Community Partners

 Community Partners for Urban Studies Majors enrolled in URBST 370*

(scroll down for URBST 372)

Queens Community House/Pomonok Center. The Queens Community House is committed to the personal growth of the diverse people it serves and to the creation of self-reliant, open, responsible communities. Job Description: Potential internship opportunities are available in many aspects of the organization. Past internships have involved data collection and analysis for the organization’s Housing and Neighborhood Preservation program and assisting with its after-school education, childcare network and Pomonok Youth Food Justice Leadership and food access programs. Hours: 7-10/week; M-F Website: www.queenscommunityhouse.org

Min Kwon Center for Community Action The Min Kwon Center offers programs that meet the needs of the Korean and Asian American communities through various grassroots organizing, education and advocacy initiatives that address community issues including immigration policy, voter rights and cultural awareness .  Job Description: Potential internship opportunities are available in many aspects of the organization. Recent intern opportunities have focused on immigration policy in general and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in particular, and outreach with the Chinese community concerning access to social service programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Hours: to be determined Website: www.minkwon.org

Latin Women in Action Latin Women in Action is a community-based social service agency that provides services to Hispanic women and their families. Among the organization’s areas of operation are immigration, housing, domestic violence, employment, health and education. Job Description: Opportunities are available in all aspects of the organization including education, community outreach, administration and grant writing. Past interns have worked worked closely with the CEO and other staff on projects related to English as a second language (ESL) education, mental health, domestic violence, child abuse and school attendance in the Latinx community. Spanish language skills strongly desired, though not required. Hours: To be determined. Website: www.mujereslatinasenaccion.com

The Clemente Center The Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center is a Puerto Rican/Latino is focused on the cultivation, presentation and preservation of Puerto Rican and Latino culture, housing and promoting artists and performance events that reflect the cultural diversity of the Lower East Side and New York City as a whole. Job Description: Opportunities are available to help in the planning, promotion and presentation of the Center events. Spanish language skills and a background/interest in the arts (visual and performance) encouraged. Hours: Flexible Website: theclementecenter.org

Woodside on the Move Woodside on the Move is a community organization dedicated to making Woodside and western Queens better places to live, learn and do business. Its services include help with affordable housing, pro bono legal clinics, youth and adult education and public events and cultural programs. Job Description: Past interns positions have included working closely with senior staff to oversee planning, implementation and tracking of a various ongoing projects related to WOTM’s affordable housing/tenant organizing projects, and its partnership with the NYC Dept. of Education’s Beacon Community Centers project, which offers a variety of family services. Spanish language skills strongly desired, though not required. Hours: Flexible Website: woodsideonthemove.org

CHHAYA Community Development Corp. CHHAYA addresses the economic and housing needs of low-income South Asian and Indo-Caribbean residents of Queens. The organization provides direct services and organizes and advocates for systemic change that removes barriers to well-being, housing stability and economic mobility. Job Description: CHHAYA has opportunities for interns interested in working in tenant housing, tenant organizing and broader housing advocacy and policy research. Interested students can be trained to participate in CHHAYA’s organizing and advocacy campaigns around rent and foreclosure reform for both residents and small businesses. South Asian language skills (Bengali, Urdu, Hindi, Nepali, etc) are helpful but not required. Hours: Flexible Website: www.chhayacdc.org

Center for Community Alternatives The Center for Community Alternatives is a leader in the field of community-based alternatives to incarceration. The CCA’s mission is to promote reintegrative justice and a reduced reliance on incarceration through advocacy, services and public policy development. It works with youth at risk, families in crisis, people with drug and alcohol problems, those with HIV and AIDS, as well as those who have been involved in the criminal justice system. Job Description: Potential internship opportunities are available in many aspects of the organization. Past interns have assisted in program evaluation, development and design and served as group facilitators and case managers for teen and youth intervention programs. Hours: Flexible, but prefer availability until 6-6:30 pm Website: www.communityalternatives.org

Melting Metropolis: Everyday Histories of Heat and Health in London, New York, and Paris Since 1945. Research Assistant Internship. In this research-focused internship, students will work closely with a team of scholars in an interdisciplinary project focused on transforming understandings of urban heat and health. Melting Metropolis explores the history of high temperatures in the postwar era, taking three global cities as its focus: London, New York and Paris. Drawing on and contributing to studies on climate justice, it investigates how Londoners, New Yorkers and Parisians have experienced heat and sought to mitigate its impact on their health and wellbeing. Community engagement (CE) is threaded throughout the project and informs how the project team seeks to rethink understandings of urban heat by moving beyond a focus on ‘resilience.’ The student intern will have the opportunity to develop their research skills and experience in a supportive team environment and through mentorship and training initiatives offered by the project. They will gain experience in teamwork on a large international research project and gain the opportunity to enhance their publication record and community/public engagement skills. Interns will write weekly research reports commenting on progress and identifying research finds. This work will be mostly virtual, with the opportunity for some in-person research and community engagement programs. We will meet frequently as a team for brief check-ins over Zoom.

