CARECEN | Intern

CARECEN internships are open to undergraduates, recent graduates or law students who have an interest in community development and public policy affecting immigrants and have a strong commitment to immigrants' rights and advancing social justice. Internships at CARECEN are unpaid. However, we are willing to work with your school if you are looking to earn course credit through the internship.

Internships at CARECEN are offered during the Spring Semester (starting in January), the Summer (starting in June) and during the Fall Semester (starting in September), in the following areas:

• Communications
• Fundraising
• Citizenship and Civic Engagement
• Legal
• Community Support Services

Application deadlines: May 15 (Summer), July 15 (Fall) and November 15 (Spring).

Communications

CARECEN seeks an intern to assist with communications. This internship is a wonderful opportunity to learn while helping CARECEN create and maintain a more professional look for our website, publications and outreach materials, better document activities and media coverage and improve our on-line donation capabilities. To that end the intern should have some experience in evaluating the current status of web usage and production, making critical analysis and suggestions, and finding ways to develop and improve the website and outreach materials.

Duties

Assist staff with media outreach for specific events.
Keep track and document radio, TV and print media coverage of CARECEN activities, events or accomplishments and update the media list as needed.
Work with staff to complete monthly e-newsletter.
Design and distribute email blasts with action alerts to our community
Update website regularly.
Update CARECEN's Facebook and Change.org pages as needed with current issues and relevant news.
Participate in meetings with the service and advocacy teams as needed.
Work with staff to help consolidate information for CARECEN's annual report or other publications such as brochures, fact sheets, etc.
Help design flyers for CARECEN's programs and events.
Contribute by developing new and innovative ideas for communications.

Requirements

Strong writing skills.
Consistency, attention to detail.
Good interpersonal and communications skills.
Ability to carry out research independently.
Capacity to organize and summarize information.
Ability to meet deadlines.
Desktop publishing, HTML, and related computer skills.
Graphic design experience is a plus.

Intern will work 15 hours a week, with a schedule determined in consultation with CARECEN.

Desirable: Spanish preferred but not required.

For more information, please contact Ana Negoescu at (202) 328-9799 x16.
To apply please email cover letter and resume to anegoescu@carecendc.org.

Fundraising

CARECEN seeks an intern to assist with fundraising. This internship represents an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field of development at a community-based organization focused on immigrant rights, affordable housing, and citizenship. The intern will also gain exposure to advocacy and organizing and become familiarized with emerging policy issues as they affect the Latino community.

Duties

Research funding prospects relevant to CARECEN programs and activities, including direct legal services, housing counseling, and citizenship.
Update the donor database, working closely with the Manager of Administration and Program Support.
Help consolidate essential information on the history of giving at CARECEN, to include a compilation of key grants and contracts over the last decade.
Help with administration, organization, and filing of grant proposals, reports, and contract information, so as to maintain historical and current records of all proposals submitted.
Participate in monthly planning meetings with the Fundraising team.
Assist with the organization of small fundraising events and a larger fundraising event to take place in 2010.
Help represent the organization together with staff at meetings, events and other outreach opportunities in order to increase visibility for CARECEN.
Contribute by developing new and innovative ideas for raising funds and maintaining relationships with current donors, including the design of effective fundraising-related communications strategies.

Benefits

Work as part of a small and closely coordinated team to increase fundraising yields at CARECEN and help the organization grow and sustain programs.
Learn about fundraising for community-based nonprofit organizations, with specific reference to working with the Latino immigrant community.
Gain exposure to fundraising for advocacy and direct services organizations.
Participate in staff meetings to understand the planning process at CARECEN.
Join a diverse, bilingual, and highly collegial institutional setting.

Requirements

Consistency, attention to detail.
Good interpersonal and communications skills.
Ability to carry out research independently.
Capacity to organize and summarize information.

Intern will work 15 hours a week, with a schedule determined in consultation with CARECEN.

Desirable: Spanish helpful but not required.

For more information and to apply, please contact Ana Negoescu at (202) 328-9799 x16, anegoescu@carecendc.org.

Citizenship and Civic Engagement

The CARECEN Citizenship program works to empower the Central American and Latino community of the Washington metropolitan area by providing educational programs and engaging the community in advocacy campaigns, among other activities. In line with CARECEN's overall mission, this program strives to respond to the changing needs of the Latino population and assist members in developing roots in their new communities. CARECEN's citizenship intern will work under the supervision of the Director of Outreach and Advocacy and will be part of the Advocacy and Community Action team.

