Paid Opportunities with Spark-Y through Right Track+

Paid Opportunities with Spark-Y through Right Track+

Are you 18-24 years of age and a resident of Ramsey County? Are you interested in gaining paid mentorship in sustainability and education?

If so, join Spark-Y as a Sustainable Apprentice through Ramsey County Right Track+ for young adults.

If you meet the above criteria, please fill out the Internship Application Form on or before Tuesday, July 27. ** Please be sure to select Spark-Y as the organization that referred you in order to work at Spark-Y.

Learn more about this program below.

Image credit: Maria Maldonado

About Right Track+

This program is a collaboration between Ramsey County, the City of Saint Paul, local employers and community organizations including Spark-Y. 

The goal of this program is to provide job training and professional development to unemployed or underemployed young adults experiencing the negative economic impacts of the pandemic for the purpose of assisting them in entering an in-demand career pathway.

Right Track+ participants receive:

• A paid part-time internship

• Mentorship

• Professional development opportunities

• Career counseling & case management

• Support services

• And more!

Right Track+ Placement with Spark-Y:

Right Track+ participants who select to be placed with Spark-Y will engage through our existing youth empowerment model as Sustainability Apprentices.

Job Description:

The Spark-Y Sustainability Apprentice will support the Program Director with the delivery of programming, system upkeep, and system design/build projects. The apprentice will be responsible for assisting in tasks that include but are not limited to co-assisting with the delivery and preparation of K-12 Spark-Y programming, engaging with youth, developing curriculum, co-design and building on sustainable systems, engaging with community members and coordinating with Spark-Y staff.

Essential Job Functions:

Including, but not limited to:

• Assist with the Delivery and Preparation of K-12 Spark-Y Programming

• Develop and Modify Curriculum 

• Co-Design and Build on Sustainable Systems 

• Work collaboratively with community members and partners on projects

The Latest and Greatest at Spark-Y

The past year has been one of navigating unknowns and growth for us at Spark-Y -- as it has been for many others. While the school year had a handful more Zoom calls than we had anticipated, we were able to pivot our programs and still reach 2,000 youth across all our programs throughout the school year. We are so proud of how we have grown as an organization, which is a testament to our amazing and dedicated staff. As we now gear up for summer programming we want to give some highlights of what we have done so far as well as what’s to come.

The Latest and Greatest: 

Spark-Y was featured in KARE 11 for our work with the City of Minneapolis creating a Rain Garden

At the end of May, we brought together around 100 youth and community members to transform the drainage basin next to Edison High School into a rain garden. We were offered the opportunity to take over this project by the City of Minneapolis and partnered with Great River Greening along the way, who really helped us make this project a reality. The goal of this project was to not only offer a paid, hands-on educational experience for the youth who participated but to continue involving the nearby community for the years ahead and continue a pipeline for youth to enter the workforce. Watch Kare 11's Belinda Jensen Interview our executive director, Zach Robinson and Great River Greening's Executive Director, Keith Parker on the significance and impact of the project. 

Interns maintaining the rain garden at the Holland Basin site.

Mobile Innovation Lab 

We have partnered with the Northside STEM district to facilitate the curriculum for The Mobile Innovation Lab aka “The BEAST” for 4 sessions throughout the summer. The BEAST is a mobile bus that innovates STEM educational experiences in North Minneapolis and beyond. By providing an accessible opportunity for youth to engage with hands-on STEM education, programming for “The Beast” centers around the principles of Maker Education and creates “sandbox experiences” where creativity and innovation come effortlessly, and there is ample opportunity for mastery and exploration. Students have the opportunity to engage with many different activity stations while on The BEAST ranging from 3D printing to electronics & circuitry. 

Annual Spark-Y Internship 

Our Annual Spark-Y Internship just kicked off! This internship gives youth the opportunity to develop personal and professional skills with a focus on sustainability and entrepreneurship. Upon completing the program students will have had a variety of real life experiences that will help strengthen their resumes and expand their understanding of what it means to be an urban steward for sustainability. The projects in this internship focus on annual and perennial plant care, vegetable production, community engagement, aquaponics, fish and plant care, restoration, and beautification of urban areas. 

Interns providing garden maintenance at a partner school, Friendship Academy.

Internship Open House 

Join us for our internship open house on August 5th at 5pm! This will take place at our headquarters 681 17th Ave NE Unit 101, Minneapolis, MN.

Open Position: Program Manager

Seeking a creative, equity-driven program manager. They facilitate hands-on activities focused on STEM, sustainable systems, and entrepreneurship. The ideal candidate is able to promote a learning environment conducive to creativity, curiosity, youth leadership, and accessibility for students from diverse backgrounds. The PM dynamically leads programming by cultivating youth engagement, culturally sustaining learning, leadership, and empowerment. They collaboratively manage school relationships, oversee data collection and analysis, and know the status and progress of every Spark-Y program ongoing and upcoming.

To apply, send a resume, a cover letter that details your experience with sustainable systems, and a 3 minute video explaining your teaching philosophy to jobs@spark-y.org.

Applications due by 5pm 02/24/2021