Virtual Internship Solutions (VISions)

Amy Mosher Berry, CEO & Founder of AMBassadors Community Development (and its newly named division Virtual Internship Solutions "VISions") is a community development professional and social entrepreneur with twenty years of diverse experience in business, government, and the nonprofit sector, including ten years running her own consulting firm and 5 years as an adjunct professor of urban studies and entrepreneurship. Amy is passionate about preparing young people to live their best lives while also contributing to a more sustainable world. She has a Master of Arts in Community Development and Planning from Clark University and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies / Spanish from UVM. Amy enjoys hiking, painting, dancing, traveling, and helping others. She lives in Central Massachusetts with her young daughter who inspires her every day. 

Many college students are graduating without meaningful real-world experience, which leaves them lacking the confidence and connections necessary to step into their greatness. Through our interactive online offerings, VISions addresses this gap by training and connecting college students with socially and environmentally conscious organizations in need of problem-solving, project-based virtual interns.

We elevate humanity by empowering Generation-Zs (“Gen-Zs” born 1997-2010) to live their best lives while also contributing to a more sustainable world. Our model will build a global talent pipeline able to help for-profits, nonprofits, and governments solve our most pressing problems—from climate change to poverty. Standing on the precipice of a likely global depression, we are especially committed to leveraging the underutilized potential of our young leaders to impact the greatest good. 

Specifically, VISions will deliver innovative virtual solutions to help students, schools, and hiring organizations navigate complex 21st Century, COVID-era challenges. 

Does every college student seeking meaningful real-world experience need to be enrolled in Northeastern’s Co-op program? While the question is rhetorical, we love the idea of scaling such models that work so more people (and society overall) can benefit.

Based on recent interviews with college students, the lack of real-world experience is not due simply to a disconnect between colleges and potential employers, but also a lack of career exploration, experiential learning, and entrepreneurial thinking. Many students feel they must fend for themselves—and are doing so without a map or a compass— when transitioning into the workforce. They yearn for more robust career guidance and connections than they usually get from their career centers and academic advisors.

On the other side of the balance, organizations are struggling with intern recruitment, training, and management. While a majority of organizations want to be seen as leaders in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to appeal to customers and talent alike, CSR can become overlooked without someone championing the effort. Since Gen-Zs are known for seeking out employers that share their social and environmental values, they could serve as the initial CSR champion to set up structures to position the organization for long-term success.

VISions is guided by a bold vision in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Engage 100,000 college students to impact 1 million lives by 2030 by providing online solutions addressing the college-to-career gap through training, mentorships, and strategic partnerships.

Our work can be divided into two main categories: Providing students with online work and life readiness training, including project-based learning and 2. Connecting students with socially and environmentally conscious organizations (and supporting our students along the way).

 Our 6 core online programs include the following:

• LISTEN: Your Future’s Calling (90-minute monthly masterclass 4th Fridays starting summer 2020)
• CREATE Your Bright Future (9-hour virtual student assembly 6x per year starting 11/7/20)
• SSSTEP Into Your Future* (90-day internship prep intensive 3x per year starting Feb 2021. SSS=Self-discovery, Sustainability, Specialization)
• SPINternship (90-day supported internship experience 3x per year starting June 2021. SPIN=Sustainable Professional Internship Network)
• LaunchU (9-hour professional development training 3x per year starting May 2021)
• Speak Out & Rise Up (90-minute reflection and integration 3x per year starting Aug 2021)

*In our signature internship prep program, SSSTEP Into Your Future, students add value to organizations in Digital Marketing, Communications & PR, Events & Logistics, Technology, and Funding Strategies. 

VISions serves purpose-driven college students and organizations motivated to ‘do well and do good.’ More specifically, on the student side, we serve sophomores, juniors, and seniors (including part-time students and students on hiatus), recent graduates, and young graduate students seeking meaningful real-world experience to jump-start their careers and make a positive difference in the world. 

Most college students today want to have a successful (earning decent income) and meaningful career (helping people/planet). By training our students in sustainability concepts like the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) they will be ideal ambassadors helping the organizations implement Sustainability/CSR strategies, which will advance the SDGs and elevate humanity globally.

We serve colleges and universities concerned about staying relevant and preventing a wave of mass deferments as we approach a very different-looking 2020-2021 school year. By partnering with VISions on virtual career/internship development, academic institutions would be able to look like a hero while directing precious resources to other pressing priorities.

Organizations, whether for-profit, nonprofit, or government entities, will feel a sense of relief when they can partner with VISions to access work-ready interns for key projects and get their virtual internship and CSR programs up and running.

