Community Partnerships & Events Intern

About the role

StrongSteps Behavioral Health Foundation is seeking a Community Partnerships & Events Intern to build relationships and develop community events throughout New York’s Southern Tier.

You will work with StrongSteps leadership to visit local agencies, introduce our programs, explore collaboration opportunities, and build a network of community partners. You will also help turn event ideas—such as a 5K, wellness walk, fundraiser, or resource fair—into organized proposals and plans.

This is a hands-on internship with structured assignments, regular supervision, and opportunities to develop skills in nonprofit partnerships, professional communication, and event coordination.

What you’ll do

• Research local agencies, nonprofits, businesses, schools, libraries, and other potential partners.
• Schedule and participate in agency visits and introductory meetings.
• Explain StrongSteps’ programs using approved materials and talking points.
• Identify opportunities for referrals, shared events, sponsorships, and other collaborations.
• Follow up with contacts and maintain organized records of conversations, interests, and next steps.
• Develop community event proposals, including potential 5Ks, wellness walks, fundraisers, and resource fairs.
• Research venues, routes, vendors, supplies, accessibility needs, and event requirements.
• Prepare draft budgets, planning timelines, and event checklists for leadership review.
• Contact potential event sponsors, exhibitors, presenters, and collaborators using approved outreach.
• Recruit event volunteers and coordinate assignments and communications.
• Help organize event promotion, registration, setup, event-day activities, and cleanup.
• Prepare partner thank-you messages and summarize event participation, feedback, and results.
• Participate in supervision meetings and provide updates on assigned projects.

StrongSteps leadership approves partnerships, agreements, spending, and financial commitments. This role focuses on partnerships and events; support-group facilitation and participant support belong to the Community Support Intern.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a college, university, community college, or relevant educational or workforce-development program.
• Interest in nonprofit work, community partnerships, communications, public health, business, human services, or event management.
• Comfortable introducing yourself, meeting community professionals, and explaining an organization’s work.
• Strong verbal communication and professional email-writing skills.
• Organized, dependable, and able to follow up on commitments.
• Able to work independently on assigned tasks and collaborate with a team.
• Basic proficiency with email, spreadsheets, and Microsoft Office or Google Workspace.
• Willingness to participate in scheduled local agency visits and occasional evening or weekend events.
• Respect for confidentiality, professional boundaries, and people from diverse backgrounds.
• Willingness to complete orientation and accept supervision and feedback.

Previous volunteer, customer-service, partnership, fundraising, or event experience is helpful but not required. Familiarity with Canva, Salesforce, or online registration tools is a plus. Local travel arrangements and scheduling expectations will be discussed before placement; owning a vehicle is not required.

About StrongSteps Behavioral Health Foundation

StrongSteps Behavioral Health Foundation is a nonprofit, peer-led organization dedicated to improving access to mental health support and essential services across Upstate New York. Our work is grounded in lived experience, allowing us to connect with individuals in a way that is authentic, compassionate, and effective.

We focus on addressing real-life barriers that impact well-being, including access to housing, care coordination, and community-based support services. By meeting individuals where they are, we help them navigate complex systems and build pathways toward stability and long-term success.

Through partnerships with healthcare providers, community organizations, and local resources, we ensure individuals receive the support they need to move forward with confidence.

What We Do

At StrongSteps, we provide services that directly support individuals facing mental health and life stability challenges, including:

• Care management and service coordination
• Housing navigation and support services
• Connections to food, healthcare, and community resources
• Advocacy and guidance through complex systems

Our approach is rooted in peer support principles — we believe lived experience is a powerful tool for building trust, promoting recovery, and creating meaningful change.

Why Work With StrongSteps

Working at StrongSteps is more than just a job — it’s an opportunity to make a real impact in people’s lives every single day.

Peer-Led, Mission-Driven Work

You’ll be part of a team that values lived experience and uses it to guide meaningful, person-centered support.