Become an Intern
Each year, 50 students are selected to be a part of the Community Impact Internships Program. They work with approximately 40-50 different community organizations in Baltimore, totaling approximately 14,000 hours of community work. CIIP is an extremely competitive, paid internship, where students receive a salary of $4725. Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors of all majors are encouraged to apply. If you plan on taking a summer class, your CIIP experience is expected to be your main priority and permission to take a class must be given by CSC Staff prior to enrollment.
We hope you will consider becoming a part of this program. To learn more about our interns and our community partners, please view the 2021 CIIP program book (view digital version). Check out a snapshot below of 2020 CIIP Program Assistant Awoe Mauna-Woanya’s summer working with the Maryland Transit Administration.
Why Should I Apply?
Take for example Awoenam Mauna-Woanya, the 2020 CIIP Program Assistant, and a past CIIP intern and peer mentor who spent the summer of 2018 working alongside the Maryland Transit Administration. While working with the MTA’s Office of Planning, Awoenam supported community outreach for the North Avenue Rising Project. Like many others, he found a cause he wanted to support directly and got practical learning experience doing so. The Community Impact Internships Program strives to give each of its students that same inspiration and opportunities for growth as they connect them to an organization.
Our community partners are selected for this program based on their need for an intern, interactions with members of the community, and a focus on a specific program for you to work on throughout your internship. They are asked that no more than 15 percent of your work be on clerical duties, so you will gain a truly immersive and intensive Baltimore-based experience. During your weekly reflections, we hope you will utilize your classroom learning and reflect and process the impactful work that is done with your fellow interns. The Coordinator of the program works with our community partners and interns to create placements that will be mutually beneficial relationships. We have no doubt that this internship will provide you with a meaningful experience and hope that it will positively impact your journey at Hopkins and beyond!
Opportunities
Above and beyond having the opportunity to gain hands on real life experience in a variety of fields, you will also:
- have the ability to live in Baltimore for the summer to learn and explore what the city has to offer.
- work with members of the community to work on the ground-level for real life problems.
- meet influential community leaders and listen to local renowned guest speakers who help address local issues.
- build your professional skills and experiences that can be added to your resume while expanding your professional network.
- have the opportunity to work on an internship project that is hand-selected to match your skills and interests.
- be a part of an intensive, cohort-based learning environment with weekly reflection sessions and presentations on Baltimore’s past and present.
- make a positive impact on our Baltimore City community.
Have questions? Contact Eli Lopatin, Assistant Director of Civic Leadership at the Center for Social Concern.
CIIP has given me the most transformative experience I’ve ever had. The people I’ve met and the lessons I’ve learned have left an indelible mark on me. I didn’t think it was possible to love Baltimore and all its beauties and flaws as much as I do after the summer. – Claire Zou ’21, International Studies Major, Computer Science Minor (Peer Mentor ’19)
Becoming an Intern
Decided you want to be a part of this phenomenal internship opportunity and make a difference in our Baltimore community? View the application process and apply below.
Application Process and Procedures
The application for the 2022 Community Impact Internships Program has closed. Applications will be reviewed and first-round candidates will be invited for an interview by the Center for Social Concern staff in February. Interns selected for community partner placement will be notified by late February. Students are asked their preferred interest areas for placement on the application. Interns will be placed based on skills and interests of the individual and of the community partner.
Applications for summer 2023 will be available in the fall.
Planning and Preparation
NOTE: Before you begin the application, be aware of the following:
- There are multiple short answer and essay questions (see below) that require thought, preparation, and planning. Unfortunately, once you begin your application, you do not have the ability to “save” it. We strongly encourage you to write your short answer and essay questions in advance so you an easily “cut and paste” them into the application below.
- To help you, Word Document: please view the .doc version of the application You can draft and save all of your short answer and essay questions in this document until you are ready to complete and submit the online application.
- You are required to submit a resume. We encourage CIIP applicants to polish their draft resumes with a member of the Life Design Lab team before applying to the program.
- Submit your online application on Hopkins Engage. Please be aware that you cannot save your responses once you begin the application here. You will need to be sure to log in to Hopkins Engage using your JHU credentials.
- Interns are grouped together based on ten different placement areas. In the application, you will prioritize your placement area of choice. We will do our best to pair you with your priority placement areas but cannot guarantee placements.
- Successful first-round applicants will be required to attend an interview in February. You will be notified of your status in January.
View our 2021 Community Partners
As the Community Impact Internships Program evolves, our community partner list continues to grow. Below is the list of our partners that we worked with in CIIP 2021.
Community Arts Programs
- Art with a Heart
- Baltimore Youth Arts
- DewMore Baltimore
- Jubilee Arts
- Station North Arts District
- Wide Angle Youth Media
Environment and Sustainability/Food Access
- Baltimore City Office of Sustainability
- Bikemore
- Black Church Food Security Network
- Farm Alliance of Baltimore
- No Boundaries Coalition
- Whitelock Community Farm
Policy/Law/Government
- Office of Baltimore City Councilmember Zeke Cohen
- Office of Baltimore City Councilmember James Torrence
- Out for Justice
- Made in Baltimore Program
Education/Youth Programming and Advocacy
- ACCE High School
- Baltimore City Public Schools
- By Peaceful Means
- Child First Authority – Calvin M. Rodwell Elementary
- Code in the Schools
- Corner Team Boxing
- Dent Education
- Hampden Family Center
- Thread
- Village Learning Place
Healthcare/Health Policy
- Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition
- Keswick Multi-Care Center
- Shepherd’s Clinic
Homelessness/Poverty
- Franciscan Center
- St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center
Immigration/Refugee Services
- Centro SOL
- ERICA (Episcopal Refugee and Immigrant Center Alliance)
- Esperanza Center
Neighborhood Improvement/Community Organizing
- 29th Street Community Center
- Baltimore Job Hunters Support Group
- Greater Baybrook Alliance
- Greenmount East Leadership Project
- Greenmount West Community Association
- Neighborhood Design Center
- Neighborhood Housing Services
Nonprofit Management and Development
- Baltimore Corps
- Fusion Partnerships
- Impact Hub
- Made in Baltimore
- Station North Tool Library
- Waverly Main Street
Family Wellness and Services
- FORCE
- Joy Wellness Center
- MOMCares
Important Dates
2021-2022 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| CIIP Student Application Opens | October 26 |
| CIIP Student Application Deadline | January 3 |
| First Round Decisions Announced | January |
| CIIP Interviews | February |
| Finalists Notified | Late February |
| Community Partner and Intern Matching | March |
| Community Partners Meet and Interview Potential Intern(s) | March-April |
| CIIP Student Orientation | June 6–June 10 |
| Community Partner Meet and Greet | June 10 |
| CIIP Internship Period | June 13–August 5 |
| CIIP Closing Reception for Interns and Supervisors | August 5 |