CIVIC IMPACT CORPS CREATES LOCAL CHANGE

Through the Social Impact Lab’s new Civic Impact Corps initiative, Lynn students may intern at local organizations in the South Florida area to become more familiar with nonprofits and their purposes.

Civic Impact Corps’ main focus is to help students find a local organization with which they can gain work experience. The program was combined with Ambassador Corps last summer, an initiative that sends students abroad to developing countries for internships.  

“When we brought the Ambassador Corps program [to Lynn], we found that there were a number of students that would like to do an internship, but they would like to pursue more local options with a nonprofit organization,” said Jerry Hildebrand, director of the Social Impact Lab. 

The Civic Impact Corps plans to work with socially-focused, nonprofit organizations in Boca Raton and surrounding areas. Students have the opportunity to work not only in the summer but also throughout the semester. 

“Many groups have approached us asking for students to assist them with their nonprofits,” said Hildebrand. “We [Civic Impact Corps] are like a depository for those kinds of ideas and look for students that match what the organizations are looking for.”

Bound for College, an organization that works closely with the Civic Impact Corps, helps students who have been discouraged from attending college by preparing them to take standardized tests. Additionally, it provides the support prospective students need to gain admission into the university of their choice. 

Another organization that Civic Impact Corps is working closely with is Boca Save Our Beaches. This organization focuses on cleaning local beaches, specifically removing plastics from these areas. 

Yet another organization connected to the Civic Impact Corps is The Lord’s Place, one that focuses on providing job training for homeless individuals and those considered the most vulnerable in Palm Beach County. To provide occupational placement, the nonprofit has opened numerous businesses, including  a catering company and a thrift store.

Additionally, students may serve at the Achievement Centers for Children & Families. This organization works with more than 700 students from toddlers to teenagers providing after-school functions, feeding programs as well as arts and sports activities. 

“In the future, we hope that these programs will provide payment for the students,” said Hildebrand. “Two of the programs that we are working with now, Bound for College and Boca Save Our Beaches, allow students to work while going to school during the semester and earn $10 per hour. While the positions for this fall are not paid spots, they are really good internships to build experience with nonprofits.” 

For more information about the program, please contact Hildebrand at Ghildebrand@lynn.edu or the Social Impact Lab’s graduate assistant Conrad Rhein at CRheinGA@lynn.edu.