Summer Internship Program Application

Thank you for your interest in the City of Refuge Summer Intern Program.

Beginning in 1970, a group known as “Mission Possible” initiated a street feeding program in downtown Atlanta. The feeding program began to grow as other outreach efforts were added over the span of several years. By 1997, after decades of working with some of Atlanta’s most marginalized individuals and families, “Mission Possible” incorporated its outreach programs into a non-profit called City of Refuge.

In 2003 the organization received a generous donation: an eight-acre tract of land with two warehouses totaling 210,000 square feet in the heart of Atlanta’s most challenging neighborhood. Since moving to this location, approximately 110,000 square feet have been renovated and are currently in full operation. Included are office space, a Children’s Education Center with classrooms and a library, two basketball courts with a fitness center, the Compassion Atlanta food distribution warehouse, an emergency shelter for women, the Community Resource Center with food pantry and clothing closet, the 180 Degree Kitchen and Dining Hall, Eden Village transitional housing facilities for 220 women and children, and a flourishing community garden.

In the summer of 2013, we are offering the opportunity for you to come alongside us in our mission to provide life saving resources and life building tools to individuals and families in Atlanta who are living on the margins. The Summer Internship at City of Refuge is an 11-week intensive service and discipleship program beginning May 19^th and ending August 4^th.

With an emphasis on service and discipleship, the intern program is based on the Head, Hands, and Heart model.

Interns will be challenged each week with 90 minutes of classroom instruction. There will be intensive reflection and discussion concerning such topics as social justice, systemic evil, and community development. Interns will also have weekly “Wisdom Cafe” seminars with a variety of leaders from the Church and Non-profit sector in Atlanta, to explore the implications of our faith on vocational and lifestyle choices.

Each intern will serve as entry-level staff and assist our permanent staff. Based on the application process, we offer each intern a specific position upon acceptance. Interns may assist in Children’s Programming (K-8), Youth Programming (9-12), Residential Programming, the Community Resource Center, or the Community Garden. Interns will serve 35-40 hours each week in their individual departments. This valuable mission field experience will expose interns to the realities of the inner city and offer opportunity for them to practice incarnational ministry through living in the city and building relationships with the last, the lost, and the least.

Every part of the internship will be shaped by spiritual formation and intentional community-building practices. Each morning, interns will gather together for a time of communal prayer and reflection. This will prepare their spirit for the many challenges of the urban reality they will face each day. A strong emphasis will be placed upon times of individual and corporate Bible study, focusing on an understanding of Scripture as it applies to life in the inner city. Interns will also participate in the weekly worship services of The Mission Church.

In addition to spiritual formation practices, interns will engage in intentional community-building practices while sharing life together at City of Refuge. Interns will live together in the intern quarters and share responsibility for housekeeping and maintenance. Once a week, the interns will sit down together to share a community meal. Interns will also have the opportunity to enjoy recreational activities over the summer such as visiting the Martin Luther King Center and Museum, attending Atlanta Braves baseball games, picnicking in Piedmont Park, and an occasional trip to the pool.

Schedule:

Interns will be asked to make themselves available for ministry 7 days per week. While at least one full off day will be scheduled into each week, this will not be the same day every week. Requests to miss a scheduled event or activity must be submitted in writing (by email or letter) to the intern coordinator at least 1 week in advance. Interns will be allowed 3 approved absences from scheduled program/ministry assignments for personal reasons. In addition, interns will be allowed 5 sick/emergency days. In the case of illness or a family/personal emergency that prohibits involvement in scheduled activity, interns must notify their immediate supervisor as early as possible.

The typical work day will begin at 8:30am with prayer/devotion and end at 5:00pm. However, evening events will be scheduled from time to time.

City of Refuge offers programming 7 days per week. Days worked will vary by intern based upon their program focus and needs of the organization. This schedule will be determined by the intern coordinator in consultation with the program director.

Housing at City of Refuge is provided for all summer interns. In addition, interns have access to 3 meals per day, served by the 180º Kitchen at no cost.

Interns will be provided with a personal spending stipend of $50 per week, in keeping with a commitment to simple living.

All interns must have a valid driver’s license. If interns wish to bring a vehicle, it must be in good working condition, legally registered and insured.

APPLICATION FORm, 2013

NAME:

STREET ADDRESS:

CITY:

STATE:

COUNTRY (if other than US):

HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER:

OFFICE/school TELEPHONE NUMBER:

CELL PHONE NUMBER:

CITIZENSHIP:

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION:

MARITAL STATUS:

1. Please list your employment history for the last five years, beginning with the most recent job.

EMPLOYER (name of company):

PHONE:

POSITION:

RESPONSIBILITIES:

DATES OF EMPLOYMENT:

SUPERVISOR’S NAME:

REASON FOR LEAVING:

EMPLOYER (name of company):

PHONE:

POSITION:

RESPONSIBILITIES:

DATES OF EMPLOYMENT:

SUPERVISOR’S NAME:

REASON FOR LEAVING:

EMPLOYER (name of company):

PHONE:

POSITION:

RESPONSIBILITIES:

DATES OF EMPLOYMENT:

SUPERVISOR’S NAME:

REASON FOR LEAVING:

EMPLOYER (name of company):

PHONE:

POSITION:

RESPONSIBILITIES:

DATES OF EMPLOYMENT:

SUPERVISOR’S NAME:

REASON FOR LEAVING:

EMPLOYER (name of company):

PHONE:

POSITION:

RESPONSIBILITIES:

DATES OF EMPLOYMENT:

SUPERVISOR’S NAME:

REASON FOR LEAVING:

2. EDUCATION:
High School:

Institution:

City/State/Zip:

Degree:

Institution:

City/State/Zip:

Degree Major/Focus:

Dates Attended:
Expected Graduation Date (if applicable):
Graduate School:

Institution:

City/State/Zip:

Degree Major/Focus:

Dates Attended:
Expected Graduation Date (if applicable):
3. Have you ever been convicted of a crime?

