Midwest Academy Summer Internship Opportunity

The Midwest Academy, a 33-year-old national training institute for progressive direct action organizing, will hire community organizing interns for a paid ten week Summer 2007 program. The stipend will be $3000, and will be paid biweekly. The program will run from Monday, June 4 to Friday, August 10.

They are still determining the exact locations of placements. In 2006, interns were in Chicago neighborhoods from 95th and State to Brighton Park, Kenwood-Oakland, and Uptown, as well as in several suburban locations. Preference will be given to applicants from the Chicago area, or in school in the Chicago area. Details about locations will be posted as soon as available.

Interns will receive a week of training similar to the Midwest Academy five-day training using the organizing model developed in the Midwest Academy's book Organizing for Social Change. Students will learn how organizers choose issues, develop strategy, assess their own organizational power and that of their target/opponents, recruit constituents, and move into action. (Costs for the training, including room/board, are covered).

During the nine weeks in the field, interns will conduct community outreach and organize one or more public meetings. Interns will receive day-to-day supervision from their placement organizations, and ongoing training and mentoring from the Midwest Academy. For interns who are interested in pursuing a job in community organizing, we will provide job search assistance at the end of the internship or upon college graduation.

They are looking for young people who are ready to work hard and take on new challenges and responsibilities, who have a passion for social justice, and who want to learn solid skills in the field of organizing. They are particularly looking for people who want to explore a career in progressive organizing in Illinois. Fluency in Spanish or other languages relevant to recent immigrants will be a plus for some locations. Use of a car will be required in the suburbs! Mileage will be reimbursed.

To apply: Download and fill out the online application online. Review of applications will begin February 15 and continue until positions are filled. Likely candidates will be interviewed via telephone. Target date to complete hiring is March 31. Questions? Review the website, then email Judy Hertz.