Application Process
Interested students
should submit:
- A brief cover letter describing their interest
and relevant experience.
- A résumé.
- (Optional) One or two writing samples (e.g., blog
post, article, social media content).
Details
of the Practicum Opportunity
Location: Phoenix Society, Surrey, BC (Hybrid – on-site and remote)
Reports to: CEO
Hours: Flexible (based on program requirements)
Term: Ongoing placements available (Winter)
Type: Unpaid practicum / academic placement
About
Phoenix Society
- Phoenix Society offers support to address,
recover from, or reduce harms from substance use, as well as housing, health
care, education, employment, and community inclusion. We prioritize the social
determinants of health, applying the principles of health equity and social
justice for underserved and marginalized populations.
- We are deeply committed to reconciliation, equity, and
stigma reduction - and to telling the stories that reflect the strength and
diversity of the people and communities we serve.
Position
Overview
·
Phoenix Society is seeking a Communications
Practicum Student to help capture, craft, and share the human stories
behind our mission.
·
Working closely with the Communications Lead and
program staff, the student will collect impact stories from clients, alumni,
and staff to build a storytelling database and create a social media
post bank that highlights Phoenix’s programs, values, and community impact.
This is an ideal opportunity for a student interested
in communications, journalism, social work, marketing, or public relations who
wants hands-on experience using storytelling as a tool for advocacy,
engagement, and stigma reduction.
Key
Learning Objectives
By the end of the
placement, the student will:
- Develop practical interviewing, writing, and
content creation skills in a non-profit setting.
- Learn trauma-informed and ethical storytelling
approaches.
- Build experience translating impact data and
interviews into engaging public communications.
- Contribute to internal and external campaigns
that promote awareness and reduce stigma around mental health and
substance use.
- Gain exposure to organizational communications
planning and media relations.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct and transcribe interviews with clients,
alumni, and staff (with supervision and consent).
- Write short-form and long-form stories for
newsletters, the website, and internal publications.
- Create social media posts and story templates for
Phoenix’s social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.).
- Organize collected stories into a storytelling
and impact database categorized by theme (e.g., recovery, innovation,
reconciliation, community).
- Support photography or short video projects (as
appropriate).
- Assist in preparing content for the annual report
and donor updates.
- Collaborate with staff to ensure accuracy,
confidentiality, and respectful representation.
Qualifications
- Current student in Communications, Journalism,
Public Relations, Digital Media, Marketing, or Social Work (or related
field).
- Satisfactory completion of a Criminal Records Check through Phoenix Society
- Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
- Interest in social impact, recovery, and
community development.
- Respectful, empathetic communication style with
diverse populations.
- Comfortable working independently and
collaboratively.
- Basic knowledge of social media platforms and
content planning tools.
- Photography, video editing, or graphic design
skills considered an asset.
Supervision
and Support
The practicum student
will be placed under Director, Human Resources, and will be directly
supervised by the CEO. Regular check-ins will provide feedback, guidance,
and professional development opportunities.
Benefits
- Practical, portfolio-ready experience in
community storytelling and social impact communications.
- Opportunity to contribute to meaningful advocacy
and awareness campaigns.
- Mentorship from experienced non-profit and
communications professionals.
- Flexible schedule to meet academic requirements.
