About the Role

Mikva Challenge is seeking three (3) independent contractors to support the planning and execution of the Mikva Challenge’s Summer Fellows Program, a six-week program placing approximately 46 young people (ages 17-20) in fellowship roles in the offices of elected officials across the city of Chicago.

Fellows will work up to 30 hours per week in their assigned offices and will participate in a professional development cohort focused on developing workforce readiness skills through required assessments and skill-building activities.

Location: This is a Chicago-based hybrid contract role, engaging with staff and partners in-person and through virtual platforms.
Duration: Anticipated dates are May 25, 2026 - August 4, 2026. Contractors must be available for the full 10.5 week period to be considered.
Anticipated Time Commitment: Up to 30 hours per week
Compensation Rate: $20/ hour

Scope of Work
Contractors will support program implementation through the following deliverables:

• Facilitation of small group and individual check-ins with an assigned cohort of Fellows, helping them assess their workplace skills and set goals for growth throughout the summer.
• Ongoing communication with Fellows to collect, track, and file timesheets and other required paperwork.
• Support the completion of all required workplace assessments.
• Enter Fellows data into IL Worknet and Google Spreadsheets
• Coach Fellows on workforce development skills
• Schedule and complete site visits with Fellows in assigned cohorts
• Provide regular updates to the MSF Program Manager on progress and deliverables

Qualifications

• Current college students or recent graduates with an interest in youth development and civic engagement strongly preferred.
• Interest and/or experience working with youth, teaching, social work, counseling or related fields
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to manage time effectively and work independently
• Strong communication skills
• Facilitation experience or interest in developing facilitation skills
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
• Experience working in a professional office setting (preferred)
• Familiarity with Chicago and/ or the structure and duties of Illinois government (preferred)

About our Work

Mikva Challenge is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to develop youth to be empowered, informed, and active citizens and community members who will promote a just and equitable society. We do this by engaging youth in our civic learning model, an authentic and transformative learning process built on youth voice and youth expertise. Youth in Mikva’s programming experience unique civic learning opportunities in the political process including: public policy advocacy, government internships, and youth activism programs. Our approaches include direct youth work, teacher support, and liaising with civic leaders and institutions. We believe strongly in the potential of youth and are committed to advancing youth power and voice.

Across the country, participants in Mikva Challenge programs consistently report meaningful growth and lasting impact. Young people express greater confidence in their ability to improve their schools and communities and to work with others to drive change. Educators describe feeling more energized and inspired in their roles, and community leaders increasingly value their partnership with youth as trusted collaborators in shaping policies and community solutions.

To learn more about the impact of Mikva Challenge, we invite you to explore our latest annual report, which highlights youth in action and features reflections from alumni, insights from educators, and perspectives from our community partners.

Equity Statement

Mikva Challenge is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity, and gender expression), sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, political affiliation, marital status, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit-based factors. We strongly encourage candidates from a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to apply.