Available internships

The department routinely receives requests for interns.  You can find an updated list of these opportunities here:

Advocates for Human Rights
Department of Commerce
HOME Line
Internships Minnesota Senate
Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy
Minnesota International Center (MIC)
Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota Office)
Project Vote Smart National Internship Program
Sierra Club National coal Campaign

You can find further descriptions of these internships here.

    Senator Al Franken - Internships

Senator Franken’s Saint Paul office is currently accepting applications for internships for the Spring 2010 term. I have attached the posting for the internship below. This information can also be found
at www.franken.senate.gov under the “contact us – MN internships” tab.

Katie Kramer
Staff Assistant and Intern Coordinator
Office of Senator Al Franken
(651) 221-1016

Senator Frankin's Minnesota Internships

Senator Franken's state office assists constituents with issues at the federal level, acting as a liaison between  constituents and federal agencies.  The office also provides outreach to various communities on behalf of the Senator.
 
The internship role requires individuals who are professional, articulate, and responsible with an interest in government service. Based on the individual's availability, interests, and skills, interns will work with outreach  staff, case workers, communications staff, and administrative staff.  Interns will serve as a vital component of keeping the office functional by assisting with the constituent mail process and managing the front desk.
 
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Answering phones and assisting constituents with requests
• Assisting constituent and field staff with casework and related tasks
• Assisting outreach staff with research, event planning, and other work
• Attending meetings with and for field and outreach staff
• Assisting the scheduling and communications staff
• Other assigned tasks based on the needs of the staff and office

In addition to assisting the office, interns will receive unique career development opportunities. Through working  with field, casework, and other state staff, and meeting with the Senator, interns will be able to make an informed decision about what areas of political work interest them and gain valuable skills that will prepare them to succeed in a political and professional career.

If you are applying for the fall or spring session, please include the days and hours you are able to work. In the  summer session, interns are expected to work full time unless enrolled in summer courses. We will work with universities that offer academic credit.

Senator Franken accepts all applications for internships, however Minnesotans will be given preference. All internships are unpaid.

Application Process

If you are interested in an internship in Senator Franken’s Saint Paul office, please submit the following materials:
• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Three References
These can be emailed to mninterns@franken.senate.gov, or faxed to (651) 221-1078. Please do not mail any applications because of the Senate’s mail delivery delay.

Applications must be received by the deadline, depending on which term you are applying for.
• Fall Internship – July 15th
• Spring Internship – November 15th
• Summer Internship – March 15th
If you have any questions concerning the program, please do not hesitate to contact the intern coordinator at
(651) 221-1016, or by emailing mninterns@franken.senate.gov.

Al Franken for Senate Campaign

The Al Franken for Senate Finance Team is accepting applications for full and part-time interns in our Saint Paul office. If you are interested in applying for these positions, please email your resume and cover letter to (dwoehrle@alfranken.com).

Your assignments will allow you to become familiar with the basics of fundraising while playing an up-front role in a dynamic campaign.

Your responsibilities will include:
- Maintaining fundraising database
- Researching donors
- Making phone calls, assisting in getting fundraising mailings out
- Staffing fundraising events in MN for Al Franken

We are seeking energetic persons who are organized and self-motivated. Interns will gain valuable experience in the world of campaigns and political finance.

We look forward to reviewing your applications.

Dylan Woehrle
Compliance Director
Al Franken for Senate
(612) 242-8291

·    

   

 Minnesota International Center (MIC)

711 East River Road
Minneapolis MN 55455
612.625.4421

Are you interested in the following?
• International Relations,
• International Education,
• World Affairs
• Non-Profit Management
• Fund-raising

 GAIN VALUABLE INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MINNESOTA
 10 HOURS PER WEEK
 UNPAID, but flexible hours

Opportunities in these Programs:
 Administration
 International Visitor Leadership Program
 Community Program
 Corporate Relations & Special Events
 International classroom Connection

Terms: Summer 2010, Fall 2010---apply early, well before term approaches.
 [Spring 2011]  Applications accepted year round

Apply for/Check out:
Website: www.micglobe.org
    Click on “Get Involved”, then click “Internships”
 Complete online application and attach your cover letter and resume.