VISions builds CSR awareness and action through interactive online training designed to empower motivated, anxious college students (who will then support overstretched organizations)— all to elevate the greater good!

We strive to ‘practice what we preach’ by placing college students in top leadership roles supported by experienced VISions mentors. We have chosen to be a for-profit social enterprise mainly to demonstrate to young people that purpose and profit can go hand in hand.

We raise awareness about the SDGs by leveraging existing resources (purpose-driven college students and organizations) to advance sustainability goals already prioritized by our partner organizations.

After 5 years of hearing my college students bemoan their lack of meaningful real-world experience (and nearly 20 years hearing from organizations who “would love trained interns”), in true social entrepreneurial style, I decided to leave teaching and create a solution.

Additionally fueled by my frustration that my many ‘intrapreneurial’ efforts (i.e. giving credit for community-based projects, bringing in industry guest speakers, organizing field trips, and even designing/running new courses) never resulted in the kind of scalable impact I see myself having, I officially launched my company in April of 2019.

Who would have known a year later we would be faced with a global pandemic that would reveal a glaring need for high-value online career content and virtual experiences serving students, schools, and organizations alike?

Social justice and environmental activism have been driving forces in my life for as long as I can remember.

When I was 7, a substitute teacher showed our Sunday School class a video of emaciated Jewish people lined up to be burned during the Holocaust. Despite years of feeling petrified that I too could be killed, I committed to deeply loving and serving others.

At 10, I was devastated by the sight of innocent oil-slicked images of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on TV, and I decided to dedicate my life to protecting the environment.  

When I was 15, we abruptly moved to rural Texas where I was confronted with blatant racism, sexism, and a palpable discrimination against non-Baptists. I grew fascinated by human diversity and traveling to expand my cultural horizons.

By the time I got to college at 18, I had concluded that it was impossible to do well financially and do good work in the world. Years later, as a professor, I noticed this self-destructive belief persisted in my students.

Especially now that I am a mother, I am crystal clear that I am here to build bright futures through leadership and sustainability—valuing people, planet, and profit.

This Changemakers Playground article (August 2018) featuring me and my work provides a strong case outlining my creative problem solving capacity.

I am a versatile, entrepreneurial-minded community development professional who brings 20 years of experience in business, government, and the nonprofit sector,  including 10 years running my own consulting firm and 5 years as an adjunct professor of urban studies and entrepreneurship. 

Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce 'StartUp Worcester' fellow (2019-2020) 

TV Show Producer and Host (2013-2020)

• What’s Hot TV Show + Podcast spotlighting sustainable solutions (Jan 2019 – Jan 2020)
• Exposure With Mosher spotlighting over 250 entrepreneurs on 100 episodes (2013-2018)

Adjunct Professor of Urban Studies and Entrepreneurship (2014-2019)

• Taught >650 college students between 1 public and 1 private university

Self-Employed Workforce Development Consultant (2006-2016)

• Served  11 major nonprofit and small business clients (impacting over 800 people) in areas such as program design/implementation,  facilitation/training, stakeholder outreach and coordination, marketing/PR, entrepreneurship training, and sustainability solutions

Local Government Career Center Employee (2009-2014)

• Ran DOL-funded STEM program and designed/implemented recession-time pilot programs in Entrepreneurship, Green Jobs, Industry-Insights, Volunteer Connections serving >3,000 jobseekers and 300 employers

People have described me as chameleon-like in that I adapt easily in social settings-- from the urban block parties to corporate board rooms. I used to joke, as an "entrepreneur in a government cubicle," that my middle name was "pilot." I'd regularly reassure my career center colleagues that if anything were to go wrong with XYZ new program, I would take the heat.

I'm ready to rock!

One month after I launched my company my husband and I separated. The proverbial last straw occurred the day of our daughter’s second birthday party, and I became a single mother overnight. Realizing my start-up income was insufficient, I landed a high-paying job as I continued to build my venture. I even qualified for a mortgage to move on. Then COVID hit and… BAM! I found myself furloughed—without childcare or help from anyone—battling persistent fears of what would happen to my daughter if I got sick.

Concerned for me, a friend encouraged me to apply for an Executive Director opening at a nonprofit I adore. After 3 progressively thrilling interviews and nearly a month-long wait, I was turned down. Before she hung up, the woman said with immense love, “Amy, you are going to be SUCH a great asset to that next organization!” Two minutes later, bewildered, I nearly collapsed to the kitchen floor when it hit me…  “YES! I will be an AMAZING asset! Running my own organization!”

