Teen Empowerment: RNR Internship Neutral Zone

Teen Empowerment: RNR Internship with the Neutral Zone 2026

Center for Leadership & Community Engagement

Position Description

The Neutral Zone was founded by teens to provide a venue for social, cultural, educational, recreational, and creative opportunities for Ann Arbor area high school teens. The mission statement of the center was written by youth and continues to be the voice and heart that drives the center's creative programs and opportunities: "Neutral Zone is a transformative, youth‑driven community where youth embrace their power, ignite their creativity, and launch their future to build equity, justice, and collective liberation."

The center began in 1998 as a concert venue and now supports an after‑school drop‑in space, weekend concerts, special events, and over 15 after‑school programs in visual and media arts, music performance and technology, literary arts, and community leadership and education. During the school year approximately 250 young people visit weekly, 100 visit summer programming, and another 500 visit through school and community partnership projects.

The Board of Directors reflects the mission, with nearly half consisting of teens leading through partnership with adults.

• Engage teens in the drop‑in space through activities and conversation.
• Coordinate summer program outreach and registration with NZ staff.
• Lead at least 4 weeks of summer program experiences in leadership and the arts.
• Design, implement, and lead the summer program evaluation.
• Participate in community outreach events that promote the Neutral Zone to diverse populations.
• Support research and grant writing to leverage new projects and partnership initiatives during the school year.
• Assist in updating the data registration system to a Salesforce platform.
• Attend intern meetings bi‑weekly or monthly with the two other Michigan‑based RNR interns.
• Help plan and outreach for the Fall 2026 program registration.

• Knowledge and experience in youth‑driven practice.
• Training in restorative practice.
• Interpersonal and professional communication skills.
• Evaluation design and implementation.
• Understanding of a professional office culture.
• Ability to work with diverse populations.

• Must be a Rollins undergraduate student graduating no earlier than December 2026.
• Must be available to serve from May 19th to August 8th, 2026 (flexibility may be discussed).

• Past experience working with diverse youth populations across gender identity, sexual orientation, race, and religion.
• A strong connection to the visual arts, literary arts, or music performance and technology.

The intern will receive a stipend of $12,250 to cover time on the job, necessary travel, living expenses, food, groceries, cultural outings, and academic credit costs. Housing is allocated at $7,200 and will be directly paid from Rollins to accommodations, typically shared with other RNR interns in the Ann Arbor community. The internship runs from May 19th to August 8th, approximately 40 hrs/week, with office space, a computer, and a parking pass provided.

The stipend will also cover the $500 internship course fee, with the remainder disbursed bi‑weekly. The intern must register for the academic internship course before April 6, 2026 through the Center for Career & Life Planning and attend orientation in late April.

Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and references by March 1 via the Rollins College Handshake Job Portal. Applications will be reviewed by the Center for Leadership & Community Engagement and selected candidates will be invited to interview with Neutral Zone.
Virtual interviews will take place between March 9th and March 12th. For questions regarding the stipend or application, contact Meredith Hein  details about the position, contact Hananiah Wiggins at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).