Summer 2024 NYC Field Organizing Internship

Timing: Full-Time (35-40 hours per week, hybrid), 10-week commitment (June - August). 

Location:  Our office is located at 55 Broadway Street, New York NY 10006. The interns will be reporting to the ERA Campaign Director and ERA Deputy Campaign Director (Field Department).

Eligibility: This position is open to currently enrolled Columbia College students, only, in their freshman, sophomore or junior year.

International students (F1) need to secure US employment authorization. When considering applying for a position, you should connect with your Academic Advisor and ISSO to determine your eligibility and the process. CPT (Curricular Practical Training – ISSO will process within 2-3 weeks) or Pre-Completion OPT (Optional Practical Training – USCIS processing may take 3-5 months). You must either have CPT approval or the OPT EAD approval to begin your internship on the agreed upon start date. Visit the Columbia International Students & Scholars Office employment section to learn more. Students should keep abreast of authorization processing times.

Overview:

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) seeks a thoughtful and detail-oriented individual with strong writing, research, planning and organizational skills. The ideal candidate will be motivated, deadline-driven and adept at balancing and prioritizing a variety of tasks and interested in a career in advocacy, organizing and/or non-profits. The internship will provide experience and skill-development in project management, campaign development and stakeholder engagement across our priority issue areas, projects, and statewide campaigns. This will include opportunities to interact with and learn from other departments and staff in the organization, including participation in Field Projects with the Legal, Policy, Communications and Education Center through the duration of the summer internship.

The NYCLU

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) is one of the nation's leading advocates on behalf of constitutional rights and liberties.  Founded in 1951, as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the NYCLU is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization with more than 140,000 members and supporters, and eight offices statewide. We work in the courts, in the legislatures and on the streets to advocate for racial justice, health equity, Indigenous rights, free speech, freedom of religion, privacy and equality before the law for all New Yorkers. For more information, please visit our website: www.nyclu.org.

The Field Organizing Team

Organizing is one of five fundamental, interconnected approaches that comprise the NYCLU’s work. NYCLU Field Organizers aim to advance civil rights and civil liberties and further the mission and strategic priorities of the NYCLU by 1) Building community and collective power by engaging volunteers, allies, and partners 2) Ensuring that New Yorkers have the information and tools they need to influence government officials, and 3) centering the voices and experiences of directly impacted communities.

The Field Department is an integral component of NYCLU’s interdepartmental campaigns, projects, and initiatives from inception through its implementation. Our team aims to establish and maintain an effective statewide volunteer program with an infrastructure designed to grow and sustain volunteers statewide, providing New Yorkers the tools and resources they need to take action.  A list of NYCLU current campaigns can be found here.

Roles and Responsibilities

NYCLU is seeking a dynamic, steadfast, organizing intern to assist the Field Organizing Department in implementing, establishing, and maintaining an effective statewide volunteer program infrastructure, and developing infrastructure to support our statewide ballot work for the state Equal Rights Amendment.  

Responsibilities may include (but are not limited to): 

• Facilitating weekly or monthly statewide campaign calls with stakeholders and volunteers
• Developing and managing volunteer data and communications
• Assisting with volunteer engagement efforts and activities
• Assisting in implementation of campaign tactics and activities, including tabling, phone banking, text banking, door knocking, and collecting/managing a list of partners, stakeholders, community groups, and organizations needed in order to build strategic partnerships for our state ERA campaign.

There may also be opportunities for the intern to support in creating and distributing educational materials, workshops, trainings, and materials to community partners, allies, and volunteers as needed.

As some of our events have taken place virtually since 2020, experience with Zoom and other virtual meeting platforms is a plus. 

Stipend

Stipends are paid through the Solomon & Seymour Fisher Civil Liberties Fellowship. The stipend for this position is $6,000. The stipend is meant to cover living expenses during the period of the internship, and it is not intended to be used to cover other expenses. 

How to Apply

Submit your resume, cover letter, transcript and 1-2 references to the posting in LionSHARE. 

The NYCLU is proud to be an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and encourages all applicants regardless of race, sex, gender identity, age, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or record of arrest or conviction. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and having a workforce that reflects the population that we serve.