Student Intern

Keys 2 Success is a Newark-based music education nonprofit founded in 2016 on a simple but powerful belief: every child deserves the chance to discover what they're capable of. We bring piano instruction and music mentorship directly into the communities where our students live — public housing, recreation centers, and neighborhood sites across the city. Our students range in age from 3 and up.

What started with 6 students has grown to over 200 students all around Newark.

At the heart of our model are our Urban Fellows — many of whom were Keys 2 Success students themselves. They don't just teach music; they show what’s possible. A significant portion of our student body is boys ages 5–10, many of whom have limited access to consistent male role models. We are actively seeking candidates who can serve as that presence.

If you’ve grown up in a community like Newark’s and want to invest in the next generation, this role was made for you.

As an Urban Fellow, you will:

• Assist in weekly piano and music lessons to children and youth at neighborhood sites in Newark, including public housing communities
• Build genuine, trust-based relationships with students, their parents, and caregivers — because we know music learning happens inside families, not just classrooms
• Mentor students not just in music, but in believing in themselves and their potential
• Collaborate with the Keys 2 Success team to support student growth, track progress, and celebrate milestones
• Help create a joyful, consistent, and safe space where every student feels seen and valued
• Participate in performances, community events, and the Keys 2 Success family of students and alumni

We’re not just hiring a music teacher. We’re looking for someone who:

• Has lived experience in communities like Newark’s — you understand these students’ lives because you’ve lived something similar, and you know how to earn real trust
• Can serve as a consistent, caring presence for young boys — many of our students ages 5–10 have limited access to reliable male mentors; we are especially seeking candidates who can fill that role with steadiness and heart
• Believes every student has potential — you don’t sort kids into "talented" and "not musical." You know that what looks like disengagement is often untapped possibility waiting to be unlocked
• Is willing and ready to work in public housing communities — you see these neighborhoods as places of strength and don’t shy away from showing up consistently, even when it’s hard
• Values relationships with parents and caregivers — you understand that earning a family’s trust is just as important as teaching scales, and you prioritize that connection
• Brings warmth, patience, and consistency — students need adults who show up week after week and genuinely care
• Has a background in music, especially piano — formal training is helpful but not required; passion and basic proficiency matter more than credentials

Required:

• Current student or a recent graduate of a high school, college, or university program
• Basic ability to play piano (ability to teach beginner material to young children)
• Reliable and committed — able to keep a consistent weekly schedule
• Strong interpersonal skills; comfortable connecting with children, teens, and adults from diverse backgrounds

Strongly Preferred:

• Lived experience in urban communities similar to those served by Keys 2 Success
• Previous experience with youth — coaching, babysitting, camp counseling, or similar
• Knowledge of, or ties to, Newark and its communities

Position Type

Part‑time, paid

Location

Various sites across Newark, NJ (public housing communities and recreation centers)

Hours

Part‑time; afternoons and early evenings on weekdays (during school year); longer hours in July‑August

Compensation

$16/hour for high school students

$25/hour for college students

Start Date

Rolling — we hire year‑round

Background Check

Required (we work with minors)

Many of our Urban Fellows were once our students. They know firsthand how a caring teacher can change the trajectory of a life. We serve a large number of boys ages 5–10 who are hungry for consistent, trustworthy male figures — someone who shows up, takes them seriously, and helps them see what they’re capable of. If you can be that person, your presence here will matter long after the lesson ends.

We don’t believe in extracting talent from Newark. We believe in growing it here, keeping it here, and letting it pour back into the community. If that’s a mission you share, we want to hear from you.