OVERVIEW

The Summer of Solutions Oakland is a grassroots youth-led leadership and community action program focused on social and environmental justice. We are currently seeking full and part-time fellowship applications from youth ages 16-27 for the summer of 2012. Your purpose as a fellow will be to participate in a two-month long summer program, where you’ll build organizing and leadership skills while exploring different theories of social change. During the summer, you’ll participate in trainings and workshops and help develop community projects in Fruitvale.

Location: Oakland, California

Type of Position: Full – Time in Oakland (40 hours/week) | Part – Time in Oakland (10-20 hours/week)

Application Deadline: May 15th, 2012 is the priority deadline. Applications are rolling, so apply ASAP!

Program Dates: June 15th – August 15th, 2012

Tuition: Our program does not charge tuition. However, we do expect fellows to learn fundraising skills and help generate the resources necessary to sustain us through the summer. We will work with you one-on-one to address your needs. Stipends may be available, and we will support you in finding the resources you need to participate in the program this summer.

Benefits: Housing may be provided. Travel stipends may be available based on need.

To apply: Please visit http://oaklandsos.org/?page_id=14 and fill out the application online. If you need a paper application, please contact Ethan at ethanbuckner@gmail.com

WHAT YOU GIVE/WHAT YOU GET

The Summer of Solutions is a life-changing experience. By living and growing together we build a network of friends who are reshaping the world. This is not just another summer job…  It is a “learning-by-doing” program where you’ll build new skills, take action, reflect, and keep learning. Everyone has something to bring. Your passions, your dreams, and your skills shape the program. You become a solutionary– building hands-on solutions with a community, and growing your personal ability to create while demonstrating what is possible.

THE TRAINING

The first week of the program will feature an intensive training where you will participate in anti-oppression workshops and community-building activities and build skills in eadership development, systems thinking, strategic campaign planning, community organizing, and more. Throughout the summer, you will participate in frequent workshops that will be informed by the community projects you are developing while enhancing your capacity to be a change-maker in those projects.

THE PROJECTS

This is the critical component of the fellowship. As a program participant, you will engage in the design and implementation of one or more community projects that integrate social and environmental justice in Fruitvale. This summer, our main focus will be geared towards (but not limited to) the following two projects:

Summer Camp: Located at Peralta Hacienda Historical Park (http://peraltahacienda.org/), this will be our second year running a free summer camp for Fruitvale families. Last year, we had 30 kids between the ages of 4-16, three days a week for six weeks – and are planning about the same for this year. Every activity we do will be intentional, such as promoting: leadership development, self-confidence, public speaking, anti-oppression, exercise, outdoor recreation, creativity, local history/community, environmental education, nonviolent communication, political activism, etc. We will also give older kids the opportunity to participate in specialized activities such as: Food Justice, Community Visioning, Energy Efficiency, etc., as well as take on leadership/mentorship roles with the younger kids.

Harrington House: The Harrington House refers to a new house that one of our community partners, Canticle Farm, has just purchased (on Harrington Ave) that connects to other community houses (currently via the chicken coop). Summer of Solutions fellows will work to transform the physical space  into a state that is of service to the wider community. Ultimately, this house will serve a youth immersion program focused on nonviolence, restorative justice, and watershed health. Possible SoS Harrington House projects involve: permaculture/urban gardening, green building & sustainable design (interior & exterior), rainwater harvesting systems, and more! We can also potentially host community events, visioning sessions, and/or workshops open to the neighborhood at the Harrington House.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

We are an equal opportunity organization, with a deep commitment to engaging the skills and leadership of people of color, people from low-income backgrounds, people of LGBT orientation and identity, and people of other diverse backgrounds.  If you identify with these and/or other historically marginalized backgrounds and communities, we strongly encourage you to apply.