Rocxxy

Summer Internship in Feminist Activism and Leadership

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Rocxxy (pronounced "Roxie")is a 12-week summer program for undergraduate students coordinated by the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender and Women's Studies at the University of Rochester. The program combines a professional internship experience with guest speakers, field trips to historic sites, and readings and reflections on feminist activism and leadership. This combination of academic, experiential, and professional experiences is meant to inspire and equip students to become stronger, more prepared leaders for social change. Rocxxy will not be offered in 2016, but check in with the SBAI office for other experiential learning opportunities.

Logistics

A cohort of six students work for 20-25 hours per week for the 12-week summer semester.  Internships are held at several Rochester non-profits that offer services based on feminist activism and leadership. Students meet on Tuesday afternoons for four hours for workshops, discussion of readings, and to hear from a guest speakers. Students also use this time to reflect on their internships. In addition we take field trips to local historic sites. For more information, see a draft of the syllabus.

Throughout the summer, students are required to submit reflections on their experiences in the community and in the cohort.  Students receive housing on campus, but do not receive credit or pay for the internship. Students will have the option of doing an independent study based on their internship in the following fall semester with a faculty member of their choosing if the would like to receive credit.

2015 Internship sites included:

  • Planned Parenthood of Western and Central New York - Department of Community Education
  • The Genesee Valley Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union
  • Connect & Breathe: A Nonjudgmental After-Abortion Talkline
  • Girls Rock! Rochester Summer Camp
  • The Gay Alliance of Genesee Valley

2015 Historic field trips included:

  • Seneca Falls, NY:
    • Women’s Rights National Historic Park
  • Rochester, NY:
    • The Susan B. Anthony Museum and House
  • Auburn, NY:
    • The Harriet Tubman House
  • Fayetteville, NY
    • The Matilda Joslyn Gage House