Sports & Mental Health Internship with Retired Pro Athletes

# Sports and Mental Health Internship

**Connecting Purpose-Driven Professional Athletes to Purpose-Driven Mentees**

**Voice Up**

*We Connect People to Purpose*

## Program Context

Voice Up is pleased to announce a national partnership supporting retired professional athletes from one of the world's leading athletic brands. This strategic collaboration amplifies our mission of connecting purpose-driven retired professional athletes with purpose-driven mentees, creating authentic relationships that transform both athletic careers and community impact through mental health advocacy and purpose discovery.

This partnership specifically focuses on supporting retired athletes from elite professional backgrounds as they transition from competitive sports to meaningful community leadership roles.

## Position Overview

Join Voice Up's Sports and Mental Health Initiative connecting aspiring leaders in high school, college, and graduate school with retired professional athletes to explore and develop positive social impact projects that connect people to purpose. This internship creates meaningful partnerships between emerging leaders at critical educational stages and former elite athletes who competed at the highest levels, fostering collaborative development of community-focused initiatives that address mental health challenges while helping both participants discover their authentic calling through structured, meaningful conversations.

## Mission

Create transformative partnerships between aspiring leaders (high school through graduate school) and retired professional athletes to collaboratively design, develop, and implement positive social impact projects that connect communities to purpose while addressing mental health challenges in authentic, sustainable ways.

## Key Responsibilities

- Collaborate with retired professional athletes to design positive social impact projects that connect communities to purpose

- Support the development of mentorship connections between aspiring leaders and retired athletes

- Assist in facilitating collaborative project planning sessions between student participants and athlete mentors

- Help document the development and outcomes of social impact initiatives

- Research and compile resources for community-focused projects addressing mental health and purpose discovery

- Support content creation showcasing successful collaborations between students and retired athletes

- Assist in organizing workshops where students and athletes jointly develop community impact strategies

- Help maintain networks connecting aspiring leaders across high school, college, and graduate school levels with retired athlete mentors

## Learning Objectives

- Master collaborative project development with retired professional athletes

- Understand how to design social impact initiatives that connect people to purpose

- Develop skills in facilitating meaningful partnerships between diverse age groups and backgrounds

- Learn evidence-based approaches to community engagement and social impact measurement

- Build expertise in supporting aspiring leaders at different educational stages

- Understand the unique perspectives retired elite athletes bring to social impact work

- Gain experience in coordinating multi-generational teams focused on positive community change

## Ideal Candidate

- Passion for developing positive social impact projects that connect communities to purpose

- Interest in collaborative leadership and authentic connection across generational lines

- Understanding of or experience with mentorship relationships and community engagement

- Strong communication skills and empathy for diverse experiences and educational backgrounds

- Ability to work collaboratively with both aspiring leaders and retired professional athletes

- Commitment to Voice Up's core principles: Collaboration, Humility, Precision, Patience, and Empathy

- Current enrollment in high school, college, or graduate school, or recent graduate interested in supporting peers

## Three Ways to Pursue This Internship

### **1. Volunteer Track (5-10 hours/week)**

Contribute your passion for sports and mental health on a flexible schedule while gaining valuable experience in purpose-driven mentorship and building your professional network in sports psychology and community advocacy.

### **2. Academic Credit Track (Hours based on university requirements)**

Earn academic credit through your university's internship program while developing practical skills in sports mental health advocacy and mentorship facilitation - we'll work with your institution to meet specific course requirements.

### **3. Stipend Track (10-15 hours/week, funding dependent)**

Receive monthly compensation while gaining intensive experience in sports mental health program development - available based on organizational funding and demonstrated commitment to connecting athletes with purpose-driven mentees. **Note: $1,000 stipend for 8-week program completion is subject to funding availability.**

## Program Benefits

- Mentorship from Voice Up's global leadership team including mental health professionals

- Direct access to professional athletes committed to purpose-driven impact

- Experience with cutting-edge mental health assessment tools validated across 480+ participants

- Opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking partnership with world-leading athletic brand

- Access to Voice Up's global network spanning 3,774 cities across 134 countries

- Training in trauma-informed care and safe space facilitation

- Portfolio development through real-world mental health advocacy projects

- **Potential $1,000 stipend for 8-week program completion (subject to funding availability)**

- **Gateway to expanded career opportunities in professional athletics support**

## Career Pathway Opportunities

This internship serves as a launching pad for numerous career opportunities in supporting athletes within professional athletics:

### **Sports Psychology and Mental Health**

- Sport psychologist roles with professional teams and leagues

- Mental health coordinator positions in athletic organizations

- Private practice specializing in athlete mental health and performance

- Research positions in sports psychology and athlete wellbeing

### **Athlete Development and Support Services**

- Player development specialist roles with professional franchises

- Athlete transition and career counseling positions

- Life skills coordinator for professional sports organizations

- Mentorship program director roles within athletic associations

### **Organizational Leadership in Sports**

- Front office positions with professional teams and leagues

- Athletic department roles at collegiate and professional levels

- Sports nonprofit leadership focusing on athlete welfare

- Community outreach and engagement roles in professional athletics

### **Consulting and Entrepreneurship**

- Independent consulting for athlete mental health and development

- Program design for athlete support initiatives

- Speaking and training opportunities within the sports industry

- Social enterprise development focused on athlete wellbeing

### **Partnership and Network Development**

- Business development roles connecting athletes with purpose-driven opportunities

- Partnership coordination between sports organizations and mental health providers

- Brand partnership management for athlete advocacy initiatives

- Grant writing and fundraising for athlete support programs

## Application Requirements

Submit your application including:

1. Resume/CV highlighting any sports, mental health, or mentorship experience

2. Brief personal statement (500 words max) explaining your passion for connecting athletes with purpose-driven mentees and your career aspirations in professional athletics support

3. Your preference among the three participation options (volunteer, academic credit, or stipend)

4. Your availability over the next 3-6 months

5. One creative idea for how you might support athlete-mentee connections

## Compensation and Investment Structure

- **Potential $1,000 stipend upon successful completion of 8-week program (subject to funding availability)**

- Stipend represents investment in your professional development and recognition of program value

- Performance during internship may lead to additional opportunities within Voice Up network

- Strong completion creates pathways to advanced roles in athlete support and sports mental health

## Long-term Impact and Network Access

The potential $1,000 stipend is designed as a foundation investment that opens doors to significantly greater opportunities. Successful interns gain:

- Lifetime access to Voice Up's expanding professional network

- Direct connections to former elite athletes and sports industry professionals

- Recommendations and referrals for career advancement opportunities

- Ongoing mentorship relationships beyond program completion

- Priority consideration for paid positions within Voice Up and partner organizations

## Program Structure

- 100% remote with flexible scheduling options

- Weekly virtual team meetings with Voice Up sports and mental health team

- Bi-weekly check-ins with assigned mentor from Voice Up leadership

- Project-based work allowing you to showcase your unique talents and interests

- Opportunity to collaborate with athletes and mentees from Voice Up's global network

- Access to Voice Up's comprehensive mental health resources and assessment tools

## Timeline

- Applications reviewed on rolling basis

- Program begins immediately with flexible start dates

- Minimum 8-week commitment with possibility for extension

- Opportunity for long-term engagement based on partnership development

This internship directly supports Voice Up's mission of creating authentic connections that transform lives while contributing to our groundbreaking work in sports mental health advocacy. Join us in revolutionizing how professional athletes discover purpose beyond their sport while providing meaningful mentorship to the next generation of purpose-driven leaders.

**Apply today to be part of this transformative initiative connecting athletic excellence with authentic purpose discovery.**