Summer Service Cohort
- Pay: $15.74/hour; 10-40 hours weekly
- Not benefits eligible
- Work Study applicants are preferred by not required.
The Dornsife Center for Community Engagement invites students interested in working to build our local community this summer to join the West Central Summer Service Cohort. Cohort members will be trained by the Dornsife Center to comprehend service in the local community through an asset-based lens. Then they will work directly with a West Central non-profit (Partner) throughout June, July, and August.
These are considered "on-campus" positions, however, the majority of your time will be spent at the agency in the West Central neighborhood you are matched with. During the hiring process, all applicants will have the opportunity to rank the non-profits they are most interested in working for but all placements will ultimately be decided by the Dornsife Center and the Partners after all interviews have taken place. Once an offer is made, a candidate will have a choice to confirm or deny their desire to work with the assigned non-profit. If the offer is declined the student cannot be guaranteed an offer from another non-profit and their spot in the cohort may be forfeited.
The West Central Summer Service Cohort will consist of 8-10 current Whitworth students who will have a chance to learn together about their own leadership strengths and the strengths of the West Central neighborhood. We will have monthly dinners to check in as a cohort and to reflect on the service experiences. There will also be a cohort closing ceremony at the end of the summer. These in-service experiences will also be paid hours.
While serving with their assigned West Central Partner on-site, each cohort member will report to the agency-identified supervisor to discuss the details of their daily service requirements. Please see the attached job descriptions for more details on individual jobs.
Successful completion of a background check is required for all hires. All positions report to Meredith Devey, Director of the Dornsife Center for Community Engagement, and to their assigned Partner supervisor.
Due to the amount of time spent off-campus, all applicants should have access to reliable transportation or comfort using the STA bus system, even in the early morning or evening hours.
West Central non-profit placement opportunities:
- West Central Community Center - Youth Development Specialist
- West Central Community Center - Learning Skills Center Aide
- River City Youth Ops - Digital Communications Coordinator
- River City Youth Ops - Program Coordinator
- Spark Central - Creative Station Associate
- Spark Central - Summer Programs Associate
- Growing Neighbors - Summer Programs Associate
- West Central Abbey - Communications and Farmer's Market Assistant
- Our Place - Social Media and Outreach Assistant
Please submit the following to Meredith Devey mdevey@whitworth.edu.
- Cover letter explaining your interest in working in the West Central neighborhood.
- Resume
- A numbered list of which positions you would like to be considered for, in order of your preference. If you know you would not like to be considered for a position, please note which positions you DO NOT want to be considered for, as well.
Hiring Process & Timeline
- March 8: Applications are due by 11:59pm
- March 9-15: Application review by the Dornsife Center & West Central Partners
- March 16: Candidates invited to sign up for interviews with selected Partners
- March 20-24: Interviews will take place on-campus or via zoom with Community Partners
- March 24: Individuals will be notified if they have been selected to the cohort and will be given their Community Partner assignments
- April 2: Cohort members must confirm their commitment to their placement by 11:59pm
Summer Service Cohort Schedule
- June 1 & 2: Cohort training on-campus
- June 2: Cohort staffs a booth at the West Central Neighbor Day event from 4-6pm
- June 5: Cohort begins work at Partner site
- June 19: Whitworth observes Juneteenth holiday - Cohort member and Partner agency should clarify if they are expected to work
- June 22: Cohort Dinner - please allow all cohort members to complete work by 4pm
- July 4: Whitworth observes July 4th holiday - Cohort member and Partner agency should clarify if they are expected to work
- July 25: Cohort Dinner - please allow all cohort members to complete work by 4pm
- August 15: Cohort Closing Day - This day is reserved for the cohort to gather one last time before the end of their service term. Cohort members should not plan to work at their site this day.
- Last day of service is determined between the Cohort member and the Partner and should be decided upon at the start of the summer service term
Please contact Meredith Devey with any questions: mdevey@whitworth.edu
