Location:

Salary: $30,000
Location: Work Remotely via Internet
Training: Yes

Description:

Urban Connection’s Digital Advocate Internship allows you to work in an innovative, progressive and rewarding field. Working closely with our Internet Advocacy Division.  This internship is ideal for someone who is passionate about the helping the homeless/urban poor  and ready to receive first-hand experience around the intersection of social media and social justice.

Responsibilities:

• Using Web and social media applications to raise awareness, encourage audience feedback and participation and fundraising.
• Work closely with blogs and other new media channels to promote volunteer, sponsorship and donation opportunities.
• Liaise with external organizational partners to expand existing relationships and identify new opportunities.

Requirements:

• Interest in Social Justice, Technology, Social Media
• Home computer with access to the high speed Internet Connection
• Some familiarity with existing social media applications (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, MySpace, etc.)
• Applicant must agree to a background check*

*Applicants who have been convicted of a financial crime or identity theft will automatically be disqualified.

What’s Next?

Register for one of our our webinars learn more about our Digital Advocate position by clicking on the button below.

If you would like to join UC’s Media Team, please read below to see if you qualify.

Commitment: We know you are very busy. While consistency is important, we are very flexible. You can volunteer as little or frequently as you like, however we ask that when you make a commitment, you show up. A day of shooting may depend on you.

Experience: Most Media Team crew positions require at least an entry-level knowledge, however there are some spots open for individuals who are interested in helping out but have no prior experience. Basic “on-the-job” training is available to all Media Team crew members. (See below for specific requirements.)

Age Requirement: Any volunteer over the age of 10 are welcome to join UC’s Media Team. However, because most positions require basic entry-level knowledge, volunteers under the age of 12 might not be eligible. Volunteers under the age of 18 interested in serving on-site on Skid Row will be required to get a parent or legal guardian’s signature before volunteering.

Positions:

• Camera Operators: You will be documenting activities and events at Urban Connection and also covering special stories on the streets. This will require you to carry a camera both inside Urban Connection and on the streets of Skid Row. You must be comfortable shooting and know how to use a camera.
• Editors: You must be access to your own editing software. Previous editing experience is required. This is a from-home opportunity, and you will not be required to be on site on Skid Row.
• Motion Graphics Designer: You must have access to your own motion graphics software. Previous experience or schooling in Motion Graphics is mandatory. This is a from-home opportunity, and you will not be required to be on site on Skid Row.
• Graphics Designer: You will be helping out with print design and brochures. You must have access to your own software. This is a from-home opportunity, and you will not be required to be on site on Skid Row.
• Photographer: You will be taking candid photos of activity, including special events, inside Urban Connection, and also on the streets of Skid Row. You must be comfortable shooting and know how to use a camera. If you do not have you’re your own camera, a Nokia digital camera will be provided for you.
• Reporters: You will be covering special assignments, including personal stories or community updates, in a news style format. You should be comfortable interviewing and taking initiative in following up on assignments. A short writing example may be requested.
• No Experience Opportunities: If you have no experience in any of the above positions but still want to serve on UC’s Media Team, there are still positions for you! We have spots open for assistants and grips. You will be working directly with other Media Team crewmembers at Urban Connection and on the streets of Skid Row. All skills will be taught on-the-job as you go.

If you are creative, interested in film, photography, or writing, or simply want to volunteer in a different way, now is your chance. By joining the UC’s Media Team, you can help spread the word on homelessness in Los Angeles and give the homeless of Skid Row a voice.

To join the UC Media Team or request more information, please email Jacob at jacob@urbanconnection.com or call 888-889-8687 ext. 706.

To see some of our previous videos on Skid Row Stories, click HERE.

Hygiene Kits are essential on Skid Row. In a community where residents have to wait in line to shower or use the restroom, many do not have the patience to do so or the inclination to use such public facilities. This means many go unshowered for days, even weeks, neither brushing their teeth, washing themselves, or even changing their clothes.

For this reason, Hygiene Kits are a commodity among the homeless. So it is no wonder that when most volunteers come down to Skid Row, they want to hand out Hygiene Kits: toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, socks, etc.

While Hygiene Kits are a necessity, there are a few reasons why openly handing them out on the street might end up being counterproductive to the ultimate goal of volunteers. “When [the guests] don’t need it,” says Antonio Vera, Sr. Case Manager at Urban Connection, “they sell it.”

