Internships

Sopo accepts internship applications year-round. We are looking for self-motivated, good natured young people who want to be challenged. You must be a student or a participant in a program outside of Sopo that will hold you accountable. Send your resume and letter of intent to us.

We will do our best to work with your school or sponsoring program to develop an internship that suits your needs. Together, we will develop short, medium, and longterm goals. You will be responsible for staying on track.

The scope of our work includes a variety of disciplines. If you are unsure whether your major or interests fit, please ask.

Possible internship positions include:

• Mechanic/Shop Operator
• Youth Mentor
• Special Projects Manager/Developer
• Data Manager
• Administrative Assistant

Mechanic/Shop Operator

Bicycle repair mechanics help shop visitors fix or build their own bikes. The primary job of mechanics is to provide guidance and assistance. Our shop is dedicated to teaching skills and bringing fairness to tool shops. Mechanics must be friendly, comfortable with allowing people to make mistakes, and able to communicate repair tips and information without telling people that what they are doing is wrong.

A mechanic also functions as a shop operator. The shop operators help locate and put away tools, parts, and accessories. They are responsible for opening and closing the shop. They note any items that need to be restocked or replaced. They are responsible for shop upkeep. Shop operators can also contribute to developing shop improvements such as storage systems and waste removal.
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Youth Mentor

Sopo provides seasonal youth services. A youth mentor is present during times when youth services take place. The youth mentor provides mechanical assistance, as well as supervision. Some youth services are performed off-site at neighborhood festivals.
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Special Projects Manager/Developer

Sopo is developing a number of special services, and all need administrative support. These special projects include: youth services, women/girls services, and disability services. Sopo is considering developing a Create a Commuter program, which is a federally funded project for people of low-income status that provides them with bicycles in order to help them commute to work.
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Data Manager

In order to apply for grants, Sopo needs to document shop activities. A data manager would be responsible for collecting this information using our shop tracking sheet. The data manager would also be responsible for generating reports.
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Administrative Assistant

An administrative assistant would work closely with the Director to: maintain and build new community partnerships, coordinate volunteers, oversee all special projects, work with the media, communicate with other community bicycle shops across the country to stay up-to-date on best practices, document shop activities, manage correspondence, write proposals, fundraise, and more. An assistant would not necessarily be responsible for the entire list. For example, a student interested in media work could limit their range to those relevant tasks, and a student interested in advocacy could limit their range to community outreach-oriented tasks.
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