PUBLIC POLICY INTERNSHIPS

For the listings below, more detailed information is available in the Internship Office.

** Newest Opportunities Listed First**

City of Hartford Mayor's Office (SPRING, SUMMER, FALL). The Mayor's Office is looking for interns to work in Constituent Services and the Communications Office. They are interested in public policy students, students that have experience with editing and creating websites or video/TV (for the community access channel), English majors and others that may be interested in pursuing careers in public service. Contact: Ms. Sarah Barr, Director of Communications, 550 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Hartford, CT 06103, 860-522-4888, x6217, barrs001@hartford.gov. (1/07)

Poverty & Race Research Action Council / The Sheff Movement (SPRING). The Sheff Movement is a community based coalition that is working to expand and strengthen the range of quality, integrated education programs available to Hartford families under the Sheff v. O'Neill school desegregation court decree. These programs include the "Project Choice" program, which places Hartford children in suburban schools, and a system of 15-20 Hartford based magnet schools that are open to children throughout the Hartford region. An intern is needed to assist with expanding support for the Project Choice program in the Hartford suburbs. Tasks will include helping to organize at least two suburban gatherings, identifying suburban institutions and supporters; archival research at Storrs, Trinity and the State Library; and other tasks to be determined. Interested students should send a resume and recent writing sample to: Philip Tegeler, Executive Director, Poverty & Race Research Action council, 1015 15th St., NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005, 202-360-3906, 202-842-2885 (fax), ptegeler@prrac.org. (1/07)

YWCA Northeast Region - Advocacy Center  SPRING, SUMMER, FALL. The YWCA of the North East Region is at the forefront in promoting policies that help women and low-income families move out of poverty and toward economic self-sufficiency. A capable, enthusiastic and dedicated intern is needed to do research projects on public policies and women's issues, writing assignments, special activities not staffed by regular employees, and participation in Connecticut's Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. Contact: Beatriz Rozie, Advocacy - Public Policy coordinator, YWCA of the Northeast Region - Advocacy Center, 64 Humphprey Street, Hartford CT 06106, 860 625-7379, beatrizrozie@sbcglobal.net. (11/06)

African American Affairs Commission SPRING. Connecticut state agency responsible for issues and concerns of African-Americans in Connecticut and America. Interns will assist staff in preparing reports, testimony, and research on legislation, as well as communication with legislators, staff, government officials, community leaders and citizens. Interns will also participate in community outreach projects, proof reports and presentations made by staff, and assist in normal agency operations. Interns must have strong communication and computer skills, familiarity with conducting research, and ability to be self-motivated and work with minimal supervision. Preference will be given to students whose studies focus on political science, sociology, public policy, urban planning, or African-American studies. Send letter of application, resume and copy of latest transcript to: African-American Affairs Commission, Internship Program, State Capitol - Room 509, Hartford, CT 06106-1591, aac@po.state.ct.us. Stipend available. (11/06)

1000 Friends of Connecticut SUMMER, FALL, SPRING. Statewide organization whose mission is to reduce sprawl and promote revitalized/distinctive communities through high quality public transportation and transit-oriented development, housing choices, the preservation/restoration of historic and cultural assets, the strengthening of new development to reduce sprawl/environmental damage and use taxpayer dollars more effectively, and to promote quality educational and housing opportunities to all Connecticut residents.  Intern duties: shadow director, organize candidate forums, assist with editorial board meetings, support/attend revenue rebalancing task force. Please contact Heidi Green, President, 484 Farmington Avenue, P.O. Box 1988, Hartford, CT, 06144-1988, 860-523-0003, hegreen@1000friends-ct.org. Stipend possible for full-time summer intern. (4/06)

Citizens for Economic Opportunity SPRING. A coalition of labor and community groups, its mission is to challenge corporations to meet the highest standards of honest/equitable treatment of their employees, their communities, consumers and the environment - to ensure that these needs are not placed second to those of stockholders. Three potential intern projects: 1. Produce report on role of healthcare in union negotiations and investments of union pension funds to spur dialogue with shareholders, developing a presentation about the nexus between universal health care and labor issues; 2. Produce report about the problem of underinsured workers in large, profitable CT companies. This will involve identifying 1-2 workers at each company to tell their story; 3. In an effort to hold them accountable on health care issues and to create leverage for a dialogue on universal health care, produce report outlining the degree to which the state's insurance industry is subsidized by the State AND involved in making campaign contributions. Please contact Beverley Brakeman at 111 South Road, Farmington, CT, 860-674-0143, x144. Possible stipend. (10/05)