Campaign Against the Jamaica Rezoning. The Jamaica rezoning proposal has ignited fears across the neighborhood that it will lead to gentrification and displacement of long-term residents, including tenants, homeowners and small businesses. Though the process has solicited community input, we understand that participatory planning processes are often a method for the city to maintain democratic legitimacy while simultaneously pushing through changes that enrich landlords and developers and increase their tax base. And this has been proven by the fact that despite significant pushback and calls for alternatives prioritizing deeply affordable housing and tenant protections, the city’s planning process has continued largely unchanged and the draft rezoning that they have presented is a blanket upzoning.This has prompted community members to mobilize against the proposed changes. Our campaign aims to push back against the upzoning proposed by the city, push for housing that is actually affordable to the residents of Jamaica (including preservation and tenant protection strategies), and hold officials accountable.

Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment The Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment, located on the Queens College campus, conducts research on urban environmental problems and environmental health Job Description: The Center offers the opportunity to learn about public health policy through various programs, including its Air Quality Monitoring Program, which tracks pollutants at 150 sites; WTC Heart, which investigates the risk of cardiovascular disease among first responders on 9/11; and its Latino/immigrant workplace health program (Spanish language skills required), where interns have the opportunity learn about qualitative research methods. Hours: To be determined Website: Barry Commoner Center for Health and the Environment

Regional Ready Rockaway Regional Ready Rockaway is a group of emergency preparedness professionals and local community leaders that promotes climate-change awareness, resiliency and environmental justice in the Rockaways. Job Description: Students conduct research on help educate local residents on the impacts of global warming and environmental justice in the Rockaways. Among the issue areas interns focus on are chronic health conditions related to John F. Kennedy Airport and community preparedness in response to climate change. Hours: 5-10 hrs./week Website: readyrockaway.org

1NYCHA 1NYCHA is a podcast and social movement that highlights public housing issues, programs and advocates for public housing residents. Job Description: Interns work with 1 NYCHA staff to research, produce and promote the organization’s various social media platforms (Facebook, video programming/podcasts), and to build the 1 NYCHA brand through outreach and fundraising. Students gain hands-on experience producing social media content and assist in the administration/creation of a not-for-profit voice for public housing residents. Hours: 5-10 hrs./week Website: 1NYCHA

New York State Assemblyperson Khaleel Anderson State Assemblyperson  Khalil Anderson (D-31), a graduate of the Queens College Urban Studies and Urban Affairs programs, represents residents in parts of Arverne, Brookville, Far Rockaway, Hammels, Rosedale, South Ozone Park, South Richmond Hill, Springfield Gardens as well as JFK Airport. Interns may develop and plan legislative initiatives, monitor district developments, conduct research, and do constituency follow up. The Office of New York State Assemblyperson Khaleel Anderson seeks motivated interns interested in gaining first-hand legislative experience. Internships focus on legislative research, community planning, sustainability, resilience and climate change, as well as providing constituent services and performing special project. Hours: 5-10 hrs./week Website: nyassembly.gov/mem/Khaleel-M-Anderson

Queens Borough President’s Office. At the Queens Borough President’s Office, students are able to work in a range of departments, including but not limited to land use, transportation, social services, environmental, and health access. Students are matched with a staff members based on office needs and students’ interests. https://queensbp.org/

Queens Facts Research Project. The “Queens Facts” Research and Web Project will be created by Queens College student interns in collaboration with the Queens Economic Development Corporation and the Queens Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of this project is to develop a public web resource displaying key pieces of data about Queens’ demographics, local economy, land use, and other areas of interest. The research will rely heavily on the city’s open data, as well as potential field visits and consultations with city agencies and other experts. Queens College student interns will initiate the research process in the spring 2024 semester under the supervision of QEDC and the Chamber. Students working with the Queens College tech incubator will develop a web page to visualize and share the data, with the goal of having the page automatically update the data on a regular basis.

Queens Public Library. The Queens Public Library transforms lives by cultivating personal and intellectual growth and by building strong communities to create a vibrant, informed, cohesive, and empowered society. Opportunities are available to work on the library’s Health and Digital Literacy Program where students can work on program coordination, program facilitation, and/or program evaluation. Students who proficiently speak a second language commonly used in Queens, such as Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Bengali, Haitian Creole, are highly encouraged to apply.

Urban Health Internships are available with a range of local health-related organizations. Follow this link to see some of the current options. Potential interns must be Cities and Social Medicine minors and have taken URBST 132 and URBST 231. Interested students should contact Prof. Maggie Dickinson for potential sites, approval, and more information.

NYC Department of City Planning A number of highly competitive internship positions are available for qualified students. Potential interns must be Urban Planning minors and have demonstrable GIS skills. Interested students should contact Prof. Dwayne Baker for approval and more information.