AAUW Awards SBAI Grant to Start Feminist Activism and Leadership Intern Program

In April, SBAI received the news that we were being awarded a 2013 AAUW (American Association of University Women) Community Action Grant to put towards our newly developed Roc(xx)y: Summer Internship in Feminist Activism and Leadership!

AAUW-web

The two-year grant from AAUW will help SBAI develop the internship program and make it accessible to all students, regardless of income. SBAI will be running a small pilot program of Roc(xx)y this summer with a talented and inspiring group of undergraduates who are driven leaders on campus.

Via AAUW:

Two-year grants provide startup funds for new projects that address the particular needs of the community and develop girls’ sense of efficacy through leadership or advocacy opportunities. Topic areas are unrestricted, but should include a clearly defined activity that promotes education and equality for women and girls.

SBAI Program Manager Angela Clark-Taylor began developing Roc(xx)y when SBAI noticed some trends among newly graduating students and recent alumnae and alumni: confusion about how to turn a passion for social justice into a career, and early burnout from difficult careers in jobs like social work and community organizing. Thus, some priorities in Roc(xx)y include: giving students an idea about what working for feminist causes is like, helping students strive and grow as a professionals (through real life experience), and introducing students to key players in the feminist and social justice communities of Rochester.

ROCXXY 2013

Some of the 2013 ROC(XX)Y Site Supervisers and Interns

More about Roc(xx)y:
Roc(xx)y or Rocx(xy), pronounced “Roxie,” stands for Rochester (Roc) women (xx) and men (xy). Roc(xx)y is a 12-week summer program for undergraduate students coordinated by the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Rochester. The program combines a professional internship experience with guest speakers, field trips to historic sites, and reflection on feminist activism and leadership. This combination of academic, experiential, and professional experiences is meant to inspire and equip students to become stronger, more prepared leaders upon graduation. You can read more about Roc(xx)y at our website.

Students will intern at Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse Region, the Genesee Valley Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, SAFER Campus (Students Active for Ending Rape), Girls Rock! Rochester, and the Susan B. Anthony Center for Women’s Leadership. Every internship site offers services based on feminist activism and leadership

The cohort of students will work for 20 hours per week during the 12-week summer session. On Fridays, students will meet for the day and participate in a speaker series event or a field trip to a historic site. Students will also meet to reflect on experiences. At the end of the summer, students will submit a journal that reflects their overall experiences in the community and in the cohort.

THANK YOU to AAUW for making Roc(xx)y possible!

About Kaitlin Legg

Former Program Assistant at the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender and Women's Studies at the University of Rochester.
This entry was posted in Announcements and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.