If yes, explain number of conviction(s), nature of offense(s) leading to conviction(s), how recently such offense(s) was/were committed, sentence(s) imposed, and type(s) of rehabilitation.

4. List the volunteer, service, political or social organizations with which you’ve been significantly involved and the nature of your involvement.

5. Describe your experience with cross-cultural environments.

6. What significant experiences, if any, have you had in an urban (inner city) context? What expectations would you bring to an urban living experience?

7. What group or community living experiences, if any, have you had? What expectations would you bring to a community living situation?

8. What are your vocational goals for the next five to 10 years?

9. What are your expectations from a City of Refuge internship?

10. Are there population groups or issues that are of particular interest to you? Please explain.

11. What skills, such as database, coaching, program development, administrative, mechanical, language fluency, etc., do you have that you would like to use in your work with us?

12. What is your experience with a computer?

Operating systems; Office (e.g. word processing, database, spreadsheets); Web/ Graphics; etc.

13. Please rate yourself on the following characteristics and abilities (1 = one of your weakest areas; 5 = one of your strongest areas) by bolding the appropriate number. In addition, please underline the three attributes listed below that best describe your gifts.

Creativity 1 2 3 4 5

Maturity 1 2 3 4 5

Initiative 1 2 3 4 5

Self-confidence 1 2 3 4 5

Sensitivity 1 2 3 4 5

Leadership 1 2 3 4 5

Independence 1 2 3 4 5

Team Approach 1 2 3 4 5

Dependability 1 2 3 4 5

Organization 1 2 3 4 5

Sense of Humor 1 2 3 4 5

Flexibility 1 2 3 4 5

14. Briefly describe your approach to resolving conflict.

15. What is your most successful work style (e.g. in a group, independently, or with more or less supervisory support)? Explain.

16. What information would be helpful for your supervisor to have regarding your work habits?

17. Interns are placed in specific roles and departments depending on organizational needs, and may be placed in the following departments. Please indicate your departmental preferences.

(1-High interest; 2-Moderate interest; 3-Low interest; 4-No interest).

CORE Summer Club (K-8) 1 2 3 4

The CORE Summer Club is here to provide children in the local community with educational support, spiritual nurture and enrichment opportunities. The goal of the summer club is to enhance the academic and social skill of children in the local community, as well as provide a safe and welcoming environment for recreation and spiritual growth. Interns will supervise volunteers and children, direct games and activities, and lead devotionals including story-telling, skits, worship and discussion. Interns will also chaperone field trips and away-camps.

The Ground Zero Summer Program provides spiritual and physical enrichment opportunities for 9^th-12^th graders in a Christ-centered environment. Opportunities include discipleship, health and physical fitness, nutrition education, life-skill development, entrepreneurship and field trips. Interns will work with the director of youth programming and serve as mentors and chaperones for youth.

The Community Garden is here to develop an organic farmers market, a peaceful green space for residents, and to support the local community. Interns will assist the lead gardener in directing and supervising volunteer groups, teaching garden and nutrition education for the CORE Summer Club, and providing ongoing garden maintenance. Maintenance tasks will include weeding, harvesting, watering, and fertilizing. Interns will also assist in basic grounds-keeping duties, including mowing the lawn, pruning trees, and picking up trash. In addition, interns will assist the lead gardener in minor building and landscaping projects.

The 180 Degree Kitchen provides over 19,000 meals per month to residents in transitional and shelter facilities, children in COR programming, and neighbors in the local community. The Culinary Arts School at City of Refuge is a 12-week, hands-on training program for people living in at-risk communities. Food Services interns will have the opportunity to work in kitchen classes, supporting holistic health and nutrition-based lessons that reinforce academic content and sensory engagement. Other responsibilities include setting up the kitchen for daily cooking classes (i.e. sanitizing surfaces, restocking supplies, setting out necessary smallwares and equipment, and prepping ingredients as instructed by chef teachers.) Interns will also have the opportunity to assist in cooking, catering special events, and maintaining commercial kitchen sanitation standards.

18. Do you have any additional comments you would like to make?

19. STORY. Write a brief 2 -3 page (double-spaced) essay discussing your spiritual journey. Include relevant ministry experiences, education and training, as well as significant moments of transformation in your life. How is Christ’s call to ever-deepening faithfulness, spreading the gospel, and working with the last, the lost, and the least shaping your life currently?

SPIRITUAL

EMPLOYMENT

CHARACTER

PLEASE REMIT TO:

ATTN: Elisha Hodgin

1300 Joseph E. Boone Blvd.

Atlanta, GA 30314