Duties

Work with program staff to coordinate program activities such as youth projects, membership activities, voter registration drives, immigration reform campaigns, and legislative activities.
Monitor voting records on immigration-related bills for members of Congress, specifically State Representatives in Virginia and Maryland.
Assist in the coordination and instruction of citizenship classes as well as follow-up with citizenship applicants, including data entry and case management.
Serve as an interpreter during naturalization interviews.
Conduct various outreach activities such as creating and submitting press releases, participating in community events to provide information about CARECEN's activities, and promoting activities to clients and community members.
Assist in the creation of publications (English and Spanish).
Help represent the organization together with staff at meetings, events and other outreach opportunities in order to increase visibility for CARECEN.
Assisting with other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.

Qualifications

Commitment to serving the low-income Central American/Latino Immigrant community.
Ability to carry out research independently.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with English/ Spanish bilingual ability highly preferred.
Interest in adult education, the legislative process and community organizing.

Intern will work 15-20 hours a week, with a schedule determined in consultation with CARECEN, including some Saturdays and possibly a weekday evening. Good writing and communication in Spanish is required.

To apply, please e-mail resume and cover letter outlining qualifications to Ana Negoescu, Citizenship Program Director, anegoescu@carecendc.org

Community Support Services

The Community Support Services internship is a great opportunity to improve your Spanish through language immersion and to learn more about the issues facing the local Latino community. The aim of the Community Support Services Program is to help limited English speakers navigate the complex world of governmental agencies by providing assistance in completing forms, offering translation/interpretation services and referrals as needed. The program aims to increase the problem solving skills of Latinos facing consumer and employment issues and other problems. The intern will assist in the provision of these services while serving as a first point-of-contact for community members coming in to CARECEN�s offices. There is potential for learning and growth in this position.

Duties

Provide information on programs at CARECEN and other services available in the DC metro area to community members coming in to the offices or over the phone.
Direct clients in the office and over the phone to the appropriate staff person.
Assist clients renewing green cards or work authorization documents.
For 1-2 hours weekly, conduct Community Support Services intake: provide assistance filling out simple applications and making phone calls, give referrals to other social service organizations and educate clients regarding public benefits, consumer and employment issues and similar topics.
Assist in data entry for client tracking and grant reporting.
Translate simple documents and interpret for clients at immigration appointments, time permitting.
Participate in monthly staff meetings and Service Team meetings.
Contribute by developing new and innovative ideas for the way services are provided to community members.
Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

Competency in both Spanish and English, especially oral.
Commitment to serving the low-income Central American/Latino Immigrant community.
Ability to multitask and work under pressure.
Consistency, attention to detail.
Good interpersonal and communications skills.

Hours & Compensation: Intern will work approx. 15 hours a week. Must be available either Tuesdays or Thursdays during office hours and for several hours another day of the week. Internship is unpaid, but we are willing to work with your school if you are looking to earn credit.

To Apply: Please send cover letter and resume via email to Kelly Lange, klange@carecendc.org. For more information, contact Kelly Lange, klange@carecendc.org, (202) 328-9799 x20.

Communications

Duties

Assist staff with media outreach for specific events.
Keep track and document radio, TV and print media coverage of CARECEN activities, events or accomplishments and update the media list as needed.
Work with staff to complete monthly e-newsletter.
Design and distribute email blasts with action alerts to our community
Update website regularly.
Update CARECEN's Facebook and Change.org pages as needed with current issues and relevant news.
Participate in meetings with the service and advocacy teams as needed.
Work with staff to help consolidate information for CARECEN's annual report or other publications such as brochures, fact sheets, etc.
Help design flyers for CARECEN's programs and events.
Contribute by developing new and innovative ideas for communications.

Requirements

Strong writing skills.
Consistency, attention to detail.
Good interpersonal and communications skills.
Ability to carry out research independently.
Capacity to organize and summarize information.
Ability to meet deadlines.
Desktop publishing, HTML, and related computer skills.
Graphic design experience is a plus.

Intern will work 15 hours a week, with a schedule determined in consultation with CARECEN.

Desirable: Spanish preferred but not required.

For more information, please contact Ana Negoescu at (202) 328-9799 x16.
To apply please email cover letter and resume to anegoescu@carecendc.org.