Summer 2023 Rights and Justice Internship | Center for American Progress

Summer 2023 Rights and Justice Internship

Department: Rights and Justice
Minimum compensation: $16.10 per hour
Work site: Hybrid (on-site two days per week, Washington, D.C., office)

Summary

American Progress has two openings for summer interns in the Rights and Justice department. American Progress is a leader in addressing issues of criminal justice reform, disability justice, gun violence prevention, immigration policy, LGBTQI+ policy, and racial equity and justice by driving research, messaging, and policy to defend and advance progressive policies that protect our rights.

Interns working with the Rights and Justice department will have the opportunity to complete substantive research, policy, and communications work across the department’s policy focus areas. Within this framework, interns will develop skills and experience to contribute effectively to the national conversation. This role will be driven by American Progress’ mission to improve the lives of all Americans, through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong leadership and concerted action, with the aim of not only changing the conversation, but changing the country. The Rights and Justice interns will be part of a dynamic department that supports work across the organization’s five crosscutting priorities:

• Building an economy for all
• Restoring social trust in democracy
• Advancing racial equity and justice
• Tackling climate change and environmental injustice
• Strengthening health
• The Rights and Justice interns will work closely with the following teams: Criminal Justice Reform, Disability Justice Initiative, Gun Violence Prevention, Immigration Policy, LGBTQI+ Policy, and Racial Equity and Justice.

Criminal Justice Reform: The Criminal Justice Reform team is dedicated to developing policies that 1) shrink the footprint of the criminal justice system while improving public health and safety; 2) promote equity and accountability within the justice system; and 3) provide opportunities for people directly affected by a criminal conviction.

Disability Justice Initiative: The Disability Justice Initiative focuses on developing disability policy goals and finding solutions to promote the application of principles of disability justice throughout American Progress’ work. The work is both proactive and defensive and includes seeking opportunities to advance good policy, making progressive gains where possible, and attempting to prevent rollbacks of positive policies when necessary.

Gun Violence Prevention: More than 100 people die from gun violence in the United States each day, and hundreds more are injured. American Progress’ Gun Violence Prevention team advocates for commonsense gun violence prevention policies to reduce the number of deaths and nonfatal firearm injuries through research and advocacy efforts.

Immigration Policy: The Immigration Policy team provides leadership on research, advocacy, policy, and communications in all aspects of immigration and refugee policy in the United States. The team crafts and supports positive immigration policies and refutes negative and biased anti-immigrant sentiment and policy. The Immigration Policy team works closely with a broad coalition of advocacy organizations as well as congressional and government offices to promote real solutions to the nation’s immigration challenges.

LGBTQI+ Policy: The LGBTQI+ team works to ensure that LGBTQI+ people achieve full legal and social equality, particularly by highlighting the ways in which these communities are a part of and served by the broader progressive policy agenda.

Racial Equity and Justice: The Racial Equity and Justice team develops, communicates, and implements policy ideas that provide a new way forward for a range of racial equity challenges in an increasingly diverse America.

All interns will contribute to the core work of the Rights and Justice department, completing day-to-day assignments in addition to more extensive research projects. Interns will work closely with one or more staff members who will help foster knowledge of policy areas, government operations, and confidence working in a fast-paced office setting. Whenever possible, interns are encouraged to write on a subject of their choice, either as a contributor to a larger piece or as the individual author of a column for the website.

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to memos, blog posts, columns, event summaries, and reports.
• Fact check departmental research products.
• Monitor and summarize relevant congressional activities such as hearings.
• Assist with identifying opportunities to affect agency actions by monitoring the Federal Register.
• Carry out web-based research and compile news clips on issue areas.
• Compile and manipulate data in Microsoft Excel.
• Draft rapid-response communications.
• Update fact sheets, talking points, and documents on topics of current pertinence.
• Track and develop content for social media and enhance the department’s social media presence.
• Conduct targeted research and reporting on policy meetings, seminars, hearings, and lectures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements and qualifications:

• Current pursuance of an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree or a recent graduate.
• Excellent research, writing, and editing skills.
• Interest in public policy, advocacy, and communications.
• Familiarity with different types of traditional and social media.
• Ability to work well under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
• Self-starter who takes initiative and seeks direction as needed.
• Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
• Ability to diagnose problems and identify creative solutions.
• Commitment to American Progress’ mission and goals.

To apply:

Applicants must submit a résumé, cover letter, and writing sample. The cover letter should describe what aspects of the Rights and Justice department’s work interest the applicant the most and what aspects of policy the applicant would most like to learn about through an internship with American Progress.

American Progress interns are paid at the Washington, D.C., minimum wage rate of $16.10 per hour and receive paid time off for federal holidays.

Interns are expected to be available to work from and commute to American Progress’ Washington, D.C., office at least two days per week.

We will continue to monitor COVID-19 and the levels of community spread and adjust plans as needed for in-office work. Any changes to our current hybrid office work policy will be communicated at the time of hire. Updates will be posted on American Progress’ Jobs page.