Volunteering at ARTS

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Volunteering at ARTS ~

Every session, A Reason to Survive (ARTS) offers classes in a variety of art forms, including painting, graphic design, woodworking, sound and music, and more. The ARTS team works together to create and maintain a safe and welcoming environment where youth can express themselves creatively and socially. As an ARTS volunteer, it is imperative that we all work together to support our mission.

Volunteers

Volunteers will be matched to support a program, department, or event based on their interests and organizational needs. The role of an ARTS Volunteer is to support the ARTS team with relevant work, whether it's in the classroom, administrative support, special projects, or at events. Our hope is that volunteers will gain meaningful experience and develop professional and interpersonal skills while supporting ARTS' mission.

Assist in setting up the space for programming, material preparation, documentation, and youth engagement.
Assist in cleaning and setting up spaces and rooms for community events, which can include setting up tables, chairs, art, and other materials.
Assist in administrative duties, which can include staffing the desk, answering phone calls, greeting people, and other tasks.
Assist our Operations, Communications, or Development department with projects as assigned.

ARTS Active/Inactive Volunteer Status Policy

All volunteers are required to complete 20 hours per year or 10 hours per program session, whichever occurs first, to remain on active status. If these minimum requirements are not fulfilled, the volunteer will be considered inactive and will need to reapply and will be onboarded during the next recruitment cycle.

OUR GOALS FOR VOLUNTEERS

Support youth development in the South Bay.
Experience community engagement opportunities.
Tap into skill sets that may not be utilized in your day-to-day life.
Share your knowledge, wisdom and experience with other volunteers.
Meet new people, develop new skills, and discover new experiences.

ARTS Volunteer Application

ARTS volunteer recruitment cycle runs from January to February for our Spring session, April to May for our Summer session, and August to September for our Fall session. Applications submitted after these months will be considered for the following session.

Volunteer Onboarding

As a youth serving organizations ARTS has specific onboarding requirements to safeguard our youth and meet policies mandated by the state of California. These are the steps to complete onboarding as an ARTS Volunteer.

Onboarding Requirements:

TB Test
LiveScan (Background Check)
Mandated Reporter Training for Volunteers

Volunteer Application Process

ARTS is excited to welcome Volunteers to support both organizational and individuals’ goals.

Here are the steps to becoming an ARTS Volunteer:

Submit Volunteer Application
Complete Volunteer Interview
Complete Volunteer Onboarding Tasks
Attend Volunteer Orientation
Attend Classroom Engagement Training (Program Volunteers)

Group Volunteer Opportunities

Get your team involved in a community-focused environment with ARTS! We are thrilled to offer your group the opportunity to participate in a Volunteer Day. In the past, we have welcomed corporate volunteers who helped refresh our outdoor patio space, and we look forward to continuing to invite groups into our space to promote community and connection!

For folks interested in hosting a group volunteer event with ARTS please submit the Group Volunteer interest form:

Internships

ARTS offers internships for those seeking school and academic credit. ARTS Interns function similarly to volunteers, but have an expanded set of responsibilities and a different level of commitment.

All individuals seeking an internship with ARTS must complete the volunteer application. Candidates will be asked for an interview with the Volunteer & Intern Coordinator and, if applicable, the direct supervisor for the role.

ARTS Internship Application

ARTS is now accepting applications for our internship program in Advancement, Community Arts, Operations, People & Culture, and Programs. Applicants must be enrolled in an Academic Internship Program or field/work experience course through their college or university. ARTS currently has academic partnerships with Southwestern College, San Diego Community College District, San Diego State, CSU San Marcos, and University of California San Diego.

- Mesa Impactship Program: The Mesa Impactship Program (MIP) supports students with exploring careers, developing professional skills, and compensating hands-on industry experiences through internships. MIP is designed to promote workforce training & employment opportunities with focus on underserved student populations.
- San Diego City College Work Experience: The Work Experience Education program offers students an on-the-job learning experience in a job, internship or volunteer position related to their major. Paid or unpaid placements are eligible. Students are supported by faculty as they explore career pathways, learn professional skills, and gain real-world training in the workplace through this non-traditional class.
- Work Experience Education Program: The Work Experience Education (WEE) program allows students to earn college credit through an internship (either paid or unpaid) related to their field of study. WEE exposes students to real-world experiences by participating in daily workplace activities and learning how to navigate within workplace cultures. WEE expands network opportunities for students, helps them gain knowledge, valuable skills and learn from leaders that will help students choose a clear path.
- Service Learning Program: Service Learning helps students enhance course learning, gain valuable skills for employment and improve their views on civic engagement. Students can participate in a wide variety of service opportunities including delivering meals and providing companionship to seniors, helping at local blood drives and working in a K-12 classroom.
ARTS Internship Opportunities (Southwestern College) can be found on Handshake.
- Academic Internship Program: Academic internships are a great opportunity to earn course credits while gaining work experience. Students engaged in Academic Internships for course credit must be enrolled in an internship course.
- Service Learning Program: Service learning connects theory (academic course content) to practice (community project) for student academic and professional development. Through meaningful community service projects students learn and reflect on community concerns related to their course topic. Students work alongside community partners to address local concerns.
ARTS Internship & Service Learning Opportunities (CSU San Marcos) can be found on the S4 Academic Internship Database.
- Academic Internship Program: The Academic Internship Program helps you connect your learning inside the classroom with meaningful experiences beyond the classroom that develop you as a scholar and a professional.
  - Enroll in AIP 97 or AIP 197
ARTS Internship Opportunities (UC San Diego) can be found on the REAL Portal and Handshake.
- Service Learning: Service Learning combines academic coursework with hands-on experience for students through partnerships with off-campus or on-campus organizations, businesses, non-profits, federal/state/local public agencies, and university related institutions. These opportunities help students build their resumes, explore career paths, and apply classroom concepts in real-world settings.
  - Currently ARTS has Service Learning Agreements with PSY 495 and ART 452
ARTS Internship Opportunities (San Diego State University) can be found on Handshake.