Jean O'Connor-Snyder Internship Program | University of Montevallo

The Jean O’Connor-Snyder Internship Program (JOIP) provides opportunities to craft stories in creative formats that inspire intergenerational dialogue and strengthen community ties. Our Stories, Our Strength: Bridging Generations through Storytelling is a partnership between the Montevallo Legacy Project (MLP), a local nonprofit, and UM’s Office of Engaged Education and Public Service (EEPS). It is supported by the Jean O’Connor-Snyder Internship Program (JOIP) administered by the David Mathews Center for Civic Life. Upon program completion, interns will receive a $2,000 stipend.

JOIP Application

Applicants may complete an application on the Montevallo Legacy Project’s website linked in the button below.

Include the following:

Cover letter indicating your interest in the internship and relevant experience
Current resume
Sample of your storytelling work (e.g., writing, video, photographs, multimedia project, community organizing, etc.)

JOIP Retreat Group And Poster 2025 2026 Hannah Bridget Ashley And Damian

JOIP Application

Eligibility

Current UM undergraduates (open to all majors, juniors and seniors preferred).
Interest in joining a cohort of four JOIP interns to conduct a multimedia storytelling campaign using digital media and face-to-face community engagement.
Ability to self-start and work collaboratively.

JOIP Event 2.27.2025 - Damian McCrickard and guest

Responsibilities

Develop a storytelling campaign that uplifts voices at the intersections of community and identity in Montevallo
Collaborate with community members to share and collect personal stories
Apply creative techniques in multimedia storytelling—video, photography, graphic design, and so on
Engage with MLP’s digital platforms (web, social media) to moderate dialogue and support interactive reflection
Design, organize, and moderate live storytelling events showcasing unique lived experiences in Montevallo

JOIP Retreat 1.31.2025 Bridget Damian Kathy

2025-2026 JOIP Interns, Team Disabilities in Harmony

Ashley Williams, Disabilities in Harmony

Hannah Hennessey, Disabilities in Harmony

2025-2026 JOIP Interns, Team Crafting LGBTQ+ History

Damian McCrickard, Crafting LGBTQ+ History

Bridget McCurrach, Crafting LGBTQ+ History

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Hear from Our JOIPs!

Hannah Hennessey

“When I first became involved in the Jean O’Conner-Snyder Internship Program (JOIP), I understood that the experience would involve leadership, service, and storytelling. What I did not fully know at the time was how deeply personal and transformative the work would become. This experience challenged me to reflect on the role purposeful storytelling plays in making a difference in this world. I was drawn to disability awareness because I recognized how often disability is misunderstood, overlooked, or spoken about without including the perspectives of disabled individuals themselves.”

2025-2026 JOIP Intern

Damian McCrickard

“The greatest thing I learned this year came from my queer elders. Those I worked with regarding the Magic City Acceptance Center and the Invisible Histories Project led by example and inspired hope and joy within me when I was feeling most hopeless. They renewed my sense of self by connecting me to my community and my history in ways I never thought possible. . . . Preserving history and preserving community are one and the same. What is community but a collection of stories we tell each other, to share with each other?”

2024-2026 JOIP Intern

Ashley Williams

“I realized I have the potential to be a community leader. I have the ability to reach out to the community and talk with people, learning more about them, making connections, and forming meaningful relationships that I will take with me. I learned that active listening and empathy are great starting points for advocacy. A disability shouldn’t be seen as a burden or hindrance but a new way to look at the world, a new way to adapt.”

2025-2026 JOIP Intern

Bridget McCurrach

“Creating a storytelling campaign from an LGBTQIA+ perspective felt like something we could accomplish correctly and respectfully. This project gave me a unique and rewarding experience of watching my community come together for what they want and need, and voice it to those willing to listen. Not only did I learn what Montevallo’s Queer Community needed for themselves but also what this project meant for me as a queer person engaging in community leadership.”

2024-2026 JOIP Intern