Because Hygiene Kits are so important, most of the many local missions hand them out or make them readily available on a daily basis. Yet when large volunteer groups arrive, often their first step is to hand out Hygiene Kits or Gift Bags. This means many guests will get duplicates or take a Kit or Gift Bag even when they do not need the items.

Rather than keep the additional items, most of the guests will choose to sell them. This is not only an injustice to those who really need the items and cannot spare the extra change, but also the money exchanged is often used to purchase drugs or alcohol.

So how do we make sure that the hygiene kits make it to the people who need them the most? That’s a question that the Urban Connection is ready to answer.

You see, Hygiene Kits and Gift Bags are not all bad. Not only do some people desperately need them, but they are also a great tangible way to show a homeless person that you care about them. On top of it all, Hygiene Kits and Gift Bags  provide an easy way for volunteers to approach guests and start a conversation.

At the Urban Connection, we’ve come up with a better way to distribute these items. If a volunteer group would like to assemble Hygiene Kits or Gift Bags, they may use the safe, open space of Urban Connection to do so. Afterwards, the Urban Connection staff and interns will gladly keep the Kits and distribute them to those who are in real need of them, ensuring that the items are used rather than sold.

For those volunteers who would like to hand the Hygiene Kits and Gift Bags out personally, Urban Connection provides a Coffee Bar where volunteers and guests can sit and talk to each other, and where a volunteer can learn a guest’s real needs. If, after a few minutes of chatting with a guest, a volunteer finds they are in need of a Hygiene Kit, they can provide one for the guest at that time.

This ensures two important things: 1) that the right people get these items and 2) that the act of handing out a Hygiene Kit is more than simply a hand-off from a line, but instead serves as a personal interaction point for volunteer and guest.

Hygiene Kits and Gift Bags are important, and always a need among the 7,000 – 8,000 individuals who call the streets of Skid Row their home. Still, it is equally important in this kind of community that they are distributed fairly and effectively. We can all give so much more when we give in the right ways.

If you would like to assemble hygiene kits or otherwise volunteer at the Urban Connection, visit our Volunteer Signup Page!

Our “Disciples” and “Case Managers” will show you how to provide practical help and hope to people in need. You will be able to work alongside our team while building transforming relationships with our friends in the community that will communicate the love of God in both word and deed.

To get started, simply fill out the form below!

To help with the situation, we are EXCITED to announce that in the next few days, we’ll be setting up cots on our 2nd floor to allow people a place to rest during the day!

Billy in His New House!

Billy has been a regular face at the Urban Connection for as long as anyone can remember. When he first came to the Urban Connection, he rode around in an old wheelchair. His hands were torn up from having to wheel himself around all the time, but his spirits were still bright. He was always ready to give a smile or tell a story.

Shortly thereafter, Billy’s smile got even bigger as the Urban Connection helped coordinate the delivery of his brand-new ELECTRIC wheelchair. Now Billy was riding in style, his hands were able to heal, and his spirits were higher than ever. Billy became a mainstay at the Urban Connection, bringing joy to the faces of everyone he came in contact with.

Michelle Checks Out Her New Home!

Michelle was a newer addition to our family.  At the beginning of December, Paul Chisham found Michelle crying on the street. Her wheelchair was broken, rain was pouring down, and she had nowhere to go. Being the great guy that he is, Paul took care of everything. He brought Michelle to the Urban Connection, got her wheelchair fixed, and got her some new clothes, blankets, and a hot shower.

Since then, Michelle has been staying at the Urban Connection every night. She’s gotten to know our staff and volunteers, and has become a regular smiling face.

Because both Billy and Michelle are wheelchair-bound, our case mangers were able to get them setup with a “Board & Care”, a facility that provides housing in addition to medical services. The doctors there tell us that with the rehabilitation he will be receiving now, Billy has a 70% chance of learning to walk again! Billy told us that his hope is to one day come back to Urban Connection, WALKING through the door as a volunteer!

The staff of the Urban Connection is excited that Billy & Michelle are on their way to a better life, but we’re sad to see them go. We’re just glad that we could be a part of their story, helping them to take one more step in their journey towards a better life.

Without the Urban Connection, both of these individuals would be sleeping on the streets tonight. Instead, they’ve got a roof over their head, they’re receiving the medical attention they need, and they’re safe from the dangers of Skid Row.

When you volunteer at the Urban Connection, you’re contributing to stories like these. You’re helping people take steps towards a better life. Billy & Michelle wouldn’t be where they are today without the Urban Connection… and the Urban Connection wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for our dedicated volunteers. From Billy, Michelle, and the entire staff of the Urban Connection, here’s a big THANK YOU to our volunteers!

