Social Justice Advocacy Intern - Summer 2023
Internship Title: Social Justice Advocacy Intern
Internship and Organization Description:
The Center for Advocacy and Social Justice (CASJ) supports the Jacksonville Urban League’s mission to help secure economic self-reliance, parity, power, and civil rights. The Center simultaneously promotes the development of good citizens and the proper and equal treatment of all north Florida residents regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, economic status, or sexual orientation.
Partnering with other social justice allies, educational and religious institutions, and individuals the CASJ advocates for:
- Regular and open communication between citizens and government
- Legislation promoting human potential over-incarceration and a consistently just application of the law
- Opportunities for individuals to gain access to knowledge, training, and education initiatives that facilitate healthy life outcomes
- Basic services to African Americans and other underserved situated in the urban core
Through community engagement, research, and analysis, the CASJ monitors the success of JUL activities and that of other community organizations in underserved communities to provide support for continuous improvement. The CASJ involves students from regional and national higher education institutions as well as legal and health professionals to advocate for policy initiatives identified through these processes.
https://ul-jacksonville.iamempowered.com/advocacy-and-social-justice
Learning Objectives:
- Research: Use quality investigative techniques to gather information on a chosen topic. Translate information into a short paper that analyzes the content from a relevant perspective that will be published on the JUL CASJ website after peer and subject-matter expert review.
- Professionalism: The applied practice of professional communication, strategic planning, interdisciplinary teamwork, and leadership. Applied practice includes letters, emails, community engagement planning, hosting town hall, grant writing, etc.
- Empirical Work: Creation of tangible products that can be shared with the community to empower them toward a productive and successful life
Products include social media posts, brochures, flyers, video creation, articles, and infographics
National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Readiness Competencies:
- Career & Self Development: Proactively develop oneself and one's career through continual personal and professional learning, awareness of one's strengths and weaknesses, navigation of career opportunities, and networking to build relationships within and without one's organization.
- Communication: Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.
- Professionalism: Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.
- Teamwork: Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities.
Duties:
- Work with community leaders to draft municipal ordinances that promote community involvement in governance and resource allocation
- Assist service organizations in developing governance models and nonprofit legal structures
- Assist minority businesses in startup and growth from a legal standpoint
- Assist Public Health organizations in the legal aspects of developing mandates, procedures, and partnerships that reduce health equity gaps
- Research issues and developing solutions to racial equity gaps
- Develop relationships and network with academics, attorneys, health professionals, elected officials, community leaders, and thought leaders to promote the mission of the CenterDraft papers on a subject concerning social justice and equality,
- Organize and lead town halls that engage the community in the subject
- Develop marketing and social media content and conduct community outreach
Qualifications:
- Passion for Social Justice Work
- Critical Thinking
- Ability to clearly and effectively communicate ideas and research
Schedule:
- All 20 hours can be completed on the student's own time except for the weekly supervisor meeting. This is an asynchronous internship.
- Remote only
This position complies with the Fair Labor Standard Act and complies with the National Association of Colleges and Employers' Internship criteria.