SummerWrite Apprenticeships: 10 Opportunities

Apprenticeships offer high school juniors, seniors, and college students the opportunity to gain valuable experience in youth arts education, literary programming, and child care/youth development. These are ideal positions for aspiring educators, writers, or individuals interested in exploring a career in the arts.


GENERAL APPRENTICESHIP
(See below for SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY: Social Justice Apprenticeship)
Orientation: Late June, exact dates TBD
Schedule: July 11-August 8, 8:30-4:30, Monday-Friday, for a total of 3-5 weeks
Primary Location: Writers & Books’ Rochester headquarters
Off-site Locations: Arnett, Lincoln, Lyell, Maplewood, and Phillis Wheatley branch libraries; Flower City Arts Center; Memorial Art Gallery; Gell: A Finger Lakes Retreat Center
Compensation: $125 stipend/week

Responsible to: SummerWrite Coordinators

Deadline to apply: April 15, 2023

How to Apply:

Submit completed application form, resume,* and a 250-word statement of your apprenticeship qualifications and goals to Youth Education Associate Vanessa Fulmore, vanessaf@wab.org. Put “SW Apprenticeship” in the subject line.

* Resume required for college/university students; optional for high school students

Must provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 and agree to a background check.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to SummerWrite Coordinators, high school juniors and seniors and college students work side-by-side with our skilled teaching artists and SummerWrite campers. They support teaching artists in the classroom and serve as role models to campers.

 PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Participate in orientation sessions
  • Use creative experience to inspire the creativity of campers
  • Collaborate with colleagues to provide a safe, happy, inclusive environment
  • Mentor campers, with the assistance of teaching artists or other SummerWrite staff
  • Assist with classroom management, technical needs, newsletters, class anthologies
  • Communicate openly with teaching artists, coordinators, and Youth Education Associate
  • Other responsibilities as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Commitment to Writers & Books’ mission, values, and JEDAI goals
  • Demonstrated interest in the literary arts and/or youth education
  • Experience working with youth in an informal or educational setting
  • Ability to work both independently and as a team member
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Rising high school junior or senior or college student during summer 2023

CLAIRE ALLEN SOCIAL JUSTICE APPRENTICESHIP

Our Social Justice Apprenticeships honor the legacy of Claire Allen, a dedicated SummerWrite student in 2016 and 2017. An avid reader, published writer, talented musician, and athlete, Claire was bright, kind, and deeply passionate about social justice. Read what our 2022 apprentices had to say

In addition to engaging with the responsibilities of a SummerWrite Apprenticeship, Claire Allen Social Justice Apprentices benefit from the following opportunities:

  • Preferential placement in social justice-themed camps
  • Additional workshop focused on social justice
  • Mentoring in drafting, writing, and polishing brief narratives of their experience to share with the Allen family and donors
  • Website feature: bios and personal statements
  • Receive a thoughtfully selected book that centers social justice issues
  • Participate in a culminating event to debrief experiences and celebrate achievements

Additional Selection Criteria: 

  • Demonstrated commitment to social justice
  • Students and recent graduates from Livingston County and the Rochester City School District are especially encouraged to apply