Extended internships at the Perkins Foundation are offered throughout the year. While the Summer Interns are dedicated to the Summer Arts Camp and Perkins Institute, interns that are here during the year will have a wide range of responsibilities and tasks. This could range from overseeing an aspect of one of our programs, helping with office work, working closely with Dr. Perkins or starting new projects. There is more time to be creative and use what you have learned up to this point of your life towards helping our ministry here in West Jackson!
You get to live in West Jackson and experience “urban” as well as “southern” culture. When you relocate to the city the problems of the city become your own. The crime, education, children, even potholes of Jackson become a concern of yours as you develop a stronger connection to Jackson. While you live in the South you’ll be confronted with the history and struggles of the South. Seeing today and looking towards the future through the lens of the past will give you a fuller understanding of the realities and problems that we face.
Most of what you learn during an extended internship is experiential. You get to sit with and learn from Dr. Perkins. You experience the civil rights struggle first hand. You have the chance to serve the children and families of West Jackson. And when your heart is open wide enough, you will allow the children and families to serve you. If you come with a gracious spirit — willing to learn and dedicated to serve — you will have an amazing experience.
In 2008, we had seven interns come from across the country that came to serve individually during a college interim, a spring break or high school internship. A music student from Whitworth College joined us for three weeks in January and helped out with the After-School Program. A high school senior from Ohio came down to help Wayne with Zechariah 8. A college student from Portland came to help with our Mission Team ministry. Although they were only down for a few weeks each they were an important part of our success this past year.
Please take a look at our “Extended Internship Packet” and apply online today if you’re interested in becoming part of the West Jackson community and Perkins Foundation family. Contact Rachel Riesgraf at [email protected] if you would like to learn more about the extended internships.
