Job and Internship Opportunities

SMYAL (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders) supports and empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth in the Washington, DC metropolitan region. Through youth leadership, SMYAL creates opportunities for LGBTQ youth to build self-confidence, develop critical life skills, and engage their peers and community through service and advocacy. Committed to social change, SMYAL builds, sustains and advocates for programs, policies and services that LGBTQ youth need as they grow into adulthood.

SMYAL is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibility, physical or mental handicap, or political affiliation.

Current Openings

Peer Health Youth Fellow

Position Summary

The Peer Health Fellowship is a 3-month paid part-time program from October to December 2022 for up to 10-15 hours a week. The Peer Health Fellowship helps to reduce the barriers that LGBTQ+ youth face when accessing services. Through the fellowship youth will be able to connect youth to services by having peer conversations, referrals to services, safer sex kit distribution, and facilitating workshops with youth. The fellowship will also give youth the opportunity to speak with service providers in order to make services more inclusive and comprehensive for LGBTQ+ youth.

The goal of the program is to engage networks that make up a young person’s life, identify and reduce barriers to care, reduce stigma and increase cultural competence about LGBTQ+ youth of color. All Youth Fellows must be between 16 and 24 years old. Fellows must have an interest in supporting and empowering the LGBTQ community and communities of color.

Position Responsibilities

Co-create, plan, and facilitate youth programming with YDCE Director
Facilitate open houses
Demonstrate personal and professional commitment to racial and gender equity, accessibility, as well as community safety and accountability
With the help of the YDCE director, increase peer education by developing culturally relevant workshops. (Fellows will be required to develop and give at least four workshops during their time at SMYAL)
With the help of the YDCE Director, spearhead outreach and recruitment of youth for SMYAL programs and events
Develop and strengthen other skills they have previously specified as an area of interest, such as activism, social media management, development, etc.
Youth program facilitation and co-facilitation
Data entry and other administrative tasks
Post regularly on social media with engaging content about sexual health and awareness for queer and trans youth
- Create your own posts
- Reposts of other instagrams
Will attend Thursday Staff and Team meetings
Will attend weekly check-ins with YDCE Director
Will provide weekly progress reports and updates
Provide training and education for students and staff
Table events to connect with youth and provider
Contact schools for LGBTQ cultural competency training
Facilitate peer-to-peer conversations about HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care methods
Create “it’s ok” videos
Distribute condom packets with sexual health information
Refer youth to testing and PrEP

Fellows Will Be Provided With

Training in leadership skills, advocacy, and positive youth development
Opportunities to provide input into SMYAL’s decision making
Access to lectures, webinars, summits, and/or conferences

To Apply

Applicants may send resume and cover letter to YouthDevelopment@smyal.org with the subject line Peer Health Youth Fellow. Resumes will be reviewed as they are received. No phone calls, please. Pay is $500 per month. This position works both virtually and in person at our main offices, located in Washington, DC