Who Are They (MIC)?
 Non-profit
 Non-partisan organization
 Mission: to inspire the community to understand
global issues and cultures in an ever changing world.
 Part of a national network of similar organizations
 One of the largest Councils for International Visitors (CIV)
 One of the largest World Affairs Councils in the country
 MIC coordinates globally-focused learning opportunities for people

Contact either buhr6782@stthomas.edu, mazu2180@stthomas.edu,  mic@umn.edu or call the MIC Intern Coordinator
at 612.625.4421.

   JOB TITLE: Research Associate, Sierra Club National Coal Campaign
LOCATION: Twin Cities Metro

SALARY: Competitive   
TYPE: Full Time / 38 hours   
DEADLINE: Open Until Filled

Primary Duties And Responsibilities:
The Research Associate is responsible for conducting research on carbon emissions reduction resulting from efforts of the Sierra Club’s National Coal Campaign effort to defeat proposed coal plants, retire existing coal plants, and decrease in coal mining. In coordination with the National Coal Campaign, the Research Associate is responsible for collecting and compiling information on carbon emission, and disseminating findings to internal and external stakeholders including campaign staff and volunteers, funders, and key allies.

Experience And Qualification Requirements:

-Two years’ experience in environmental research or other detailed research experience.

-B.A./B.S. degree in Environmental Studies, Political Science or a closely related field.

-Strong oral and written communications skills.

-Proficiency in the use of computer software, including Microsoft Word, Excel.

-Demonstrated familiarity with energy related environmental topics, issues, and literature.

-Ability to work cooperatively with staff and volunteers.

-Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.

HOW TO APPLY:
Send resume to Judy.Hofrichter@sierraclub.org

For full job description visit
http://www.sierraclub.org/careers/conservation/research-assoc-coal.asp

 

    Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar--Minnesota 

Each year opportunities are made available to bright and dynamic college students to view, first hand, the workings of government. While you are here, we hope to do several things to make this the most productive experience you have had to date. We will:

• Clearly define expectations
• Offer a rigorous curriculum
• Provide for diverse learning experiences
• Solicit input for further development of the program

For some of you this may be your first internship, and for others, this may be another in a line of internship experiences. Regardless, we have planned this program with the expectation that you will all leave the Office of Senator Klobuchar with skills that can be applied to whichever future endeavor you explore.

It is important to Senator Klobuchar that you leave with a diverse experience. Our aim is to go far beyond just a "bullet point" on your resume and introduce you to public service and the legislative system.

Below you will find more detail about the experiences available in our Minnesota and Washington offices and how to apply.

What can you expect from an internship in Minnesota?

In the Twin Cities office, you will work directly with congressional aides on a wide range of issues.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Answering phones and assisting constituents with requests
• Assisting constituent advocate staff with casework and related tasks
• Assisting outreach staff with research, event planning and other work in key communities
• Assisting the scheduling and communications staff
• Helping to plan and participation in a monthly community service project
• Other assigned tasks

Every effort is made to match interns with staff based upon interests and previous experience and positions will be filled based on office needs.

Full and part-time unpaid internships are available. If your institution allows or requires college credit, accommodations can be made.

How to apply for an Internship in Minnesota

Please submit the following:

• Application Form (Download)
• Cover Letter Demonstrating Your Writing Skill
• Resume
• Short Writing Sample
• Three References

Internships for the Minnesota program are available for the following four sessions:

• Summer Session
  June through August
• Fall Session
  September through December
• Spring Session
  January through May
• January Session

If you would like to be considered for this program, please send your application materials by mail, email, or fax to:

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar
1200 Washington Avenue South, Suite 250
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Phone: 612-727-5220
Fax: 612-727-5223
Email: brian_garshelis@klobuchar.senate.gov

Brian is a former UST POLS major who started out as an intern in the Senator’s
office and is now a fulltime paid staffer.

