communication;
- Interacts respectfully and in a timely manner with staff both in and outside of program time;
- Arrives on time for program prep period, stays for the full program debrief period;
- Maintains flexibility and willingness to respond within changing program circumstances;
- Attends Teaching Assistant meetings regularly;
- Communicates with teaching team around personal strengths and growth areas; ● Interacts positively with families, site staff and visitors.
- Attends ongoing trainings and/or chapter meetings to practice and acquire skills.
Application Instructions
To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to the Program Director, Jennyde Dessius, J------------