I was ALL IN. I threw myself into 40 online trainings in 4 weeks—devouring entrepreneurial content and digital skills like my life depended on it. It did. Let’s Go.

It was the height of the last recession, and I was in charge of developing new programs to help people who had been deemed “long-term unemployed” in Central Massachusetts. As a local government employee, I had to walk a fine line between innovation and convention.

Having already led a DOL-recognized STEMployment program and designed/launched programs in entrepreneurship, green jobs, and volunteer connections, I was looking to empower people in a new and unique way. I decided to invent a TV show spotlighting work-ready jobseekers and early-stage entrepreneurs. As if putting career center customers on TV wasn’t enough excitement, the name of the show, Exposure With Mosher, certainly got people talking (especially in government).

After 30 episodes, I left government to teach college, but forged ahead as a volunteer producer with the aim of “spotlighting entrepreneurs, innovators, and good news.”  After 5 years, 250 guests, and 100 episodes, I declared the show complete in May of 2018.

Thanks to my amazing team of volunteers, we had a dual-purpose party to celebrate our past guests and supporters and also to launch my new venture, What’s Hot TV Show + Podcast featuring ecopreneurs who have sustainable solutions to share with the world.

What makes us innovative is the fact that we are co-creating our core offerings with direct representatives of our target market. We have a team of five undergraduate student interns in director roles (Finance & Strategy, Marketing & Business Development, Operations & HR, Programs & Student Success, Technology & Innovation) representing 4 countries/languages (and 3 colleges) who are learning and contributing so much!

In their own words:

“I’m super interested in impact investing! This internship has allowed me to see the inner workings of a start-up, especially what it takes to sustain the individuals within the sustainability movement… so we don’t burn out!”

“This is my first time doing a remote job or internship. I feel more confident and I’m learning so much that will help me launch my own start-up!”

“As I work on tech projects for ACD/VISions, I realize this is what I love doing. Practice makes perfect!”

We understand the frustrations and aspirations of today’s college students. They do not simply want to be connected to any organization; they want to be prepared adequately and engaged in meaningful work—both for themselves and for the organizations they are serving. 

Another unique aspect is that organizations in our network can be for-profit, nonprofit, or government, but must be actively pursuing at least one of the SDGs. Our commitment to building organizational capacity will result in exponential impact.

VISions takes a collaborative (vs. adversarial) approach to serving interrelated stakeholders. 

Note: At this time, our Theory of Change is skewed toward the college students taking VISions online programs.

1

LISTEN: Your Future’s Calling!

90-Minute Monthly Masterclass

Rotating theme-based trainings with special guests related to 6 Keys to Success: Lead; Innovate; Serve; Travel; Employ; Network

Global connections, rapport building, new perspectives, career goals and openings for action

2

CREATE Your Bright Future

9-Hr Virtual Student Assembly

Self-discovery exercises, groups breakout sessions, life visioning, goal setting. career road mapping

Clarity, Vision, Sense of Hope and Community

3

SSSTEP Into Your Future

90-Day Internship Prep Intensive

Weekly online courses

Mo 1. Self-Discovery (including work and life readiness)

Mo 2. Sustainability (individual, Organizational, Societal, and Global)

Mo 3. Specialization (Choose Digital Marketing, Communications & PR, Events & Logistics, Tech, Funding Strategy)

Sense of peace and purpose

Self-worth

Self-esteem

Social Capital

4

SPINternship

90-Day Independent Internship + Support

Sustainable Professional Internship Network (SPIN) Internship with VISions partner organization, including VISions support

Confidence

Motivation

Growth

Learning by doing

5

LaunchU

9-Hr professional development seminar

Day-long dive into resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn, networking, interviewing, workplace communication, etc. How to leverage your internship experience

Enhanced confidence to put yourself out there in the world and get the career results you deserve. Networking opportunities and doors opening!

6

Speak Out + Rise Up!

90-Min Reflection and Integration Share

Process your VISions program experience and celebrate your progress

Joy

Accomplishment

Direction

Given that this is an early stage startup, the last 2 years have been focused on fully understanding the underlying issues and designing and validating the concept. That process involved unveiling; the concerns and anxiety of hundreds of students, the shortcomings of academia to deliver adequate hands on experience and the willingness of over 25 local companies to consider alternate approaches to the evaluation and selection of prospects to add value to the future of their businesses. 

