Internships and Nonprofit Workforce Development
Rooted & Rising
Intern
Spotlights
All interns are Master’s in Public Policy students from UC Riverside, applying rigorous academic training to real‑world challenges facing Inland Empire communities.
About the Program
This civic engagement internship program places UCR Master of Public Policy (MPP) students in Inland Empire nonprofits. Interns collaborate with nonprofits to advance equity and justice while gaining the skills need for a career in public policy and/or nonprofit work.
Intern Spotlights
Rooted & Rising interns bring curiosity, creativity, and purpose to their placements. With a world‑class education grounded in UC Riverside’s academic excellence, paired with hands‑on internship experiences, these Graduate Students turn classroom learning into real‑world community impact.
- Elizabeth Lopez intern with IECC working on Children and Youth Policy through the IE Children’s Cabinet
Brenda Tontz intern with The Healthy Valley Foundation working on health policy & advocacy- Juna Park intern with IECC working on statewide nonprofit advocacy and policy development
Odalys Zapata intern with The Garcia Center for the Arts working on fund development
Equity by Design: Nonprofit Host Site Internship Toolkit
This toolkit is a practical guide designed to help nonprofit organizations build and sustain internship programs that are fair, meaningful, and rooted in equity. Developed by the Inland Empire Community Collaborative, this toolkit offers step-by-step guidance, ready-to-use templates, and actionable strategies to ensure every intern has a quality experience.
Whether you’re launching your first internship or refining an existing program, the toolkit covers everything from readiness assessment and project design to supervision, inclusion, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.
It emphasizes intentional design, clear expectations, strong supervision, and removing barriers that have historically excluded young people from professional opportunities.
With modules on hiring, onboarding, learning, and belonging, the toolkit empowers nonprofits to create internships that strengthen organizational capacity, foster future talent, and contribute to a more equitable nonprofit workforce.
Host Organizations
Rooted & Rising host organizations open their doors to emerging leaders, offering real‑world experience, mentorship, and opportunities for interns to make a tangible impact across the Inland Empire.
