SLS: After School Activities Intern with IRCO (2026-27 school year)

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) helps welcome, serve, and empower refugees, immigrants, and people across cultures and generations to reach their full potential. Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) is a Multnomah County Community School Initiative that helps reduce barriers that keep students from being successful in school and in life.

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 2026-27 school year, please visit https://pdx.givepulse.com/event/864961 

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Do you enjoy working with elementary or middle school-aged kids to support their learning, have fun, and explore hands-on activities? Will you have at least one afternoon available in the coming school year? Join IRCO's SUN program as an Extended Day Activities Intern, and serve at one of 22 different schools in outer N/NE/SE Portland in support of the SUN after school program!

Position Details: IRCO’s SUN Community Schools offer a variety of programs that support the student’s education and family stability. The SUN Extended Day Intern will support the programs that occur before school, during lunch periods, or after school. Interns may independently lead or be support in after school student activities, parent workshops, school-wide events, and resource distributions. Programs are in-person, located at school sites around outer N/NE/SE Portland. IRCO SUN Community Schools work with youth in elementary, middle and high schools in Multnomah County.

After school activities may include sports, arts and crafts, board games/chess, theater, cooking, literacy-based activities, math-based activities, STEM, tutoring, and more. Interns that have a specialized skill may choose to lead a youth activity or parent workshop, if appropriate, and approved by the SUN Site Manager. Examples: sewing, knitting, pottery, cheer coach, chef, etc. Interns may also support at school wide events or weekly food distributions to add capacity to these
services.

Modality: This is an in-person role.

Skills and Knowledge Required: 

• Open to working with community members from various backgrounds.
• Reliable Transportation to/from Volunteer Site (must be able to commute regularly to
  onsite locations)
• Complete SUN training & orientation upon starting
• Must pass background check (school district specific)

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience working with groups of youth
• Experience working in a school setting
• Knowledge of Trauma Informed Care
• Bilingual skills are welcome

Application, Onboarding, and Training process:  Interns will be required to pass an ODE Background check prior to working on site and are required to follow all of the school district and IRCO safety protocols related to working with youth. The SUN Site Manager will work with the intern to identify their individual interest in the after-school program offerings and then place the intern accordingly.

Interns should have a fun and welcoming attitude. They should be culturally respectful and have the ability to use good judgement when working with youth and families.

Benefits of this Position: 

• Gain hands-on experience supporting K-12 students in local public schools through IRCO’s SUN afterschool and summer programs by providing academic support, assisting with daily programming, and facilitating engaging, culturally responsive enrichment activities
• Develop practical, school-based experience working directly with youth while strengthening skills in youth engagement, behavior support, activity facilitation, classroom management, and cross-cultural communication
• Build professional pathways through ongoing mentorship from SUN Site Managers and collaboration with educators, school staff, and community partners, while exploring careers in education, youth development, and social services

Intern Experience & Impact: SUN Extended Day Interns will be supporting youth and families in a public-school setting. Many of the SUN Schools are 100% Free and Reduced Lunch and/or Title I schools. All programming offered is at no cost to the participants. IRCO SUN programs bring opportunity, enrichment, community education and resources that meet basic needs into schools that are resource deficit or underserved. Interns directly increase the program enrollment by increasing supervision and/or opportunities for all SUN program activities.

Supervision: The intern will be supervised by the SUN Site Manager at the school where the intern is placed.

Location & Transportation: In-person from 22 SUN Schools in Portland Metro School Districts. SUN site placement is determined upon initial interview with the SUN Program and will vary based on intern availability. School districts include:

• Portland Public Schools
• Parkrose School District
• David Douglas School District
• Centennial School District
• Reynolds School District

Because sites are primarily in outer N/NE/SE Portland, public transportation from PSU may take 30-60 minutes, depending on the school you are placed with.

Schedule Available: Afternoons (typically between 2:00–6:00 PM), varies by school site. This is an afterschool program. Minimum of 1 day per week (typically Monday–Thursday).

More about Schools Uniting Neighborhoods: Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) is a Multnomah County Community School Initiative that aligns community partners and resources to help reduce barriers that keep students from being successful in school and in life. Within each SUN Community School, the collective efforts of the school community, youth, parents, local businesses, faith communities, libraries, school districts and community organizations, like IRCO. Through collaboration, they create a network of services, programs and activities to uplift students’ academic engagement & social-emotional development, offer meaningful family engagement, and resource navigation that supports the whole family.

More about IRCO has supported immigrant and refugee communities across Oregon and SW Washington for nearly 50 years through culturally specific services that promote equity, self-sufficiency, and economic empowerment. P