By Cecelia Boyson
Eleven University of Vermont (UVM) students and one Sterling College student had the unique opportunity to spend their summer contributing to the vitality of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom as members of the Community Resilience Summer Internship Program.
The program was created as a collaboration between the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships and UVM’s Department of Community Development and Applied Economics Department, with the intention of offering students the chance to apply their skills and knowledge in real-world settings, fostering resilience in rural regions of Vermont.
A Collaborative Effort for Positive Change
The interns were embedded within various organizations, each playing a critical role in enhancing community resilience across the Northeast Kingdom. This program prioritized cultural competency training, acknowledging the complex issues prevalent in rural areas such as poverty, substance abuse, and climate disaster prevention and recovery.
Kristen Andrews, UVM’s Internship Coordinator explained that “this initiative isn’t just about providing internships; it’s about fostering long-term partnerships between UVM and rural Vermont communities. We want students to see what it’s like to live in a rural part of Vermont, to see how the skills they developed at UVM can serve a local economy outside of Chittenden, and to see how networks in a community work together to build resilience.”
Integrating into the Northeast Kingdom
Over the course of the program, interns participated in a comprehensive orientation, weekly professional development workshops, and a final presentation of their projects to UVM Career Center staff, the Leahy Institute team, and Northeast Kingdom community members.
Each intern dedicated 20 hours a week over an eight-week period at a diverse cohort of organizations, including Greensboro Free Library, Hardwick Gazette, Fairbanks Museum, Hardwick Area Food Pantry, Center for an Agricultural Economy, Green Mountain Farm to School, and more.
To support the interns, housing was provided, free of cost to students, on the Sterling College campus. The Leahy Institute also subsidized wages that each organization offered, elevating each internship to $18 per hour to give students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rural community with less of a financial strain.
Engaging with the Community Amidst Crisis
On July 10th and 11th, heavy rainfall caused catastrophic flooding and damage to much of Northern Vermont. Many of the interns found themselves at the heart of the crisis, witnessing firsthand how natural disasters shake rural Vermont communities. An intern at the Center for Agricultural Economy witnessed the destruction of nearly all of the raised plant beds and crops they had been tending to throughout the summer. This experience offered the interns insight into the strength and unity that communities exercise in times of adversity. They were actively involved in flood relief efforts and contributed to discussions on future flood prevention strategies, acquiring essential experience that will contribute to enhancing Vermont’s preparedness and response to future climate-related challenges.
Conclusion
On behalf on the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships, we want to congratulate the student interns on a job well done over the summer. We also want to commend our partner organizations who hosted students, community members who made them feel welcome, and the amazing staff that coordinated and supported this program.
Kristen Andrews, Internship Coordinator at the UVM Career Center
Travis Reynolds, Associate Professor in the UVM Community Development and Applied Economics Department
Abraham Awolich, PhD Student in Sustainable Development Policy, Economics and Governance
Click here to visit our website and learn more about the Northeast Kingdom Internship Program.
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