   Project Vote Smart: National Internship Program

Project Vote Smart and over 6,000 staff members, volunteers, and interns have worked for the past 16 years to collect and disseminate information on thousands of candidates at the local, state and national level. After all of this hard work PVS, is now ready to announce the completion of the nation’s first comprehensive Voter Self-Defense System. You can become part of this exciting effort by joining our National Internship Program. This program gives college students from across the country and around the world the chance to have a once in a lifetime opportunity. Interns gain hands on experience in politics and public relations while spending their free time in one of the country’s most beautiful and unique settings. Interns spend their weekdays working on projects ranging from tracking and summarizing key legislation to contacting candidates for issue positions and sending out press releases. Evenings and weekends can be spent exploring the Northern Rockies.

About Project Vote Smart
Project Vote Smart has built an extensive database of information on elected officials and candidates for public office. We cover national and state level candidates and officials in several areas including, but not limited to, speeches and issue positions, biographical infonnation, interest group ratings and endorsements. We also track key votes and collect information on state elections, ballot measures, and voter registration.

Project Vote Smart is completely non-p artisan. For our interns, this means a ten week experience stepping into an office for 40 hours a week and separating themselves from their personal political beliefs in the pursuit of making politically unbiased facts available to all citizens. Project Vote Smart has, since its conception, maintained a policy of political balance and therefore does not allow any of our board members to join unless a member of their political opposition is joining as well. This facilitates such a diverse group of founding board members as former U.S. Senators Barry Goldwater (R) and George McGovern (D), and former U.S. Representatives Newt Gingrich (R) and Geraldine Ferraro (D). Project Vote Smarts goal over the past 16 years has been for every candidate - Democrat, Republican, third party, or independent — to be treated with equal deference, with only relevant and unbiased facts presented. Project Vote Smart does not lobby, support or oppose any candidate, position or issue. All Project staff and interns are required to sign a pledge, affirming their commitment to absolute impartiality.

As a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, Project Vote Smart is funded exclusively through private donations by over 38,000 members, and grants from private philanthropic foundations including the Carnegie and Ford Foundations. All member contributions are tax deductible. To guarantee its integrity and accountability, as a nonpartisan and wholly objective service to the American people, ProjectVote Snart does not accept financial contributions from lobbyists, governmental organizations, corporations, businesses or special interests. Over the years 5000 public libraries and over 250 national and local news organizations, including CNN, C-SPAN, Cox News, Fox, Knight-Ridder, MTV, National Journal, NBC, Newsweek, PBS, MSNBC and Washington Week in Review, have supported Project Vote Smart.

About the Location
Participation in PVS and the goal of helping voters become more infonned is only part of the reward. The true reward lies almost entirely in the Project’s surroundings. The Great Divide Ranch is approximately 27 miles from the nearest town and is nestled in the wilderness of the Northern Rockies. At an altitude of around 6,000 ft with creeks running directly through the ranch and the regular moose deer and elk sightings, PVS offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to gain hands on political experience at a mountain escape. Summer and winter activities include: hiking, biking, skiing, camping, fishing, swimming, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and much more. The facilities and amenities themselves allow interns to create a home away from home.

Over the past seven years PVS has transonned the Great Divide Ranch into a getaway that suits our specific needs. We are able to offer amenities such as wireless Internet access, satellite television, row and paddleboats, snowmobiles, basketball/tennis courts, a brand new library with thousands of books, an indoor gym with a sauna, and horseback rides.

Interns are able to get to know other students from across the country and share their passion for politics in this community style living environment. The housing facilities consist of lodges divided into rooms that sleep between two and six people.

About the Internship
Project Vote Smart’s National Internship Program provides students with unique practical and educational experiences. We seek students who are genuinely interested in working to accomplish our goal of making factual, unbiased political information easily and freely accessible to all. The overriding qualification for securing an internship position is your willingness to commit 100% to the Project’s goals and mission.