Yankee Institute FALL. Organization is seeking to improve the delivery of social services in CT, including foster care, mental health services for the homeless and juvenile justice services. Interns needed to research how such services are delivered more effectively in other states, which will ultimately benefit taxpayers, the poor and other constituents. Please contact Lewis Andrews, Ph.D., at 135 Allen Place, P.O. Box 260660, Hartford, CT 06126; phone: 860-297-4271. Stipend may be possible; will know in June. (4/05)

Citizens Network (A program of The Gathering Place) SPRING. Assist a dynamic group of local citizens looking at the issues around funding for public education. Great opportunity for student interested in public policy, urban studies, government, and/or community organizing to be in on the ground floor of a new regional citizens’ initiative.  Intern will provide assistance to the Network’s 1st regional citizens' study committee on the issue, "Financing Local Education." Beginning in early March the committee will meet weekly for 10-12 weeks, probably in the early evening. Intern will assist in setting up the committee, attending committee meetings, doing prep and follow-up work. May involve research (25%), writing (25%), office help and field visits (50%), including extensive contact with resource people, committee members, co-chair, etc. Please contact: Rich Pearson, 860-289-2141 or pearsonrjr@earthlink.net. (1/05)

The Partnership for Strong Communities SPRING, SUMMER. Education and advocacy group whose mission is to advance supportive housing, affordable housing, community development and the promotion of sound housing policy options. Several different internship opportunities available: Compilation of Statistics & Authorship of Monthly Narrative on CT's Leading Housing Indicators (for economics/finance major): to measure housing availability, affordability, industry health. Lyceum Speaker Series: contact constituent groups to develop lists of potential speakers. Develop series of high level policy explorations for public and private sector opinion leaders, journalists and activists. Development of Student Art, Essay and Public Speaking Contests on homelessness, housing policy and community development: work with CT associations of boards of education, superintendents, teacher unions, PTO's, individual schools and students to think, write, examine the meaning of home and the integral - if taken for granted - role that the safety/security of a home plays in our lives. Research/Development of Marketing Plans for The Lyceum, Affordable Housing Campaign and Next Step Initiative for Supportive Housing (for communications, marketing, public policy student): adapting affordable housing campaigns from other states facing similar problems to a campaign that would work in CT. Conference Planning & Development (for public policy student): arrange for speakers, demographically develop strategic audience in conjunction with the CT Conference of Municipalities and CCSU. Affordable Design (for student in architecture, art or design): update website feature on design, develop new film exhibit, oversee visiting Affordable Housing Design Show. Partnership Partners' Regional Report (for student with strong reporting, writing, policy skills): reporting, publishing, circulating monthly newsletter.  Please contact David Fink or Shelby Mertes at 860-244-0066, The Lyceum 227 Lawrence Street, Hartford, CT 06106. No stipend (11/04)

Connecticut Commission on Aging SPRING, SUMMER, FALL. Mission is to advocate to the Governor and legislature on behalf of elderly persons in CT. Several internship areas available: Research Assistant/Writer (spring, summer, fall): conduct person-to-person online and phone interviews and/or conduct literature review of government, public and private reports, articles, studies, etc., regarding services for the aging population. Intern will report findings. May attend meetings, public hearings. Advocate (primarily spring, but also summer, fall): prepare issue/position statements, become knowledgeable about current legislative issues, articulate positions of the CoA to members of legislature and local media. Conduct comparison research, literature review, interviews in order to obtain meaningful information in support of current issues. Intern will then present testimony. Website Development/Maintenance (spring, summer, fall): Organization has two websites which serve as important sources of current, meaningful information for older adults, caregivers, service providers and persons with disabilities. For all intern opportunities, please contact Julie Evans-Starr at 860-424-5360, 25 Sigourney Street, Hartford, CT 06106. No stipend. (11/04)

PAX Educare - The CT Center for Peace Education FALL, SPRING, SUMMER. Mission of this grass-roots, non-profit consulting organization: to network and link with educators, practitioners and committed community members to build a more peaceful tomorrow, building bridges between the city and wider areas of CT and beyond. Intern responsibilities may include event planning, cataloguing books and materials, reviewing books, researching funding possibilities, assisting with workshops, marketing/public relations, database updates, attending community meetings. Please contact Dr. Mary Lee Morrison, Founder/Director, at 860-930-3182.  155 Wyllys St. Hartford. No stipend. (8/04)