As we near our 30th anniversary, we can’t help but reflect on the passage of time and the “circle of life” our organization continually experiences. We feel incredibly fortunate to have had committed members and volunteers from the beginning, back in 1980, who’ve stayed with us, and helped mentor and develop the leadership of successive new waves of young organizers along the way.
One of the best ways to honor our elders is to ensure the creation of the next generation of community organizers. To that end, we are inaugurating a
new, much more comprehensive youth intern program, as part of a multi-year national pilot project of the Civic Opportunities Initiative Network, or COIN.
Our goal is to provide support, resources, and leadership development to low income and youth of color, to prepare them to be community organizers and leaders. A major component of this program is to see them through college when they might not otherwise have gone that route. And as we kick off the program with 14 paid summer youth interns, we’re taking a moment to honor our elders. We hope you will join us in our efforts.
On
June 20, from 4:00 to 7:00pm, we’ll honor our elders for their commitment to social justice and welcome our incoming youth interns. We’ll also dedicate our newly renovated youth organizing building. There will be a silent auction, food, and music.
We’re also asking that you support our efforts, by sponsoring a summer youth intern at one of the following levels:
One day: $40.00
Two days: $80.00
One week: $200.00
Two weeks: 400.00
Full Six Weeks sponsorship: $1200.00
These are the costs of covering wages for the summer interns. We hope you will contribute, which you can do at our
Network for Good page. Any amount you are able to contribute is greatly appreciated.
The COIN Youth Programs is an national innovative pilot project, meant to prepare young people to live a life grounded in community service. SWOP is one of a handful of community based organizations chosen to participate, based on our history with developing young leaders and providing internships. In this first year, SWOP will have 10 summer youth COIN interns who have just completed their Sophomore year of high school, in addition to four other high school interns.
The six week paid internships will provide an intensive, hands on introduction to grassroots community organizing. During the school year, the COIN students will participate in SWOP activities, attend academic support sessions and meet regularly with a mentor dedicated to ensuring the academic success of students.
At the end of the school year, up to five of the students will continue into year two of the COIN program, which will again provide paid summer internships, leadership development, life skill building and academic support. And, we will also begin a new round of first year participants. So, next summer we will have 15 COIN interns.
SWOP is committed to continually provide support and leadership development to any young person not chosen for the second year internship but who still wishes to stay involved with SWOP.
Students who complete the COIN program through their senior year in high school will pursue university scholarships, and SWOP’s affiliated national partners have committed to provide “gap” funding to ensure COIN interns are able to attend the college of their choice.
Upon graduation from college, the students will be eligible for employment at the SouthWest Organizing Project for one year.
We hope you will support our efforts to keep our youth program going in conjunction with the COIN initiative,
by sponsoring a summer youth intern today.And, please join us for our Circle of Life event: Honoring our elders by developing new leaders
Saturday, June 20
4:00 to 7:00 pm at the SWOP office,
211 10th Street SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
For more information, please call 505-247-8832.
.JPG)
