At Swell Collective, we are committed to practicing the principles of collaborative leadership in all aspects of our organization. What that means, is that our interns and apprentices become immediately empowered within the organization to tell us what they need. After submitting an application, if you are a fit for our mission, we will schedule a conversation to find out more about what you want to learn and where you want to grow. We will take you behind the scenes into the operations of TSC and then we will figure out together where your skills and interests intersect with our vision, mission, and programs. We will build a customized internship together to meet your needs and ours. Generally, all crew at TSC begin as interns or apprentices. Our internships are available to high school students and undergrads and are unpaid. Our apprenticeship program is for graduate students and professionals and is stipended as our funding allows.
We have had the incredible opportunity to host students from all over the country as interns here at Swell Collective. Our unique virtual options mean that value-aligned students have the chance to form new connections outside of their own school communities. Our intern crew are diverse by identity, geography and fields of study. Our program actively recruits students, and folks from our broader community, representing systemically marginalized identities. If you are BIPOC, LGBTQ+ or a first generation college student looking to contribute to a healthier planet and more sustainable economy where everyone can thrive, we want to support you on that journey. We have created a culture that centers the wellbeing of our entire crew. If you are looking to intern at an organization that SEES you and prioritizes your success, scroll on down and apply!
I felt the community at Swell was very understanding and inclusive. The support given at times almost felt underserved because of how available it was and I very much appreciate the honesty that every individual expressed. I felt like it was a community where everyone looks out for everyone and is not shy to lend a helping hand when needed.
Ask as many questions you have to understand the organization and its future goals more.
I'd tell them not to worry about anything, and that your bosses will always be there if you have any questions and are incredibly understanding!
The weekly meetings and slack helped me stay up to date with other members of the organization. Additionally, I appreciate how we did wellness check-ins and talked about our weekend rather than only discuss projects and tasks for that week.
We received regular updates on what Swell was collaborating on in any given moment, and we were always given the opportunity to join in on the action. Also, having a general slack channel made me feel like I was part of the team.
TSC is run by women of color who believe in creating spaces to foster the growth of others. I am all about women of color in leadership and in collective spaces for healing, growth, training, and action.
I really enjoyed the tone of this training. It was inspirational, informative and transformational. The responsiveness of the trainers to our needs (sometimes on the fly) was top-notch. The humor that was interwoven allowed for a space of genuineness and growth. "Growth edges" is new vocabulary that I have integrated into my life. Thank you, thank you!
Working with the Swell crew was a tremendous experience, both as a participant and as a fellow facilitator period. [They] took the time to understand our context and what we were hoping to achieve at the end of our time together. [Their] facilitation brought in new methods that were truly appreciated by our attendees.
The Facilitator's Academy was a very invigorating experience and helped reorient my life when I needed it. I appreciate the manner that Emily as well as the team for facilitating such a wonderful space. It encouraged me to come out of my shell and roar as a lion
I learned so much form the Facilitators Academy - it wasn't only about facilitation tools (although we learned a lot about those!) - it was really about holding a gentle space for people to bring forward their most authentic selves (even in these awkward zoom spaces). In these days when the world gives us so much reason to feel rage, despair, and grief, holding gentle space is a critical skill. People can feel all those challenging feelings *and* get in touch with sources of joy and hope. Being in the "room" with the main facilitator, Emily Gonzales was a revelation. I felt as if a more communitarian future were being manifested before my eyes.
I can't thank Swell enough for the support! They helped us do what we needed to do, but often with small organizations it is hard to find the capacity to fill the need. Swell made that a lot easier. Having an outside organization to help facilitate our conversations was amazingly beneficial, as my company is organized into various tired groups with different levels of hierarchy. I found that having the 2 facilitators from Swell was particularly efficient in staying on track and keeping us all organized, as one could lead the conversation in an organic way and the other could focus on note-taking so we could all reference those pieces of information later.
I felt the community at Swell was very understanding and inclusive. The support given at times almost felt underserved because of how available it was and I very much appreciate the honesty that every individual expressed. I felt like it was a community where everyone looks out for everyone and is not shy to lend a helping hand when needed.
We received regular updates on what Swell was collaborating on in any given moment, and we were always given the opportunity to join in on the action. Also, having a general slack channel made me feel like I was part of the team.
The application below has a couple of questions that refer to our website and social media channels. We suggest you open those in other tabs so that you don’t lose your application if you have to go look at our site while you are applying. It isn’t yet possible to save the application as you go, so DON’T CLOSE THIS TAB until your application is complete. If you would like to take some more time to fill it out, cut and paste the application into a Google Doc and fill it out there. Then, transfer your answers to this form.
