Youth Internships at RYSE
“Throughout my internships, RYSE has helped me find my youth power. RYSE exposed me to something new and allowed me to find my passion in social and environmental justice. They also taught me how to be more confident in my ideas and more comfortable with speaking in front of adults.”
RYSE was born from young people organizing to shift conditions in their schools and communities. Young people were key stakeholders in the design and planning of RYSE—from brick and mortar to programs and hiring of staff. Today, 33% of RYSE staff are former youth members.
RYSE is committed to supporting young people as they step into next generation leadership positions and reimagine what leadership looks like for Richmond and beyond. Our Leadership Pipeline provides opportunities for personal and professional growth, empowering young people with the skills to advocate for themselves and their community, and to prepare for college and career opportunities. We work to ensure youth have the educational, employment, and career opportunities and systemic resources to lead locally and globally.
CURRENT INTERNSHIPS
Performing Arts AMP
We are the Performing Arts AMP Interns at RYSE. We are artists, poets, singers, storytellers, griots, curators and writers.
Our mission is to utilize spoken word and performance to promote healing centered practices, speak truth to power, share our stories to make a positive impact, and to build community amongst youth artists as we work to develop our skills and artistry.
To apply and for more information, email reginald@rysecenter.org
DLCAPs Fellows
We are the youth representatives on the District Local Control Accountability Plan (DLCAPS) Committee that brainstorms and collaborate on how to impact the LCAP in WCCUSD.
Our mission is to organize youth power to ensure that youth voice and opinions are implemented in the LCAP document. We work together to advocate for our fellow classmates and ourselves in our schools by holding spaces where we can speak freely and plan together. We empower youth to speak out and take agency over their education. We hope to spark change through breaking down barriers of ageism and addressing flaws in district money distribution. We acknowledge that there are a lot of full time working adults and even kids that cannot attend DLCAP meetings; it is because of them that we exist.
This internship is now closed.
Education for Liberation Interns (E4L)
We are the Education for Liberation Interns. We develop youth leadership skills through a series of storytelling, healing and educational justice workshops while also facilitating Know Your Rights in School workshops for our peers and educators.
Our mission is to learn about our rights as students, become peer educators for other youth in our community, and develop learning tools that will support students and school staff in creating a safer and equitable learning environment.
This internship is now closed.
RYOT (Richmond Youth Organizing Team)
We are RYOT, the Richmond Youth Organizing Team at RYSE. Through political education workshops, retreats, and trainings, we develop critical understandings and skills to develop as youth leaders. We provide peer education through an Organizing Club where we discuss topics and issues that are impacting our community.
Our mission is to ensure that youth make decisions on issues and policies that impact the health and wellbeing of our peers and our families. We advocate for youth decision-making power by speaking at city council meetings and coordinate youth-led events.
This internship is now closed.
Music & Audio AMP Interns
We are the Music & Audio AMP Interns. As part of the Advanced Media Producer (AMP) internship program, we develop original project goals using the mediums of live instrumentation, podcasting, rapping, singing, beat making, music curation, and more. We receive technical training in the areas of production, recording, mixing/mastering, and songwriting through individual and group mentorship to develop as individuals and artists.
Our mission is to expand the music and audio horizons of our youth peers at RYSE, promoting sound and audio production as forms of healing and community building. We work to raise each other's self-esteem by centering positive collaboration as a form of artist development.
This internship is now closed.
Visual Arts AMP Interns
We are the Visual Arts AMP Interns. As part of the Advanced Media Producer (AMP) internship program, we work on our professional development as visual artists through creating and showcasing original youth art. We co-facilitate and participate in visual arts workshops, and go on field trips to local art galleries, festivals, and more.
Our mission is to help build a space at RYSE where youth members can express themselves creatively through visual art and explore the arts sector as a future career pathway.
This internship is now closed.
Culture Builders
We are learning how to give tours, orientations, and sign youth up to become members.
