Spring Tenant Organizer Intern - KCCAP@CU

Job Description:

This internship is offered through the Kenneth Cole Community Action Program @ Columbia University. This is a CCE Sponsored Internship Program in which interns participate in professional development programming alongside their internship. This includes attending a Pre-program training, Mid-semester dinner, and end-of-program Reflection session as well as completion of a reflection project. These elements will support success in the internship experience itself, help students learn more about the related industry or type of work, as well as help students prepare for and plan next steps after the experience. Positions in this program offer a $1,000 stipend for the spring semester internship. To learn more about the Kenneth Cole Community Action Program @ Columbia University, go to https://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/programs/kenneth-cole-community-action-program-columbia-university

The Goddard Riverside Law Project provides free legal representation and organizing support to low-income individuals, families, and groups of tenants in the west side of Manhattan to preserve affordable housing and improve living conditions. The Law Project staff consists of attorneys and tenant organizers who work together with individual tenants as well as groups of tenants, educate tenants about their rights, and work in coalition with other community groups on citywide campaigns. The Law Project assists tenants living in single room occupancy (SRO) as well as apartment buildings with solving a wide array of housing-related problems, including eviction, harassment, rent overcharge, illegal lockouts, lack of heat and hot water, and other poor building conditions.

Organizer interns participate fully in all aspects of this work, handling broad scale organizing and negotiation matters, and participating in policy and litigation matters, as appropriate. Organizer interns work under the supervision of Tenant Organizers. Responsibilities include:

•           Assist in organizing efforts of SRO and apartment tenants and groups throughout the west side of Manhattan and in Harlem; evaluate entitlements and rental problems of SRO and apartment tenants; negotiate with landlords; mobilize tenants for demonstrations, rallies and forums; and advocate before social or governmental agencies on behalf of specific tenants or on behalf of the low-income tenant population in general.

•           Handle a number of individual tenant cases and work with tenants on a one-on-one basis (or building-wide as necessary) to find empowering solutions for their housing problems. This may require some research and analysis of laws and rights of tenants.

•           Help organize building meetings, do outreach to tenants building-wide, and assist in filing applications with the necessary governmental regulatory agencies that oversee housing laws.

•           Assist with administrative and office tasks as necessary.

Applicants should have strong writing and interpersonal skills and a demonstrated commitment to social justice work. Foreign language skills, especially in Spanish, Mandarin or Korean, are a plus.

Application Instructions:

This position is part of the Kenneth Cole Community Action Program @ Columbia University. All 2018 spring internships will be posted on LionSHARE during the Fall 2017 semester on a rolling basis beginning in late September. (Search for the label "KCCAP@CU" under the “Labels” field in LionShare to view all program positions.) You may apply to up to three (3) positions of interest in the Kenneth Cole Community Action Program @ Columbia University. You must be in good academic and judicial standing with Columbia University to be eligible to participate in the program.

There are at least two required components to all Kenneth Cole Community Action Program @ Columbia University position applications and potentially more as requested by each employer. The following documents must be submitted through LionSHARE for each position of interest:

1. Resume
2. Transcript (This is your Fall 2017 course schedule which you should access by logging onto Student Services Online, clicking on “My Schedule” and copying and pasting your Fall 2017 course schedule into a Microsoft Word Document. The schedule should show your full name, your school, your Fall 2017 Courses, and your enrollment status.)
3. Cover Letter (if required - click Apply Now and check for required documents)
4. Other materials (ex: Writing Sample, etc. if required - click Apply Now and check for required documents)

Kenneth Cole Community Action Program @ Columbia University Internships run from January 22^nd – April 13^th. Submit your completed applications via LionSHARE by Sunday, October 29, 2017.