Although Virtual Internship Solutions is not serving them as clients today, the core of this initiative IS serving their interests. The target is to execute a proven prototype with 50 students locally in the first year, expanding to several hundred in the US from full marketing and program development in year 2 and thousands globally by year 5.    

Year

Barrier

Ways to mitigate or eliminate

1

Fundraising

This is a unique solution to a multi-pronged urgent and ongoing dilemma. A succinct, compelling pitch deck is underway. This meets an important need existing in the marketplace today.

1

Competition

This unique virtual training will maximize student preparation, virtual project selection & design. It delivers more successful, impactful careers and hiring prospects that add more value with less risk, cost & turnover.

1

Attracting companies

Engage top level business supporters as recruiters, deliver pilot program results and use testimonials and impact to attract others.

1

Attract students

Partner with educational institutions who have a captive audience of students.

Our business model is still developing. Among other possibilities, we are looking into a potential hybrid of Service Subsidization and Organizational Support depending on several factors, including agreements with academic institutions, business sponsors, and other partners. 

Our service delivery model is relatively cut and dry, although still developing.

Depending on the size of the organization, they often lack the infrastructure to support a functional internship program. Businesses can struggle to find and train the right talent. They may not identify virtual priority projects and related job descriptions and management systems necessary to support them.

We provide college students online work and life readiness programs (pre-internship preparation), support, and connections with organizations in need of interns. We will be supporting our interns with online group coaching (Zoom) throughout their independent internship. There will be additional professional development and leadership programs available upon completion of their internship.

We engage socially and environmentally conscious organizations in need of trained, problem-solving interns (who bring a Corporate Social Responsibility lens) to help with high-priority, short-term virtual projects, especially those related to Digital Marketing, Communications & PR, Events & Logistics, Technology, and Funding Strategies. 

We partner with academic institutions in a way that positions the schools as thought-leaders proactively tackling the complex college-to-career challenges of today's world. 

We are looking into transitioning from a Limited Liability Company (LLC) to a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) by March 2021, and then probably a B-Corporation.

We anticipate a bulk of our revenue coming from individual students, partner fees from organizations, and contracts/sponsorships with academic institutions wanting VISions programming to be available to their students. We believe we will be available to attract advertising dollars, sponsorships, private donors (especially those wanting to support our forthcoming scholarship fund), and prize funding as we begin to expand and prove VISions' widespread impact. 

We foresee strategic public-private partnerships (i.e leveraging workforce development funding) and also aligning with like-minded nonprofits to bring in grant-based revenue when appropriate. We would also like to see a strong VISions alumni network contributing to the scholarship fund and investing in future innovative offerings.

We are currently outlining a three phased approach to financial sustainability (as we wrap up Phase I):

Phase I   –  2018-2020 

• Concept design validation (boot-strapped)

Phase II  – 2020-2021

• Secure funding for business prototype
• Build long term strategic plan 
• Secure initial partnerships
• Build, execute and prove the prototype

Phase III 

• Ramp up program
• Expand programming, infrastructure, geography, revenue streams (i.e. subscription, sponsorships, advertising, partnerships, etc.)

We have not yet generated revenue, although we are approaching that time! As previously mentioned, our first phase has been entirely bootstrapped by the founder. 

While we are still working out the numbers, we would like to bring in at least $250,000 in grant/prize funding to support Phase II (funding and building the business prototype through 2021).

My Higher Power has all but knocked me over the head the last 12 months, persistently reminding me I am here for reasons WAY beyond my own survival. I have finally started to take notice of my own strength and resilience as I overcome one massive challenge after the next. I am now convinced that I am being perfectly tested and conditioned to fulfill on my profound destiny as a global hero (really, a mere vessel) here to elevate humanity.

I am a grassroots, “in the trenches” community builder. I am the person out-front raising awareness, educating, and inspiring people. On the other hand, I tend to fall short on the back-end systems (i.e. technology, operations, and financials) necessary to scale for massive impact. I see The Elevate Prize being able to help me very much in these areas.

I have also spent many years mentoring others with relatively few mentors myself. As is the world, I too am at a tipping point of a new reality. In short, I am applying for The Elevate Program because it feels like the right opportunity at the right moment. It showed up (LinkedIn post) within a week of me deciding I am 100% dedicated to ACD/VISions—no other side jobs or distractions. I would be so grateful to have access to the technical (and emotional) support that The Elevate Prize would offer. I am confident, with the right structures, guidance, and team, that I could impact thousands, perhaps millions of people!

My team and I are in talks with some major academic institutions, as well as many interested organizations, but we are not ready to disclose this information at this time.