About Our Organization: 

​

Alternatives works primarily with young people in Chicago ages 10 to 25, too many of whom lack resources to meet basic human needs and struggle with trauma-induced symptoms as a result of often violent experiences throughout their ecosystem: home, online, school and community life. Our mission is to inspire young people to create a just future through practices that heal individuals, restore communities, and transform systems. Through our restorative justice programs Alternatives supports young people and adults to become co-leaders in a process of healing and community-building. Through our Behavioral Health programs, Alternatives therapists help young people manage a range of personal, family, and social issues. We bring families and communities together to resolve conflicts and keep people out of the justice and child welfare systems. We provide Restorative Justice training and capacity-building to support schools and community organizations in developing a more restorative culture for the young people they serve. The result is a healthier community for all.

​

See Alternatives website for more info.

​

 About the Positions: 

​

Restorative Justice Interns 

Alternatives is seeking 2 Restorative Justice Interns to support staff with administering curriculum, generating activities for youth to do independently and then debrief, selecting supplies for activities, reporting back to other team members, supervisors, and DFSS as appropriate.

​

Interns at Alternatives have a wide variety of projects with which to be engaged. Our data and operations coordinator oversees our Efforts-to-Outcomes data tracking system, and research projects related to Alternatives’ quality of services. Research projects can include a wide variety of options such as investigating when it is most likely for a youth to become disengaged from services. This sort of project can involve research on best practices, reviewing and analyzing Alternatives’ data, and making recommendations to the organization on how to improve services for young people. Other projects have involved creating workshops tackling topics like “Grief and Loss in COVID,” or other socio-emotional learning topics that staff and interns see youth in need of. Interns can assist with research for development reports and grant applications, updates to the website, staff surveys, racial equity best practices research, and many more topics. Interns at Alternatives typically work with their supervisor to match the needs of the organization and their interests for bigger projects.

​

Alternatives runs Chicagobility for youth ages 13-15, and the Restorative Justice Summer Training Institute for youth ages 15-19 in partnership with the City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Service (DFSS) and One Summer Chicago. Currently, the program is scheduled to be in person though that is subject to change with the guidance and support of DFSS. Interns would support staff with: administering curriculum, generating activities for youth to do independently and then debrief on virtual platforms, selecting supplies for activities, reporting back to other team members, supervisors, and DFSS as appropriate. Summer programming typically runs from 10am-3pm though that can be subject to change depending on if it is virtual or in person. Time would be needed before and after for debriefing programming and making adjustments to curriculum, workshops, and schedules.

​

 Our Ideal Interns Exhibit: ​

​

• Engagement with Youth

• Creativity

• Teamwork
   

 Time Commitment: 

​

Up to 35 hours/week plus 5 hours/week of professional development activities

$17.50/hr compensation

​

 Location of Internship: 

​

75% Onsite and 25% Remote at

Washington Park Site: 241 E 57th St, Chicago, IL 60637

​

 To Apply: 

​

Please submit a resume, cover letter and 3 references, with at least 2 references from previous employment supervisors, and a few 30 min time slots for a phone screen to careers@alternativesyouth.org.

 

Your cover letter can include why you are interested in the position, your approach to youth development and a concrete story that demonstrates how you have applied restorative justice in your work or personal life.

​

A background check and TB Test may be required.