If you’d like more information on getting involved with the Urban Connection, please email volunteer@urbanconnection.com. Thanks!

Maria is 38 years old, and was born in Michoacan, Mexico. Years ago, Maria moved to the United States and began working in the sewing industry. Things were going well for her until she lost her job in 2007, leaving her unable to pay the rent on her home. That’s when she was forced onto the street.

For most of our readers, loss of a job wouldn’t be the end of the road. Most of us have strong family connections that could keep us afloat until we found a solution. Sadly, Maria has no such connections. Her mother gave her away when she was just three years old.

Maria is a perfect example of the side of Skid Row that generally goes unnoticed. It is often assumed that Skid Row residents got themselves here through crime, drugs, violence, or mental illness. The sad truth is that many individuals wind up homeless because they lack the family and social connections that allow the rest of us to make it through hard times.

For someone without a solid network of family and friends, it doesn’t take much to end up on the street. One missed paycheck, one lost job, one injury, and suddenly things begin to spin out of control.

Luckily for Maria, the Urban Connection was here to help. She came to us looking for housing, and we were able to connect her with a provider. It wasn’t easy, though. Our Case Managers had to go to two different locations, fill out lots of paperwork, and work with the provider to make sure they had all the documentation they need. In the end, we were able to get her 90-day emergency housing through LAHSA, as well as a job interview at an apparel manufacturer. We were able to do this because of our connections in the community – connections that the average Skid Row resident just doesn’t have.

After she settled in, she came back to thank us for the help. Without the Urban Connection, Maria would be sleeping on the streets tonight. Maria’s story is a perfect example of why the Urban Connection is here – to provide the connections and resources that are desperately needed by those who are trying to get back on their feet. Congratulations, Maria! We wish you the best.

Damarys Lares, Junior Case Manager

During his junior year, Robi made the decision to come to LA in search of better medical care. Robi currently struggles with bipolar disorder, and felt that he was not getting the care he needed to be a productive person in Houston. Since arriving in Los Angeles, Robi has been put on appropriate medication. Now he feels better, but is still without a place to live. Having gotten what he came for (an accurate diagnosis and appropriate medication), Robi is ready to go home.

Robi has been living on the streets, but was invited to stay at Urban Connection after his interview. Our case managers are helping Robi apply for traveler’s aid to get him a ticket home. In the meantime, we’ll help him get a more permanent bed at the Union Rescue Mission so that he won’t have to sleep on the streets. Good luck, Robi!

Robi Mathews

Antonio Vera, our Senior Case Manager, has been a Type 1 Diabetic for the last 14 years. Last Sunday, Antonio was preparing his insulin dose when he accidentally dropped the vial, shattering it on the floor. He told himself that he would pick up another vial later in the day, but other things kept coming up. Monday morning he got up and came to Urban Connection, attending to his work as usual. As the day progressed, however, he began to feel strange. When he got home that evening, he remembered that he needed insulin. Unfortunately, he only had time to shower and change into scrubs before heading off to night school (Antonio is studying to be a medical assistant so that he can administer Tuberculosis shots to the Skid Row community). By the time Antonio finished with school for the night, insulin was the last thing on his mind. He got back home, laid his head on his pillow, and fell fast asleep.

At 5 o’clock the next morning, Antonio was awakened by a sharp pain in his stomach. As soon as he got up, he began to vomit. “My head felt like it was going to explode” he said. His body needed insulin, and fast. Because it was only 5am, Antonio wouldn’t be able to see a doctor for several hours. Unfortunately, Antonio wasn’t sure if his body could wait that long.

Because Antonio helps Skid Row residents every day, he knew that the Union Rescue Mission has a clinic that could help him. He cleaned up, left his house, and headed straight to URM.

Dr. Darleen, one of the resident doctors at the clinic (which is operated by UCLA inside of Union Rescue Mission) immediately gave Antonio his much-needed insulin shot. She told him that if he would’ve waited much longer, things could’ve gotten much worse.

Antonio is a perfect example of why the services of Skid Row providers are essential. Without the UCLA clinic at URM, Antonio could’ve ended up in an emergency room…or worse. Antonio said “I am thankful that the clinic was there. I know that they do their best to provide great medical care. They saved my life, and I just wanted to say thank you.”

Antonio Vera, Urban Connection's Senior Case Manager