UNTYPICAL ORGANIZATION
The Foresight Design Initiative is not your typical "environmental organization." For one thing, we consider ourselves a sustainability organization, one which strives to address economic, social and environmental issues in our work. Foresight is well-connected thanks in large part to our monthly Green Drinks and Green Drinks--Business Edition events and the collaborative nature of many of our programs.
WHY INTERNS
We invest in interns because we ourselves gained invaluable experience in such positions. We believe it is part of realizing the organization's mission to offer the opportunity to gain hands-on knowledge by pursuing "real world" projects. We also expect our interns to contribute to the enterprise by making a tangible difference to the pursuit of the organization's goals. Foresight views interns more as part of its staff, capable of making significant contributions to its programs, rather than as "sub assistants."
WHEN INTERNS
Foresight generally hosts interns from September to May. During the summer, Foresight holds its (tuition-based) Urban Sustainable Design Studio, an experiential education program. Intern applications are received on an ongoing basis (see below).
INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE
All internships are currently offered unpaid. Having been interns ourselves, we strive to make the experience as worthwhile as possible. Foresight strives to compensate interns through knowledge conveyed and connections made available while working. Successful intern candidates should present what skills and experiences and knowledge they have to offer, as well as what they are looking to receive from such an experience.
WHAT TO BRING
Interns must be highly self-motivated, resourceful and able to work independently as well as with others. Foresight strives to match interns with programs and tasks that parallel their interests and skills while also meeting the organization's needs. Foresight's expectations are high; we offer responsibility and independence in proportion to interns' demonstrated abilities. Supervision is offered to overcome barriers, provide direction and resources, and to develop judgment.
While a high degree of maturity and professionalism is expected, Foresight wouldn't exist if it didn't believe in having fun while pursuing our goals. Rarely have we been accused of taking ourselves too seriously. We believe there is value in being well-organized, asking questions, approaching obstacles creatively, and learning from one another. We often do things differently because it's better and more interesting. At the core of our work is the pursuit of good and smart design, a process which manifests itself in many ways.
Because we are a small, entrepreneurial organization that seeks highly capable people, Foresight screens potential interns closely to insure they understand the expectations and are capable of meeting them.
*CURRENT STATUS (updated May 2008):
Applications for unpaid internships for the 2008-09 school year (full- or part-time) are considered on a rolling basis starting around July for the Fall and December for the Spring. Participants with specific skills or areas of interest (e.g. graphic design, nonprofit administration, marketing, fundraising, etc.) are of particularly encouraged to apply. Joining Foresight's Believe Chicago email list is an excellent way to keep informed of these and other opportunities. Foresight offers its intensive, 8-week Urban Sustainable Design Studio program each summer from mid-June to early August. This takes the place of other internships during this period.
APPLYING
Preliminary: Email
Send a brief email of inquiry to insure we're currently accepting applications for the period for which you're available. A little additional information, such as any special skills or experience you possess, doesn't hurt either, just to satisfy our curiosity: interns@foresightdesign.org
Upon receiving a reply (we try to be prompt, a few days at most), please attach a copy of your resume, along with the answers to the following questions, and send to: interns@foresightdesign.org
Step 1: Questions
1.) Are you looking for a full or part-time internship? From what dates are you available? If part-time, how many hours a week would you realistically be available?
2.) Are you determined to secure a paid internship, or are you able to work unpaid?
3.) Do you own a (laptop) computer and have regular access to the Internet? Do you have a cell phone?
4.) What type of internship experience are you seeking (i.e. what would you like to leave the summer with?) What type of work would you find most fulfilling (i.e. research, organizing, writing, etc.)? How do you see this experience in the context of your future ambitions/goals or interests?
5.) What about the Foresight Design Initiative intrigues you? Why would you like to intern with this particular organization?
6.) What particular experience and skills and knowledge do you have to offer in such a position?
7.) Do you have a place to live in Chicago? If so, where?
8.) Are there any questions you'd like to ask about Foresight prior to speaking on the phone?
Step 2: Talk
After you submit your answers and we've had a chance to review them (give us a few days), we'll be in touch to set up a time to speak on the phone (or in person if you're in Chicago).
Step 3: References
Should we agree that Foresight is a good fit, we will ask for two references, preferably current or past work supervisors.