To qualify for a PVS internship you must meet the following requirements:

1. Set aside personal and political beliefs, be objective and non-partisan while working.
2. Be in good standing with your university/school.
3. Commit to 10 consecutive weeks.
4. Remember that our research facility is located in an extraordinarily beautiful but remote area. You will be expected to help maintain the facility.

About the Work: Below please find a short list of common intern responsibilities provided by the various department directors:

Political Courage Test Assistant - Maintain candidate lists on the website; administer the Political Courage Test to candidates through mailings and phone calls; collect and enter candidate issue position respohses; process election-results.’”‘--

Research Assistant - Collect and enter candidate and elected officials biographical information; Update our database of city and county officials; update our political resources database including political parties, news media, political trivia, etc.; update ratings/evaluations produced by special interest groups; update our public statements/speeches database.

Legislative Research and Hotline Assistant - Monitor Congress and state legislatures for key votes and issues. Highlight, edit and present to staff documented summaries of congressional and state legislation; articulate the mission of Project Vote Smart and answer research related special requests and e-mails from the general public via the Hotline.

Media/PR Assistant - Assists in scouting out potential events for the Project Vote Smart national bus tour, also supports our team that is on the bus; maintains contacts with media outlets from across the nation to publicize PVS events and resources; This position can also include a variety of special tasks associated with various partnerships that PVS has with other organizations.

Membership Assistant -Works in all aspects of the membership department - Marketing, fund raising, data entry, bulk mailing, research and statistical analysis, contacting members, processing special requests and contacting vendors.

Information Technology Assistant - Assists the IT department in maintaining the office workstations, servers and network, as well as take part in continued development of the Project’s website and applications; provides technical support, website development in PHP and HTML, application development in Java and JSP, network and system administration. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a Unix environment, experienced with website development, and have some familiarity with Java and JSP.

Facilities and Recreation Assistant - Repair and enhance the living facilities and grounds minor repairs, painting, fencing, landscaping, etc).

Lodge Assistant - Assist with day-to-day operations of non-profit student housing and commercial kitchen (facilities mgt, meal preparation and planning).

Note: The majority of our National Interns work in our Research and Political Courage Test departments. However, we have a limited number of positions available in Membership, News, Graphic Design and Information Technology. The Internship Director will make all position assignments based on individual applicants skills, departmental priority, and projects available. If you have a position preference, please indicate the preferred position in your cover letter stating the reasons for the preference. There is a possibility that interns may not be assigned to the position that they request. In addition to their assigned programs, interns at Project Vote Smart may also be asked on occasion to perform special projects including painting, yard maintenance, minor repairs, etc.

About Applying: Student Interns must submit the following:

1. Completed application fonm
2. Cover letter.
3. Resume.
4. Minimum of three references. References need only b names and contact information, not
necessarily letters.

All application materials must be submitted together. Students must specify the term for which they are applying. Applications can be downloaded from our website http://www.votesmart.org or maybe requested by calling our toll-free hotline 1-888-VOTE-SMART (1-888-868-3762).

Contact Information: If you have any questions or would like to receive additional information, please contact the Internship Coordinator:

Internship Coordinator                                   Project Vote Smart Web:
One Common Ground                                   www.votesmart.org
Philip sburg, MT 59858                                 Email Address:
(406) 859-VOTE (8683)                                 intern@votesrnart.org
 

   The Advocates for Human Rights:

If you are interested in becoming involved with The Advocates for Human Rights and can commit 10 or more hours per week, then you should consider becoming an intern with The Advocates for Human Rights. Interns can play an integral role by assisting with activities such as research, writing, client service, translation or event planning as well as administrative tasks in our projects and programs (All internships include administrative duties). All volunteer positions are filled on a need basis. The Advocates internships do not offer financial compensation. 

If you are applying for an outside fellowship (i.e. you will have a source of outside funding while you intern at The Advocates) through your school or a fellowship program such as the Upper Midwest Human Rights Fellowship or Equal Justice Works, you must submit your application materials to The Advocates at least 4 weeks in advance of the deadline for your fellowship application. For example, if your fellowship application deadline is February 15th, than you must have your The Advocates internship application submitted by January 15th. Proposed fellowships must be directly related to The Advocates' program areas.

