For years, the Midwest Academy has trained future generations of Community Organizers through our summer internship program. Students are trained in the Midwest Academy’s signature 5-day Organizing for Social Change training before being placed with community organizations and to spend the summer working on an organizing campaign.
This summer, we are expanding the training portion of the program in order to help recent graduates prepare for careers in Community Organizing. We hear from students everyday who think they may want to join the field but are unsure of where to start. In order to help aspiring Organizers get out there, we’re expanding our summer student training to include:
Logistics:
5-Day Organizing for Social Change + Community Organizing Career Track Training
June 4th – 8th, 2012
@ the Cenacle Retreat House
513 W Fullerton Parkway
Chicago, IL 60614
Sessions run from 9 am – 8 pm, Monday – Thursday and 9 am – 3 pm on Friday
Who should apply?
The application deadline is May 25th, but spots are limited, so we encourage you to apply ASAP. To apply, click here:
Costs:
We have two options; one for those who would like to stay at the retreat center and one for commuters:
Need assistance with the fee? Consider setting up a page on GoFundMe (http://www.gofundme.com/) to help raise funds for the training fee.
Internships are an excellent way to gain hands-on experience in your field of study. Join the Midwest Academy team and learn about community organizing, issue campaign planning, and building power. You'll join a team with years of experience in organizing and have the opportunity to network with a variety of progressive organizations.
We are currently accepting applications for the following interns:
Are you an online guru? Put those skills to work and help us develop a robust and engaged online community to connect on and discuss current issues in organizing through our online and social media presence.
The Social Media intern will be responsible for making an assessment of our current online activities and creating a strategic plan for recruitment and improvement. The Social Media Intern will work with Midwest Academy staff to research and implement various online visibility and outreach strategies. This will include conducting research into current best pratices, maintaining and expanding our presence on Facebook and LinkedIn, investigating other social networking websites, including Google+, and assisting with developing and maintaining participation in a new Midwest Academy blog.
The intern will be responsible for setting online recruitment goals, working to increase membership and participation on social networking sites, and tracking and evaluating various recruitment techniques. The intern will submit a written report about his or her work, as well recommendations for next steps at the completion of the internship.
Highlights:
Required Experience:
To apply please submit a cover letter and resume (including contact information for at least two references) to intern@midwestacademy.com with the subject Social Media Internship in the subject.
The Midwest Academy holds a special event each year to raise money and awareness for our training programs and work. The event honors those doing outstanding work in the field of community organizing and raises vital funds for our training and internship programs.
The Special Event & Fundraising Intern will work with our staff and a DC-based consultant to plan and organize our annual Academy Awards event, which takes place in Washington, DC in December. This position will include working with staff to organize the venue, handle invitations, and track responses. Additionally, the intern will coordinate the video tributes to the honorees, which typically include submissions from elected officials and organization heads. Last year’s video included interviews with President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, and Executive Directors from national organizations.
Highlights:
Required Experience:
Please submit a cover letter and resume (including contact information for at least two references) to intern@midwestacademy.com
For more information about either the Social Media or Fundraising Internship, please email kate@midwestacademy.com or call 312.427.2304, x307.
Our Summer 2012 Program is now full, but please check back later this year for details on the Summer 2013 Program!
Want to have the time of your life this summer?
Want to make a real difference?
Want to build life-long relationships with young progressives?
Then apply for the Midwest Academy Organizing Summer Internship!
About the program: The Midwest Academy Organizing Internship is an intense and exciting 10-week organizing internship that places interns with community organizations in Chicago to organize around a number of progressive issues and causes.
More about the Academy and the Internship Program: The summer internship program starts with students going through the Academy’s 5 Day Organizing for Social Change training. During the training students learn about and practice building power, developing winning strategies for campaigns, choosing issues, doing one on ones and recruiting leaders, working with media and organizing public meetings to hold public officials accountable.
Following training, interns will be placed with community organizations in Chicago neighborhoods from 95th and State to Brighton Park, Kenwood-Oakland, and Uptown, as well as in several suburban locations and with statewide organizations. Preference will be given to applicants from the Chicago area, or in school in the Chicago area (this may be waived for the for-credit and college-funded internships).
Interns will receive day-to-day supervision from their placement organizations, and ongoing training and mentoring from Midwest Academy staff. Interns will also journal and meet weekly for reflection. 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 at college graduation. (For-credit interns will receive additional supervision from one of our staff members who have an MA if needed for credit.)
Who We’re looking for: We are looking for young people with progressive values who want to spend the summer making change happen! We want interns 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. We are also really interested in people who want to explore a career in progressive organizing. 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 some, but not all, placements.
To Apply: Fill out the Application for Midwest Academy Summer Internship and email completed applications to interns@midwestacademy.com. Review of applications will continue until positions are filled, at which time we will post here. Likely candidates will be interviewed via telephone.
For more information: Contact Keron Blair, keron@midwestacaemy.com, (312) 427-2304 ext 306
Excerpts from journals of past interns.
The Midwest Academy advances movements for progressive social change by teaching strategic, rigorous, results-oriented approach to social action and organization building. The Academy provides training (introductory and advanced) and consulting, equipping organizers, leaders, and their organizations to think and act strategically to win justice for all.
