Status: Part-time position
Location:
Deadline Date:
Date Available:
Job Summary: Since 2001 the Democracy Matters Institute, a non-partisan, non-profit national organization, has offered paid internships to undergraduates on seventy or more campuses each year. DM interns work on their own campus during the academic year to educate and involve students and faculty in deepening democracy. Democracy Matters students organize forums, discussion groups, debates, and movie series. They engage in voter registration drives, petition campaigns and other projects to emphasize the importance of everyone’s voice being heard in a democracy. The role of private money in election campaigns and the alternative of public financing for campaigns is an important focus.
Democracy Matters' field staff trains and mentors students in grassroots organizing. We also provide materials, offer presentations from our extensive Speaker’s Bureau, and give on-going support and guidance to student organizers. DM students attend a yearly National Student Summit where they meet experts in the field of pro-democracy reform. There they share best practices and network with students from other campuses.
Qualifications:
Duties: Learn the skills of political organizing for social change…Create a Democracy Matters chapter on campus…Build coalitions of student activists on campus...Organize teach-ins on money in politics...Run workshops in local high schools...Receive training and year-round mentoring from experienced DM staff…Coordinate with other colleges in sponsoring reform legislation...Lobby and educate elected officials about campaign finance reform...Run petition drives and door-to-door canvasses to educate students on the issue of money in politics.
To Apply:
Applicants should have a commitment to social change and some organizing experience. No expertise in campaign finance reform is required. Forward your resume and a cover letter to joanm@democracymatters.org or apply online.