Many interns are students, however internship positions are also open to others.  During the school year most interns work 10-20 hours per week. During the summer most interns work 20-40 hours per week. We have fall, spring and summer internships that roughly follow university calendars:

Spring: January-May, applications due by December 1
Summer: late May/early June-August, applications due by March 15

NOTE: Internship placements at The Advocates are extremely competitive, so we recommend that you apply for an internship well in advance of the application deadline.

To see internship descriptions for different programs, please click on the links below:

Refugee and Immigrant Program
Human Rights Education Program
Women's Human Rights Program
International Women's Day
Human Rights Monitoring Project
Death Penalty Project

Specifically, we are seeking interns to work a minimum of 8-10 hours per week in our Women’s Human Rights Program and our Special Projects division on our Liberia Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) project.

We envision that the Liberia Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) project Intern will perform a variety of tasks including but not limited to:

- Assisting with research, writing, editing, citechecking and Bluebooking for The Advocates’ final report to the TRC of Liberia
- Conducting research on country conditions and international human rights standards
- Assisting staff and volunteers with compiling reports based on Human Rights Monitoring missions in Liberia and Ghana
- Helping to enter data and manage the database designed to house TRC information
- Monitoring  news reports, legislation and other developments in targeted countries
- Miscellaneous tasks as they arise or as a specific interest develops.

The Women’s Human Rights Program Intern will perform a variety of tasks including but not limited to:

- Assisting with research, writing, editing, and citechecking for The Advocates’ www.StopVAW.org (Stop Violence Against Women) website
- Conducting research on country conditions and international human rights standards
- Miscellaneous tasks as they arise or as a specific interest develops.

To apply for any of these internships, please download the Intern Application (Word document) and include a cover letter, resume and brief (3-5 pages) writing sample with your application. Please email your application (MS Word) to hrights@advrights.org or mail the application to:

Intern Coordinator
The Advocates for Human Rights
650 Third Avenue South, #550
Minneapolis, MN 55402-1940

Or fax it to: 612-341-2971.

 

   HOME Line: A nonprofit Minnesota statewide tenant advocacy organization

Our tenant hotline is staffed by volunteers. In the past our volunteer base has consisted largely of law students but we believe undergrads with a interest in law and/or social justice could benefit greatly from this opportunity. Volunteering consists of three or more hours / week  on our tenant hotline. The volunteers field calls and answer questions concerning landlord tenant law and empower tenants with the resources and knowledge they need to stay in their apartment or take appropriate legal actions.

While the hotline is available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday thorough Thursday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, our volunteers usually spend three hour shifts answering questions and returning calls.

There is a mandatory training that takes place three or four times a year.  More information can be found at the HOME Line website by clicking here.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Darren at darrenj@homelinemn.org or (612) 728-5770 x105.

 

   The Department of Commerce (DOC)

The Department of Commerce (DOC) announces opportunities for both summer and academic year paid internships.  Currently, there are 4 internships open for the following majors and locations: 

Desired Major	Year of Study	GPA	Location
Economics, Business Admin, Public Policy	Junior/Senior	Minimum 3.5 out of 4.0	Washington, DC
Communications/Government,	Junior/Senior	Minimum 3.5 out of 4.0	Washington, DC
Economics or Business Administration	Junior or Senior	Minimum 3.5 out of 4.0	Atlanta, GA

Students interested in being considered for opportunities under the Department of Commerce Postsecondary Internship Program should directly contact Alicia Wells at Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) by e-mail at Alicia.Wells@orau.org or visit www.orau.org/doc to find out more about eligibility criteria, program benefits and the application form. Please note that all programs are open to any students who meet program eligibility criteria.

• Interns participate in on-site work experiences with DOC bureaus and offices in order to integrate academic theory and workplace requirements, gain relevant skills and knowledge, explore Federal career options, develop professional networks, and gain a greater awareness of the role of Federal agencies.