Our mission is to learn what it means to uphold the House agreements/signs of physical affection, support other members in navigating the space and connect them to programs and services, and get trained in Restorative Justice and non-violent communications practices to be able to interject/de-escalate any issues/problems arising between members.
This internship is now closed.
PAST INTERNSHIPS
RYSing Professionals
We are RYSing Professionals, a cohort of inspired, dream-driven individuals focused on developing ourselves as leaders and the future versions of ourselves that we will be.
Our mission is to work towards our long term goals and aspirations through career development, goal setting, and pursuing opportunities that will benefit our career path. We aim to be the leaders we are destined to be by growing ourselves in our skills and experiences and investing in our future, while encouraging other youth to do the same.
HERE Action Research Project
We are the HERE Action Research Project. We realize that the Richmond community is full of culture and uniqueness, which is why our mission is to create an action project that will bring awareness to gentrification happening in the city.
Our mission is also to make sure that we know community members’ opinions and ideas on the issue and turn them into actions. We know that gentrification can only be stopped if we work together to empower our city.
Intersections Cohort Interns
We are the Intersections cohort interns, conducting an action research project that will focus on the impacts of gender discrimination and sexual prejudice in schools and how these factors contribute to unsafe learning spaces and negative school climate. The Intersections program was designed by Dulce Garcia, RYSE’s Education & Justice Action Research youth fellow.
Our mission is to learn action research methods and use community storytelling to take action and resist against gender oppression and sexual prejudice.
Let’s Talk About Sex Interns
We are the Let’s Talk About Sex Interns. We are developing our youth leadership skills through a series of sexual health/healthy sexuality workshops that are LGBTQ and body inclusive, while also teaching and facilitating sexual health workshops with our peers. We are also the youth leaders in planning RYSE’s Sex Week.
Our mission is to become a better resource for sexual health information, and peer educators for other young people. At the end of our internship, we will receive Sexual Health Peer Educator Certifications endorsed by Planned Parenthood, which will help us build a foundation for careers in public health and/or education.
Event Production AMP Interns (“Curation Warriors”)
We are the Curation Warriors. As part of the Advanced Media Producer (AMP) internship program, we learn how to curate, cultivate, and host multimedia events at RYSE. We receive trainings and practice with hands-on experience.
Our mission is to grow as curators and event planners, building the skills needed to pursue this career pathway. The events we plan and host are by and for youth, intentionally building empowered, healing, and joyful community.
Video AMP Interns
We are the Video AMP Interns. As part the Advanced Media Producer (AMP) internship program, we learn technical video production skills and social awareness. Through workshops, we learn how to work with cameras, film PSAs and mini documentaries for community education, and short films to reflect the lived experiences of our communities. We receive training in developing story ideas, storyboarding, videography, and editing software and gain opportunities to submit videos to film festivals and contests.
Our mission is to use different forms of media and digital storytelling as ways to challenge dominant cultural narratives.
Community Health Needs Assessment Interns
We are the Community Health Needs Assessment Interns for Public Health Solutions. We survey West Contra Costa County youth to understand their experiences and perceptions of health and the health care system.
Our mission is to research and understand the experiences and perceptions of our communities around health and health care. We provide physicians the information needed to understand what it is that the youth of our community need. Our findings also guide the planning of the future RYSE health clinic that will be housed as part of RYSE Commons.
Census 2020 Youth Organizers
We are the youth organizing to educate our communities on the importance of the upcoming Census in 2020, which will determine where billions of federal dollars are distributed to fund schools, roads, clinics, and services our families rely on.
Our mission is to be trusted messengers for our neighbors, sharing our experiences and connecting with Richmond residents on why filling out the Census is a step toward building power in our communities.
Voter Engagement Interns
We are the young people engaging with our community members by phone, text, and in-person to emphasize the importance of voting and registering to vote. RYSE is a member of the Power California network.
Our mission is to help build a healthy and dignified future for all by inviting young Contra Costa County voters to get involved in their community.