UChicago Hillel and Harris School of Public Policy

The Milgrom Community Service Fellowship awarded to UChicago Hillel and Harris School of Public Policy allowed a cohort of students at the University of Chicago to use their commitment, creativity, and intellect to address issues of education and workforce preparedness in disadvantaged communities. Fellows committed to a summer of service to a nonprofit organization that addresses these issues, while simultaneously participating in an interdisciplinary seminar to build leadership skills and create social change. The goal of this Milgrom Fellowship was threefold:

1. Improving the lives of disadvantaged young adults through education towards job readiness in the legacy of Hymen Milgrom
2. Strengthening non-profit organizations that work directly with affected communities
3. Influencing a cohort of students to make a lifetime commitment to social change work

Fundamentally, the Fellowship focused on bringing the dedication and talents of University of Chicago students to address the challenges in education and employment faced by disadvantaged youth in the Chicago community. Six University students committed 250 hours of service to non-profits working directly with disadvantaged youth with the mission of providing education and preparation for employment as part of this program. The Milgrom Fellows accomplished this commitment through summer placement at non-profits in the areas of education reform or workforce development. These placements were secured through cooperation with Career Advancement, the Pozen Center for Human Rights, and UChicago Hillel. Students received further coaching from the University of Chicago Careers in Public Policy and Service in executing appropriate projects at their placement.

This project succeeded in fostering additional opportunities for cooperation by bringing together interns from other campus institutions that had not previously offered communal learning experiences. The Milgrom Fellows convened throughout the program’s duration with interns from the Institute of Politics, the University Community Service Center, the Pozen Center, and other partners to share their research and internship experiences. These efforts helped students to produce new ideas and solutions across disciplines, and thereby expanded the reach of the Milgrom program beyond the interns directly sponsored by it. In addition to the regular cohort learning sessions and summer engagement programs, the Milgrom Fellows will have to opportunity to collaborate throughout the year with the broader cohort of Pozen Center Fellows.