• Basic eligibility requires enrollment as an undergraduate or graduate student at two and four-year accredited educational institutions, as well as U.S. citizenship.

• Interns receive stipends as well as paid round-trip transportation expenses between their schools/homes and work locations.  Most internships are in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, but some assignments are available at locations around the United States, where Commerce regional and local offices are situated (see matrix above).

• Interns hosted under the Postsecondary Internship Program are not employees of the Department of Commerce; rather, they are affiliated with the sponsoring organization with which the Department collaborates to recruit interns.

Students interested in being considered for opportunities under the Department of Commerce Postsecondary Internship Program should directly contact Alicia Wells at Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) by e-mail at Alicia.Wells@orau.org or visit www.orau.org/doc to find out more about eligibility criteria, program benefits and the application form. Please note that all programs are open to any students who meet program eligibility criteria.

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) is a private not-for-profit consortium of 87 colleges and universities with a mission to provide and develop capabilities critical to the nation’s science and engineering infrastructure. One of the nation’s first university-based, science-related university consortia, ORAU was founded in 1946. For more than 50 years, ORAU has operated programs for more than a dozen Federal agencies. Annually, it supports approximately 2,600 individuals (undergraduates, graduate students, post graduates, and faculty) in internship, research participation and other education programs at 100 federal laboratories and research centers across the country. Its programs are national in scope and attract participants from the full range of academic institutions, including HBCUs, HSIs and tribal colleges. For additional information click www.orau.org/doc or call Alicia Wells at (865)576-3409.

 

   Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy

The Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in Minnesota seeks self-motivated, enthusiastic individuals to develop advocacy and education campaigns centered on issues of social and economic justice. Possible topics include hunger, the environment, health care, and children’s issues. Interns will use these initiatives to educate constituencies and encourage grassroots advocacy. In addition, opportunities exist to interact at the legislative level for the 2009 session. Volunteers are always needed! Please call us so we can put your talents and skills to good work!

The Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in Minnesota is one of 19 state advocacy offices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Our Mission Statement reads, “Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in Minnesota, in response to God's love, seeks to engage all people of faith in the promotion of public policy that supports peace, justice and care for all of God's creation.”

Specific Areas of Need (multiple internships available):

• Policy – Attend local meetings with collaborating partners to plan and prepare for the 2009 state legislative session; Track state and federal bills and develop communications on local impacts of policies; Understand connection between policies and ELCA social values; Work with coalition partners to message action alerts for citizens to engage in grassroots advocacy. 
  
• Hunger – Coordinate training events and facilitate Hunger 101 workshops around the state that raise awareness and a strong call to action to address the root causes of food insecurity in Minnesota. Participate in meetings with our collaborators (Partners to End Hunger).
  
• Advocacy – Work as a grassroots organizer specifically with Lutheran congregations across the state to increase advocacy; Work with synod partners to explore opportunities for education, awareness, and action; Attend meetings with collaborating partners to plan and prepare for upcoming state legislative sessions.
  
• Information Technology Support – Manage and update the LCPPM website; Assist in the organization and management of our member database and e-Advocacy program through the ELCA; Prepare and send out action alerts.
  
• Research and Communications – Write policy briefs, issue updates, and event announcements; Develop articles for synod newsletters, websites, and local media to promote advocacy opportunities and engage people of faith in current news relevant to LCPPM.
  
• Creation Care – Assist members of Lutheran churches in becoming active in local policy and social action efforts to care for creation; Develop options and ways for people to integrate their faith with their desire to see social change.

Interns will gain valuable first-hand experience in planning advocacy initiatives and working with leaders in the field. We are not located across the street from the State Capitol by accident! Flexible scheduling is available.  Positions open immediately. Volunteers welcome!

If you would like to gain valuable experience working for a faith-based non-profit organization or for further information and/or to apply contact:

Rev. Mark Peters
Executive Director, LCPPM
105 W. University Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55103
Email: peters@lcppm.org
Phone: (651) 224-5499
Website: www.lcppm.org