United Church Homes Offers Internships and Opportunities to Young Professionals

By Ashley Bills, Communication Manager. Reprinted with permission from United Church Homes.

An interest in generational diversity and an opportunity to witness the services provided to older adults are some of the factors that piqued the interest of United Church Homes (UCH) intern, Dennis Kyles.

A recent political science graduate of UCC-related Tougaloo (Miss.) College, Kyles decided to pursue his interest in the effects of public policy on affordable housing by getting hands-on experience as a service coordinator.

Kyles is currently serving UCH’s LeFleur Haven community in Jackson, Miss., connecting residents with person-centered services and helping them find the resources they need within their community. He cites many reasons to spend his summer with United Church Homes, but the learning experience was the most valuable to him.

“I desired to witness the daily lives of senior adults and to learn the types of services they need,” Kyles said. “I am passionate about where I place my effort, time and energy. I was looking for an opportunity to engage in the nonprofit service professional environment, and United Church Homes has been the perfect opportunity for me to learn and grow.”

Kyles’ connection to United Church Homes stems from a relationship established between UCH and Tougaloo College, where students gain professional experience in healthcare and other disciplines through the avenues of interning within UCH communities.

“We believe we have a lot to offer young adults learning about our industry,” said the Rev. Kenneth Daniel, UCH president and CEO. “We hope many of them will be inspired to pursue a future with us or others providing care and services to older adults.” Last fall, Daniel received a Presidential Citation for his lifelong work and commitment to senior healthcare and housing services.

UCH currently has eight interns serving in leadership, IT, advancement, finance and housing across 79 communities nationwide.