Spurwink has been awarded a grant from the Abbagadassett Foundation to expand Next Gen, a Nonprofit Leadership Program that provides college students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in nonprofit work and exposes them to a variety of careers in behavioral health care. We welcomed the second cohort of six students in January and will host an additional cohort this summer. Next Gen equips local Maine students with skills they can apply in their career explorations and is a testament to Spurwink’s shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of nonprofit leaders.
The initial summer cohort interns demonstrated exceptional dedication and growth over their ten weeks at our administration headquarters. We are excited to have the opportunity to continue this experience in the spring and summer. An intern shared feedback regarding their positive experience: “This internship was a wonderful opportunity to connect with peers, share where we are in our career planning, and develop our professional skills together. I also got to connect with professionals in positions I could see myself in, which gave me a lot of confidence and excitement for my next steps.”
Spurwink is currently hosting the six spring cohort interns from Maine universities including Ellyce, Estella, Justin, and Mattey from University of Southern Maine, Lizzie from Colby College, and Piper from University of Maine. The interns are currently holding positions in departments including Advancement, Human Resources, Outpatient & Community Services, Continuous Quality Improvement, and Finance. They’ve each been given a computer for the ten-week anticipated time frame as it offers flexibility due to all interns being full-time college students. Spurwink values education and offers continuous support to reach their highest potential both as interns and as students.
January 6th began the interns four-day intensive training with Internship Coordinator Brian Thill where they were immersed in Spurwink’s mission and nonprofit values. They visited various Spurwink sites to get a first-hand look at services in action. An intern shares their experience at the Living Room Crisis Center: “My experience at the Living Room Crisis Center was incredibly eye-opening. It was helpful to see what work the Advancement Department supports and what work in the field really looks like. I was impressed by the dedication and positivity of the staff in such a demanding environment.” Throughout the next few weeks, interns will conduct informational interviews with mentors of their choosing, encouraging exploration of all departments within Spurwink’s administrative headquarters. Given this opportunity, interns will gain a variety of perspectives and develop connections as they dip into the nonprofit world.