Published:
NO/AIDS Task Force Awarded Internship in Leadership Development by R. Scott Hitt Foundation
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This month, the world
watched history happen asthe United States elected it's first
African-American president. Overshadowed by that, but no less historical, was
that over 111 openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender candidates were on
ballots across the country and of those, over 70 were successfully elected to
serve in public office. As we see more and more LGBT individuals serving in
public office as well as emerging as community leaders to address the various
needs of the community, it is important that we begin fostering leadership in
LGBT youth today, so that we have strong, viable leaders tomorrow.
The R. Scott Hitt Foundation has made the commitment to prepare LGBT youth
to lead their communities in the future. This year, the foundation named its
recipient of the first-ever Internship in Leadership Development, Eric
Knudsen, who will be interning with the NO/AIDS Task Force. The internship
prepares future leaders for lasting leadership roles within organizations that
support the LGBT movement. NO/AIDS Task Force is one of the oldest and largest
AIDS service organizations in the Gulf South, providing critical and
compassionate services to men, women and families affected by HIV and AIDS for
over 25 years. NO/AIDS has selected Eric Knudsen to be the ultimate
beneficiary of the internship program.
"We are honored to be chosen out of many deserving applicants and thankful
for the opportunity the R. Scott Hitt Foundation has provided to NO/AIDS Task
Force. We are thrilled to welcome Eric to the agency. His previous experience
will be an asset to NO/AIDS and we are confident he will surpass the
organization's expectations and emerge an effective organizer in the
non-profit sector and prepared to lead the LGBT community," said NO/AIDS
executive director Noel Twilbeck.
Eric, a recent graduate of the University of Connecticut, already has an
impressive resume of LGBT work, research and activism, including an internship
with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. During Eric's 9-month tenure at
NO/AIDS Task Force, he will work in a variety of program areas which will
expose him to the various aspects of nonprofit organizational work and provide
him with invaluable knowledge and experience for the future.
"It is an incredible feeling and the greatest honor when highly
influential, accomplished people, who have made my life better in ways I will
never fully understand, believe I have what it takes to shape the future,"
stated Knudsen.
During the course of 9 months, Eric's responsibilities at NO/AIDS Task
Force will focus on 5 core areas to help hone his leadership skills: policy &
grassroots organizing, managerial operations, communications, event production
and development & board development. Eric was energized right away about his
internship when one of his first activities was to participate in board and
staff development, which was facilitated by award-winning author and speaker
Kay Sprinkel Grace.
"Working at NO/AIDS is a priceless opportunity to grow, learn, and prepare
for upcoming victories in LGBT equality," said Knudsen.
The majority of his work will be with the Task Force's Community Awareness
Network (CAN) Project, which works with the gay community to implement HIV
prevention activities. The CAN Project has long been a recognized leader in
prevention both regionally and nationally, and was an ideal fit for Knudsen.
Eric will assist with the Mpowerment initiative which is a model HIV
prevention program designed specifically to address the needs of young
gay/bisexual men. Additionally, he will be an integral part of the Popular
Opinion Leader program which mobilizes local gay establishments, community
organizations and businesses to adopt messages of HIV prevention and
awareness. He will also work to implement these messages in online chat rooms.
"The R. Scott Hitt Foundation was extremely excited to have partnered with
NO/AIDS and we think that they have selected a very worthy individual in Eric
Knudsen. Scott would be humbled to know that his legacy will continue to live
on in the bright future of Eric who exemplifies Scott's vision and work to
improve people's lives everywhere, but especially those at risk and living
with HIV/AIDS," stated Jim Weinstein, Chair of the R. Scott Hitt Foundation
Board.
Additionally, the chance to work with an agency inNew Orleans will prove
to be an amazing opportunity. Three years after Hurricane Katrina, the city
has created numerous opportunities for young professionals and emerging
leaders. The culture inNew Orleans is ideal for young leaders to define
themselves and emerge with all of the ever-elusive qualities that define great
leadership. When Eric Knudsen has completed his internship at NO/AIDS Task
Force inNew Orleans, he will be a stronger leader, prepared to help the LGBT
community continue to grow and prosper.
The application process for the 2009 R. Scott Hitt Foundation Internship
in Leadership Development opens on December 1, 2008. The paid internship seeks
to provide college graduates with a strong academic record a 7 - 9 month
working experience to help them build necessary leadership skills that will be
an asset to the LGBT community. Applicants are free to chose an established
501(c)3 nonprofit host organization anywhere in the United States. Together
the applicant and host organization develop a curriculum for the duration of
the proposed internship. Applications, which are due by May 8, 2009, must
include a cover letter, essay and recent resume. For further information, go
to www.scotthittfoundation.org.
NO/AIDS Task Force, founded in 1983, is one of the oldest and largest AIDS
Service Organizations in the Gulf South. Now in its 25th year of service to
the greaterNew Orleans area, the agency offers a comprehensive array of
compassionate and critical services for men, women and families living with
HIV/AIDS such as: primary medical care, early intervention services, peer
support, mental health therapy, support groups, case management, housing
coordination, medication assistance, home delivered meals and a food bank
program. NO/AIDS also touches thousands of lives each year through HIV/AIDS
prevention education and community outreach. For more information about
NO/AIDS Task Force call 504-821-2601 or visit www.noaidstaskforce.org
The R. Scott Hitt Foundation, launched in 2007, strives to advance public
well-being through the development and training of socially conscious
individuals to become the future leaders in gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender community activism. The internship programs are designed to
introduce outstanding, innovative, socially conscious individuals, who are in
the educational phase of their lives, to the various aspects of nonprofit
organizational work. Through participation in one of the foundation's two
internship programs, both undergraduate and graduate, individuals will learn
the skills necessary to participate in the field of gay and lesbian nonprofit
advocacy. The programs are designed to train candidates to follow in our
footsteps and lead the way as our community manages with a shortage of highly
skilled successors and the increasing need for skillful leadership. Our
community has a history of taking care of our own and the Foundation is
focused on keeping that tradition alive. For more information about the R.
Scott Hitt Foundation, please call James Vellequette at 323-573-3005 or visit
www.scotthittfoundation.org
SOURCE NO/AIDS Task Force
Copyright © 2009, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2009, NewsBlaze,
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