Safe Routes to School Program Internship
Background
Since 2001, Feet First has been working across the state to ensure all communities in Washington are walkable. We help people take steps that create better places to live, learn, work, shop and playa world that cares about health, community, and the environment.
Context
This position supports the mission of a small, non-profit organization to promote walkable communities, and in particular, safe walking routes to school. Forty years ago, nearly half of all school-aged children walked to school on a regular basis. Today, that number has fallen to just 13 percent. Safe Routes to School (SRTS) promotes health, safety, and community by making it safer and easier to walk to school. This intern will research best practices from cities around the country, and include a review of local and state legislation affecting school safety programs.
Work Description
This position will appeal to students with interests in education, public health, public policy and urban design. It provides an opportunity to develop web- and phone-based research skills, to think critically about issues that affect public safety, and to work alongside non-profit professionals. It requires aptitude for writing and communications, and will result in brochures and web content to add to a student communications portfolio.
Impact
This position plays an integral role in furthering the SRTS efforts in the City of Seattle and across the state. This position entails collaborative and independent work with room for creativity and personal input. For more information about Feet First and SRTS, go to: https://www.feetfirst.org/what-we-do/safe-routes.
Time Commitment
This position has been envisioned as a 20-hour-per-week commitment during the summer of 2014, but includes room for flexibility to best meet the needs, schedule and interests of the most qualified candidate. The earliest start date is May 10, 2014.
Supervisor
Jen Cole, M.S.W.
Safe Routes to School Program Director
jen@feetfirst.org
(206) 652-2310 ext. 2
Location
Feet First
314 First Avenue South
Pioneer Square
Seattle, Washington 98104
Transportation
There are numerous buses, light rail, and even ferries to the Feet First office in Seattle’s Pioneer Square. Secure, covered bicycle parking is available on site. Our office is a collaborative, open work environment in the NORD Building, which is a hub for like-minded sustainability organizations.
Skills Needed
To be successful for this position you should have excellent writing and research skills; MS Word and MS Publisher or Adobe InDesign; high level in-person and telephone communication skills; self-starter with initiative; problem solving; taking a large role in a small office; comfortable working in an open office environment; belief in the agency mission.