Step 4: Confirmation & Contract
We ask all our interns to draft a "contract" for the period during which they will work. This should be as much for/with yourself as for the organization. It should stipulate:
- for how many hours a week and for how many weeks you are committing;
- your personal and professional goals for the experience;
- what you are willing to bring in terms of skills, experience, enthusiasm, attitude, etc.
INTERN ALUMNI & USDS ASSOCIATES
Foresight appreciates the efforts of the many people who have helped create and sustain the organization. The following former interns served the organization in a variety of capacities, blazing the way for those to come.
January 2003
(First precursor to the Urban Sustainable Design Studio)
Rebecca Brooke, Oberlin College ('04)
Luke Eddins, Oberlin College ('06)
Naomi Lipke, Oberlin College ('06)
Anne Rainwater, Oberlin College ('06)
Laura Patterson, Institute of Design, IIT (MDes '05)
Markus Takashi Heberlein, Institute of Design, IIT (MDes '03)
Fall 2003
*Bill Schleizer
January 2004
(Second precursor to the Urban Sustainable Design Studio)
Jason (Chun) Ou-Yang, Oberlin College ('07)
Sarah Benjamin, Oberlin College ('04)
Lyrica Hammann, Oberlin College ('04)
John Stevens-Garmon, Oberlin College ('04)
Spring 2004
David Persky
Fall 2004
Chris Tobias
January 2005
(First "Official" Urban Sustainable Design Studio)
Kristin Braziunas, Oberlin College ('08)
Ariane Burwell, Oberlin College ('07)
Chrstine Choi, Institute of Design, IIT (MDes/MBA '06)
Molly Danielsson, Oberlin College ('07)
Nathaniel Gelb, Oberlin College ('08)
Lisa Morris, Oberlin College ('05)
Laate Olukotun, Institute of Design, IIT (MDes '06)
Natalie Phillips-Hamblett, Institute of Design, IIT (MDes '07)
Abbey Ripstra, Institute of Design, IIT (MDes '06)
Summer 2005
Whit Forrester, Oberlin College ('07)
Will Hood, Wesleyan University ('07)
Lindsay Kuehn, Northwestern University ('06)
Rob Olden, Univeristy of Southern California ('02)
Danya Sherman, Wesleyan University ('06)
*Tom Woods, University of Wisconsin-Madison ('05)
Fall 2005 through Spring 2006
Rob Olden
*Tom Woods
January 2006
(Second "Official" Urban Sustainable Design Studio)
Maura Collins, Institute of Design (MDes ‘07)
Laura Einsel, Oberlin College (’08)
Geetha Gottumukkala, Institute of Design (MDes ‘07)
Grant Huling, Oberlin College (’07)
Natallia Lebedz, Oberlin College (’06)
Amanda Medress, Oberlin College (’09)
Andrea Small, Institute of Design (MDes ‘07)
Lynne Stewart, Oberlin College (’08)
Caroline Valette, Oberlin College (’08)
Summer 2006
Urban Sustainable Design Studio:
Jessica Arkwright
Jodie Bass, Southern California Institute of Architecture
Amy Beltemacchi, University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources and Environment
David Hershberger
Shraddha Ramani, Oberlin College (’08)
Leia Rehorn, Oklahoma State University (’06)
Rudi Reitberg, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Carey Stansbury, Syracuse University (’08)
Fall 2006
*Alana Clark, International Academy of Design and Technology ('07)
Adrian Marti, DePaul University ('07)
Ellen Sweeney, Harrington College of Design ('07)
Jennifer Wang, Rice University ('06)
(through Spring 2007)
Spring 2007
Ian Tsan, University of California, Berkeley ('06)
Summer 2007
Sarah Ashbrook, DePaul University ('08)
(through Fall 2007)
Urban Sustainable Design Studio:
Hilary Carr, Indiana University ('00 )/ Columbia College ('04)
James Pierce, Illinois Institute of Technology ('07 )/ Indiana University ('09)
Andrew DeCoriolis, Oberlin College ('07)
Amanda Huhn, Oberlin College ('02)/ IIT Institute of Design ('08)
Fall 2007
Tiffany Horn, Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago ('08)
Ali Raizin, Williams College ('07)*
Spring 2008
Mollie Nye, North Park University ('08)
Annan Shehadi, University of Illinois-Chicago ('08)
Michael Plank, Oberlin College ('05)
* Still an active Foresight volunteer
