Community Resource & Engagement Coordinator

Practicum Opportunity: Community Resource & Engagement Coordinator – Black Breastfeeding Week

Host Organization:
Vital Village Networks (VVN), based at Boston Medical Center, is a network of residents and organizations committed to maximizing child, family, and community well-being through equitable systems transformation. VVN builds coalitions and partnerships to support child development, maternal health, and racial equity by advancing community-led strategies and collective learning.

The Black Breastfeeding Week Committee (BBW), a subcommittee of the Boston Breastfeeding Coalition, uplifts and celebrates Black breastfeeding families and their communities by organizing affirming, culturally resonant events each August. BBW aims to challenge harmful narratives, reclaim breastfeeding traditions, and support community-led engagement focused on joy, health, and equity.

Practicum Placement Overview:
This practicum opportunity offers a student the chance to support planning, coordination, and outreach for Black Breastfeeding Week in collaboration with the BBW Committee and the Vital Village Networks team. The student will help develop public health communication materials, organize events, and strengthen engagement strategies that celebrate and center Black breastfeeding families and their broader support networks.

This role is ideal for a student passionate about public health, maternal and child health, health equity, health communication, and community organizing.

Key Responsibilities:

• Attend and contribute to BBW Committee planning meetings (virtually or in-person, as scheduled between May–August)
• Support coordination of Black Breastfeeding Week events (August 25–31, 2024), including a kick-off and closing celebration
• Assist in event logistics, scheduling, and internal communication with partners and volunteers
• Collaborate with the BBW Committee and VVN communications team to develop event outreach materials (e.g., social media posts, blog drafts, newsletters)
• Support the curation of multimedia content and storytelling that highlights the experiences and leadership of Black breastfeeding families
• Participate in the co-design and documentation of events and engagement activities
• Conduct landscape scans of academic and community-based research, tools, events, and multimedia content relevant to lactation advocacy, community care models, culturally responsive health systems, and policy advocacy
• Draft summaries and brief descriptions of curated content, highlighting relevance for maternal and child health

Ideal Candidate Qualities:
We are seeking a graduate-level student (or upper-level undergraduate with relevant experience) who demonstrates:

• Strong interest in health equity, maternal health, breastfeeding advocacy, or public health
• Strong research, writing, and organizational skills
• Familiarity with community-based or participatory approaches
• Experience using digital engagement tools, social media, public health communications 
• Comfort working independently and collaboratively
• Commitment to equity, cultural humility, and amplifying community voices

Additional Details:

• This is an unpaid practicum opportunity
• Primarily remote with opportunities for in-person engagement in Boston during BBW
• Flexible schedule beginning in late spring or early summer, with availability required during Black Breastfeeding Week (August 25–31)
• Primarily remote, with flexible schedule and start/end dates
• Estimated 10–15 hours/week (negotiable based on program requirements)
• Practicum supervision and mentorship provided by VVN team
• To apply, please submit a brief cover letter, resume, and 1–2 relevant writing or digital work samples to alex.jones@bmc.org