SLS: Resident Services Intern with Sabin Community Development Corporation (2024-25 school year)

Sabin CDC works toward social equity by stabilizing & improving the livability of culturally-diverse Portland neighborhoods by assuring the availability of long-term affordable housing for low- & moderate-income residents, with a special focus on African American households, by encouraging community partnerships for local economic development, and by offering youth & senior programs.

This position is one of the options for Portland State's Student Leaders for Service program. Please apply to the Student Leaders for Service program to express interest in this opportunity. To access the application to apply for SLS for the the 2024-25 school year, please visit https://pdx.givepulse.com/event/446015 

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Equity, inclusion, and diversity are at the heart of Sabin CDC’s mission and are values that are integrated into the culture, practices, and procedures of the organization. Since its inception, Sabin CDC has prioritized the recovery of the Northeast neighborhood from the detrimental impacts of historical systemic redlining and gentrification practices that left marginalized communities, especially the Black community, at a disadvantage. 

We are excited to bring on a Student Leader for Service intern to support our mission of advancing social equity and enhancing the livability of culturally-diverse neighborhoods in Portland. The SLS Member will play a crucial role in supporting the resident services coordinator at Sabin CDC in various tasks aimed at enhancing the overall well-being and satisfaction of Sabin's residents. You'll help gather valuable feedback from residents, allowing Sabin to better understand their needs and preferences and tailor our services to better serve Sabin's residents. By assisting in the creation of monthly newsletters and supporting resident events, the Intern will help to facilitate communication and engagement between residents, Sabin CDC, and community organizations and help foster a sense of community and connection.

Here's an overview of the work and some specific intern tasks. 

• Demographics Portfolio: The SLS Member will create a demographics portfolio of Sabin’s residents, including information such as ages, race/ethnicity, and identified needs/services.
• Household Surveys: Conduct household surveys with residents at each of Sabin's properties to understand their needs and identify resources that Sabin could provide through community partnerships.
• Resident Events: Support the facilitation and organization of monthly resident-focused events at the Center for Re-Engagement, such as BINGO, game nights, arts & crafts, and Zumba classes.
• Newsletter Assistance: Assist in writing the monthly resident services newsletter and contribute to creating its layout to keep residents informed about events, services, resources, and updates from Sabin and the community.
• Research and Support: Research housing stability strategies to assist residents in managing and increasing their resources, including rent relief programs, benefits and entitlements, budgeting (including savings and credit education), and job readiness/employment assistance.

Your role will directly help towards the following outcomes:

• Strengthen Relationships: The work of the SLS Member will help strengthen relationships between residents, the community, and Sabin staff, fostering a sense of belonging and support.
• Resident Engagement: By keeping residents informed and involved in events and services, the SLS Member will contribute to a vibrant and engaged community atmosphere.
• Address Housing Stability Risks: The support provided by the SLS Member will help address risk factors for housing stability among residents, such as missing rent/utility payments or facing job insecurity.
• Health and Wellness Programming: Through resident events and newsletter content, the SLS Member will contribute to programming that supports the health and wellness of residents, promoting overall well-being.
• The work of the SLS Member will be instrumental in creating a supportive and thriving community environment at Sabin CDC, ultimately contributing to the organization's mission of enhancing the livability of culturally diverse neighborhoods in Northeast Portland.

The SLS Member position primarily requires in-person engagement, especially for tasks such as conducting household surveys, facilitating resident events, and building relationships with residents and community partners. This hands-on approach will enable the intern to better understand the needs and preferences of residents and provide more effective support. However, certain projects like working on the monthly newsletter and creating resource booklets can be completed remotely.

Skills and Knowledge Required: 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Active listening skills
• Strong organizational capabilities
• Desire to work both independently and collaboratively
• A genuine interest and passion for working with diverse groups of people
• Demonstrate a commitment to recognizing residents’ knowledge and experience as a valuable resource
• Demonstrate a high level of verbal, writing, and listening skills.

Preferred Qualifications: Preferred majors include Psychology, Sociology, Healthcare Management, Nonprofit Management, Community Services, Event Management or Social Work. Valid driver's license (optional). 

Application, Onboarding, and Training process: The SLS members will receive comprehensive orientation and training to support them in their role at Sabin CDC. Here's an overview of the support provided:

• Orientation Session: SLS members will participate in an orientation session led by our Volunteer Specialist and Residents Services Specialist. This session will provide an overview of Sabin CDC's mission, values, and community initiatives.

• Property Tour: Following the orientation, SLS members will tour all Sabin CDC properties to gain firsthand knowledge of the communities we serve and the environments in which they'll be working.

• Staff Introduction: During the property tour, SLS members will have the opportunity to meet with our staff members, including Mitike. This introduction will facilitate networking and provide insights into the organization's structure and team dynamics.

• Individual Sessions: SLS members will have individual sessions with Mitike to delve deeper into their specific roles and responsibilities. These sessions will cover key tasks, expectations, and project details to ensure clarity and alignment. Sabin CDC may provide additional training or resources depending on the nature of the role and specific projects assigned to SLS members. This could include training on community engagement strategies, project management tools, etc.

Benefits of this Positions: 

• Learn and apply effective communication strategies for working with team members, peers, and older adults and their families
• Learn and apply best facilitation practices 
• Learn, design and facilitate needs assessment survey
• Report out on needs assessments survey outcomes and develop action plans for meeting needs
• Design at least two programs; development through implementation
• Learn and apply non profit management skills and practice affordable housing best practices
• Build skills in networking and identify and development community partnerships
• Publish resource directory and secure service providers through effective outreach strategies
• Communicate across multiple communication platforms- email, slack, Zoom & Teams meetings 
• Learn and be able to recite the benefits of service-enriched housing and the importance of housing stability 
• Learn and be able to identify social determinants of health that impact resident’s quality of life

Supervision: The SLS intern will report to Sabin CDC's Volunteer Specialist.

Location & Transportation: Locations will vary within the inner NE neighborhood of Sabin. Primary office location is at 1488 NE Alberta St, Portland OR, but events may take place at various Sabin properties in our neighborhood. 

Transit accessibility from the PSU campus It would be about 30 mins on the 8 bus to arrive to our main office at 1488 NE Alberta Street. 

Schedule Available: Interns are expected to contribute 2-3 hours twice a week working on projects and initiatives aimed at supporting our residents, with shifts taking place sometime in the M-F morning/afternoon timeframe. In addition, we would like our interns to participate in various community engagement events and initiatives as part of their internship at Sabin CDC, including:

•  Livability Fairs: Our interns will have the opportunity to attend livability fairs, which occur twice a year on Saturdays. These events serve as valuable platforms for community outreach and engagement.
•  Monthly Resident Events: Interns are encouraged to join us at our monthly resident events held at the Center for ReEngagement. These events provide opportunities to connect with residents and community partners.