01/19/2021

2021 Summer Links Application Launches!

summer links

Summer Links is a 10-week summer internship program where students are hired by a community program or organization to work as a summer intern. The cohort is made up of students from a range of majors who are committed to public service, community building, and social change.

In the first week of the program, students meet daily to discuss various social issues, learn about Chicago, prepare for their internships, and reflect upon their experiences while building community amongst the cohort. For the remaining nine weeks of the program, students work full-time at their internship (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) Monday-Thursday and then meet as a cohort each Friday to learn more about Chicago’s cultures, history, and social justice concerns. 

Students receive a $5,000 stipend for their participation, and complete internships in a variety of topic areas, including but not limited to education, non-profits, advocacy, arts and culture, public health, and environmental justice. UCSC staff match students with community partner organizations for their internships. Below is a list of some community partner organizations who have hosted interns in the past:

  • Arts Alliance Illinois
  • Brighton Park Neighborhood Council
  • Call to Action
  • Chicago Commission on Human Rights
  • Chicago Commons
  • Chicago Hopes for Kids
  • Chicago Public Schools
  • Chicago United
  • Debate It Forward
  • Future Ties
  • Harris Policy Labs
  • Hyde Park Children's Book Fair
  • Kids In Danger
  • LUV Institute
  • LVEJO
  • Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities
  • Media Burn
  • National Public Housing Museum
  • Neighborhood Network Alliance
  • One on One
  • Project Exploration
  • Project SYNCERE
  • SitStayRead
  • SkyArt
  • Southside Together Organizing for Power
  • Sunshine Enterprises
  • Sweet Water Foundation
  • Taller de Jose
  • Teamwork Englewood
  • Touch Gift Foundation
  • UChicago Charter School
  • United African Organization
  • Urban Junctures

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY:

  • open to all current second years and third years (rising third years and rising fourth years) in the College at the University of Chicago, regardless of major(s)
  • must be enrolled as a student in Spring Quarter 2021

PROGRAM DATES:

Immersion Week: June 21-June 25, 2021
Internship: June 28-August 26 2021
Last day of programming: August 27, 2021
*all components of programming are mandatory

OPTIONAL INFORMATION SESSION:

Interested in participating as a member of the Summer Links cohort? Apply here through 11:59pm on Sunday, February 28, 2021.

Interested in hosting a Summer Links intern for Summer 2020? Qualifying organizations can learn more and apply here through Sunday, February 28, 2021.

Questions? Please contact Sarah Wagener (she/her), UCSC Assistant Director of Student Leadership Development & Advising at swagener@uchicago.edu. 

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