Each summer, the CCE’s Community Building Internship program supports students and our community partners by offering immersive paid internships that we develop with the organizations exclusively for our students. Since 2009, with funds from donors and the CCPD, the CCE has offered 20-25 internships per year in positions that promote social change and equity in Kalamazoo.

In these six to eight-week experiences, student gain exceptional professional skills and knowledge of local and global issues, while building community capacity to address food security, youth development, the creative arts, health equity, neighborhood planning, neurodiversity, community gardens, and childcare policy–among many others. Interns may conduct data collection and analysis, develop curriculum, design websites, create marketing materials, teach children, work at the farmer’s market, write reports, serve as community organizers, plan arts events, and evaluate programs, and more–each organization’s position is unique.