College Internships

Teens are sometimes more receptive to being open and honest with young adults—someone closer to their own age. That realization led FreshMinistries to start the Fresh Futures College Intern Program and Alternative Spring Break Program.

Both programs benefit from the generosity and sincere desire of young college adults who want to make a positive difference in their communities and in the lives of those who may be less fortunate or in need of a friend. We are fortunate to have an abundance of wonderful, caring college interns who tutor and mentor the teens in our core-city youth program and we applaud the many others who give up their college spring break vacation to serve others in need through our Alternative Spring Break Program.
 

Fresh Futures College Intern Program

Fresh Futures is a youth development and enrichment program helping core-city teens expand their world and achieve success with the mentoring and tutoring help from college interns interested in improving their own lives by serving others.

Our Fresh Futures teens, 13 to 17 years of age, are tutored in school studies and mentored in life skills by FreshMinistries college interns. Our interns serve as positive role models as they work directly with our inner-city youth to strengthen the teens’ self-esteem, help them improve in their school work, develop positive socialization skills and introduce them to cultural and career opportunities.

Through a combination of school visits, home visits, cultural enrichment activities and journal writing, Fresh Futures is able to broaden horizons and help teens develop success plans for their futures. These success plans include understanding how education can play a major role in escaping poverty, how being involved in community social programs such as serving meals to the homeless and helping elderly neighbors with home repairs enriches relationships. The teens learn how their decisions and choices in everyday life effect the outcome of their dreams for the future.

“I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve learned that the things I was trying to give my life meaning with before weren’t giving my life meaning. I’ve discovered the importance of finding a place of solitude inside myself with God, and how to build loving relationships with people.”
-former intern Joe Johnson, University of North Florida

College students sign up for the internships and may receive college credit. Participating colleges and universities have included:
·Edward Waters College
·University of North Florida
·Jacksonville University
·Davidson College

FreshMinistries Internship/Mentor Job Description

Purpose: To provide an opportunity for young people to realize their potential and develop the skills to ensure success, and to increase youth success and reduce the potential of youths dropping out of school.

Goals and Objectives: Encourage personal development, including appearance, public behavior, leadership and expression. Create a greater awareness of cultural, community and career opportunities. Encourage academic improvement as a key to the future.

Responsibilities:

• Set Goals. The mentor will work with youth to develop long-term goals for his/her academic and personal life. The success of this relationship will depend on the mentor helping the youth create short-term and long-term goals and manageable weekly activities.
• Be a Friend. The mentor will listen to the youth, understand the obstacles the youth perceives and help him/her find solutions. The mentor will work with the youth to use existing services in the school and community.
• Assist with Academic Assignments. The mentor will check homework, help with missed class work, assist with test preparation, give suggestions about research, check student’s assignment list regularly, provide reading and writing exercises, tutor the student with materials provided by teachers or school and encourage school attendance. Mentor will obtain a copy of the youth’s report card at the end of each reporting period.
• Be a Role Model. The mentor will be a positive role model for the youth, demonstrating values of punctuality, dependability, creativity and reliability.
• Encourage Youth to Set Goals and Stay in School. The mentor will help the youth appreciate the importance of education, both personally and professionally. Help seek alternative opportunities if traditional school is not feasible.
• Accept the Youth. The youth may be of a different race, religion, culture or economic background than the mentor. A mentor is expected to respect the student for “who he/she is.”
• Prepare Success Plans. Mentor will work on success plans that allow youth to identify long- and short-term goals. Mentor will assist youth in creating a road map for their future.
• Make Contact. Mentor will make contact with parents, teachers and other support systems to gather information regarding the youth’s progress and area of concern.

Some FreshMinistries Interns from years past:

FreshMinistries college interns go places! What some of our past interns are now involved in:

Walle Aderin – Graduate of Jacksonville University and enrolled in medical school at Washington University in St. Louis

Aaron Cuny – Graduate of University of North Florida, currently in his third year with Teach for America – a national program providing teachers for challenged urban schools. He is teaches at an Oakland, Calif. middle school.

Stephen Stake – Graduate of Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., currently a missionary in southern Mexico.

Juliet Sargent – Former Miss Bahama, graduate of Edward Waters College, currently teaching English in Japan. Also was an intern at CSX and spent a semester on an around-the-world educational cruise.

Porche Butler – Current University of North Florida student, member of track club.

Kristie Coney – Graduate of Edward Waters College, former student body president and now attending Howard University, Washington, D. C.

Avery Brewton – Attends FAMU, just returned from internship in Africa.

Jeremy Graves – Graduate of Jacksonville University enrolled in graduate school at the University of South Carolina. Recently completed a mission trip to Czechoslovakia.


Please note: This is a past program and is no longer a part of FreshMinistries' current set of initiatives.