Policy Research Intern
The Center for an Urban Future (CUF) is an independent nonprofit public policy research think-tank that has elevated ideas and sparked policies for expanding economic opportunity in New York City for over 25 years, with a focus on promoting economic diversity while creating opportunities for disadvantaged populations and lower-skill workers.
Our work seeks to highlight issues within our fields of focus that tend to fly under the radar in mainstream policy discussions. Since the start of the pandemic, CUF has issued dozens of publications shining a light on how the pandemic has devastated minority-owned businesses, overwhelmed immigrant New Yorkers, strained the finances of human services organizations, threatened the city’s diverse arts organizations, disproportionately impacted workers in low-income communities, and deepened inequalities.
Through these studies and virtual forums, CUF has put forth dozens of concrete ideas for city and state policymakers to boost minority-owned businesses, restart key economic sectors, expand access to tech careers, invest in green public works projects, help small businesses survive the winter, close racial disparities in the city’s economy, strengthen arts and human services nonprofit organizations, bolster low-income entrepreneurs, improve services for older New Yorkers, and more.
In the months ahead, CUF will step up our work outlining innovative and achievable ideas for creating good jobs, building new pathways into the middle class, and ensuring a lasting and equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. We will produce several reports detailing how city leaders can spark the creation of well-paying jobs, help to build wealth in communities of color, expand access to the good jobs that are growing in the economy, and develop new supports for New Yorkers who are working, attending college, or enrolled in training programs.
The Center seeks interns with experience in journalism or public policy research to support our work. Responsibilities can include extensive phone interviews, conducting web research and data analysis, and writing. Other duties include coordinating meetings with government officials and attending policy meetings.
Skills and attributes we seek are:
- Strong writing and oral communications skills
- Ability to synthesize ideas clearly and concisely
- Ability to conduct effective interviews over the phone and in person
- High level of competency in using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- At least some experience with public data sources like the US Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics
- An interest in economic development, urban planning, workforce development, and higher education issues
Our internship program is very competitive and attracts talented undergraduate and graduate students from across the country and around the world. We prefer those with degrees in public policy, urban planning, journalism, economics, government, social science, or related fields.
This is an hourly paid internship. You must be able to commit to at least 20 hours a week. In order to apply, please send a resume with cover letter to intern@nycfuture.org. Applications only submitted through Handshake will not be considered. We are currently hiring for our Fall (September-December) cohort.
We maintain a friendly and open working environment and encourage people of all backgrounds: age, race, ethnicity, gender, creed, and sexual orientation to apply.