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Summer Internship · 8 Weeks · Unpaid

LeadHers In Action

Applied Leadership & Community Impact Internship · Ages 16+ · Only 2 Summer Slots

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About the Internship

Program Overview

LeadHers In Action is Black Girl Assembly's applied leadership and community impact internship for Black, Brown, and Indigenous girls, young women, femmes, and gender-expansive youth ages 16 and up.

Designed as an alternate pathway within the broader LeadHers In Bloom ecosystem, LeadHers In Action is for participants who are ready to move beyond leadership exploration and into hands-on practice. Interns build real-world skills through weekly leadership labs, field trips, mentorship, creative practice, wellness-centered reflection, and community-based project work.

Where LeadHers In Bloom creates space for identity, confidence, voice, belonging, civic imagination, and personal growth, LeadHers In Action gives participants the opportunity to apply those values through meaningful work, community engagement, and practical leadership experiences. This internship is for young people who are ready to be taken seriously, supported deeply, and challenged with care.

Who This Internship Is For

A Strong Fit If

  • High school juniors & seniors, recent graduates, gap-year youth, college students, or young adults exploring purpose
  • Returning BGA participants ready for a more hands-on experience — or new participants seeking applied internship experience
  • Curious about leadership, creativity, community impact, wellness, civic life, entrepreneurship, education, nonprofit work, media, organizing, or social change
  • Ready to practice accountability, communication, collaboration, and follow-through
  • Care about issues impacting Black, Brown, and Indigenous girls and communities

No prior leadership experience required — just curiosity, consistency, openness, and a willingness to learn in community.

8-Week Curriculum Arc

What We Cover

WeekDateTheme
Week 1Mon, Jul 6Welcome to LeadHers In Action — orientation, cohort agreements, identity & values mapping, hopes for the summer.
Week 2Mon, Jul 13Leadership From Within — self-leadership, communication styles, boundaries, leading without shrinking or self-abandonment.
Week 3Mon, Jul 20Voice, Storytelling & Power — writing, speaking, visual storytelling, and digital media as tools for identity and advocacy.
Week 4Mon, Jul 27Community, Justice & Civic Imagination — power mapping, issues they care about, and how youth participate in change.
Week 5Mon, Aug 3Field Learning & Career Exposure — field trip or guest mentor experience in arts, civic life, nonprofit, entrepreneurship, or wellness.
Week 6Mon, Aug 10Build Week — interns develop their final project, campaign, event concept, or youth-led impact idea.
Week 7Mon, Aug 17Practice, Polish & Pitch — refine projects, receive feedback, sharpen public speaking and professional communication.
Week 8Mon, Aug 24Glow Showcase & Closing Celebration — present final work, reflect, celebrate, and receive completion recognition.

Some field trips may take place outside the regular Monday session depending on partner availability. Advance notice and permission forms will be provided.

Core Themes

Five Through-Lines

  • Identity & Self-Leadership — who they are, what they value, the leader they are becoming.
  • Voice & Storytelling — writing, speaking, digital media, creative expression, public reflection.
  • Wellness & Sustainable Leadership — grounding, emotional awareness, boundaries, leadership without self-abandonment.
  • Community & Civic Leadership — community care, advocacy, organizing, and change-making.
  • Creative & Professional Practice — project planning, collaboration, communication, event support, media, design thinking.
What Interns Will Gain

By the End of Summer

  • A stronger sense of leadership identity, voice, and values
  • Practical communication, collaboration, and public speaking skills
  • Exposure to mentors, community leaders, and career pathways
  • Tools for emotional grounding, wellness, and sustainable leadership
  • A final project or portfolio piece, plus presentation experience
  • Internship or community service hours documentation (if needed)
  • A certificate of completion and entry into BGA's leadership ecosystem
What's Included

Eight weeks of weekly leadership labs, field trips and community-based learning, mentorship, creative practice, a final project, a closing showcase, completion certificate, and T pass / MBTA transportation support for interns who need it.

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