Internships/Service Learning Opportunities

The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a non-profit, nonpartisan political organization. Its mission is to promote informed and active participation in government. LWV Los Angeles wishes to find effective ways to engage youth and diverse populations in our community in the awareness of civic issues. We are eager to work with students and staff to design projects that are relevant to our goals and theirs. Here are some examples of current projects/studies and programs of the League of Women Voters Los Angeles in which individuals might choose to assist. Each provides opportunities for learning and action and for involvement in the workings of democracy at the local level. It is a chance to help make change happen.

Program Planning Assistant: Running & Winning Project, 2008

Internship, Service Learning and/or Volunteer Activity
Organization: The League of Women Voters Los Angeles (LWVLA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Its mission is to promote informed and active participation in government of all.
Project Background: Running & Winning is a civic engagement project for high school students developed by the League of Women Voters. LWVLA has initiated this project in Los Angeles in collaboration with local schools and the Constitutional Rights Foundation and with a grant funded by Verizon. The purpose of the project is to promote students' civic engagement and sense of personal connection with political leadership.
The culminating event of this project is a one-day workshop during which student participants meet in small discussion and work groups, with college students as facilitators. Each group will : 1) interview invited elected officials about their experience in seeking and holding public office; and 2) prepare mock political campaigns for elective office. Mock campaigns are based on selected focus issues.
Job Description: This year we are seeking to expand the role of interns to help in planning and conducting this year's event as well as participating as group facilitators at the event. Interns will work with the Running and Winning Committee to:
Review and revise project plans,
Research focus issues and prepare background papers on these issues that students will use at the forum as the topics for their mock campaigns
Prepare resource packets and other program materials for the event
Serve as group facilitators to work with small groups of high school students at the event.

Qualifications: Interns for this project will be serving as role models for high school students. The following combination of personal styles and communication skills are essential: enjoy working with young people; able to communicate comfortably, observe and guide discussion without dominating or offering opinions, and maintain neutrality; research skills. Specific training for facilitating group discussion and activities will be provided for all interns working on this project.
Days/Hours: Flexible, as arranged with the R&W Committee
Compensation/Incentives: This is a volunteer internship. For interns who share the interest and focus of the League of Women Voters, benefits are the opportunity to provide leadership on a project that will promote the civic engagement of high school students. Also facilitator training, a valuable and transferable skill, will be provided free of charge. Facilitators who attend the forum will have the opportunity to meet and interact with elected officials.
Contact: Zhita Rea, 323-571-1603 Email: internships@lwvlosangeles.org

Research/Program Planning Assistant on Public Policy Issues

Organization: The League of Women Voters is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that promotes informed and active participation in government, increases understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The League does not support or oppose any political party or candidate. It does however take action on issues based on its in-depth study and after members have reached consensus. This approach has earned the League a national reputation for integrity and thoroughness.
Qualifications: The League is seeking interns who are interested in public policy issues, experienced in research strategies and willing and able to participate in a non-partisan environment.
Job Description: Participate as a research and program assistant to an LWVLA study/program chair in one of the following areas:

Election Integrity/Voting; Environment; Housing/Homelessness; Immigration
K-12 Education (LAUSD); Local Government Finance; Police Issues
Prisoner Recidivism and Voting Rights

Interns will work under the direction of the study/program chair in some of the following ways: - Collaborate on a variety of research--web-based, personal interviews, etc--related to the study topic and present results to the study group.
- Assist in planning programs to inform LWV members and the community about this issue.
- Participate as a member of the Observer Corps in the area of your study/research by attending, as an observer, meetings of government entities, boards, commissions, etc., in which LWVLA has particular interest.
Days/Hours/Duration: Flexible, as arranged with study/program chair.
Compensation/Incentives: This is a volunteer internship. For interns who share the interest and focus of the League of Women Voters, benefits are the opportunity to make a substantial contribution to developing public policy on issues that affect the community in the greater Los Angeles area. On a more personal level, incentives include an opportunity for experience and practice using research and communication skills, attending meetings of local government commissions, etc as an LWVLA observer.
Contact: Zhita Rea, 323-571-1603 Email: internships@lwvlosangeles.org

Smart Voter Website: Research Assistant

The League of Women Voters is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Its mission is to promote informed and active participation in government. Smart Voter, an award-winning non-partisan website of the League (http://www.smartvoter.org) provides comprehensive information about candidates and ballot measures in all local, city, state and national elections.
Qualifications: Applicants for this position should have the following interests and abilities: Interest in promoting active and informed participation in government Interest and experience in researching current information Ability to access the Internet and facility with a word processing program
Job Description: Work collaboratively with the Smart Voter Coordinator as follows:
1. Research elections online: find and visit city, school district, and special district websites to gather information on candidates, issues, and election procedures; use search engines and media websites to find articles about candidates and ballot measures.
2. Post findings on Smart Voter pages in accordance with Smart Voter standards and policies: obtain access to web-forms on 'team' site (password provided); employ simplified html code (training provided) to adapt material to Smart Voter format.
3. Maintain security regarding access to password-protected websites.
4. Maintain close e-mail and telephone contact with Smart Voter Coordinator to collaborate on goals and strategies and report progress regularly.
Days/Hours: Flexible; after initial training (at the LWVLA office or on campus) work can be done off-site at intern's convenience; a commitment of at least two hours per week would be appreciated.
Duration: From eight weeks to two days before any state or local election. (Current election preparation periods are from mid-February to early April, 2008, and from mid-April to June, 2008.) Any two to three weeks of this period would be beneficial, but a shorter time would not justify the training required.
Compensation/Incentives: For interns who share the interest and focus of the League of Women Voters, benefits are the opportunity to make a substantial contribution to voters and to the election process in the greater Los Angeles area. On an academic and personal level, incentives include an opportunity for in-depth learning about candidates and political campaigning, for developing and using on-line research skills within a political/media context, and for gaining proficiency in a simplified HTML (HyperText Mark-up Language).
Contact: Zhita Rea, 323-571-1603 Email: internships@lwvlosangeles.org

Smart Voter Website: Contact/PR Assistant

The League of Women Voters is a non-profit, non-partisan organization with a mission to promote informed and active participation in government. Smart Voter is the League's award-winning non-partisan website (http://www.smartvoter.org ) that provides comprehensive information about all local, city, state and national elections.
Job Description: The Contact/PR Assistant works collaboratively with the Smart Voter Coordinator and team members as follows:
1. Contact candidates in state and local elections by phone. Describe Smart Voter, a free on-line service of the League of Women Voters Education Fund, and explain how candidates can use it to post information about their campaigns. (Note: All candidates will be contacted regardless of political affiliation.)
2. Refer candidates and campaign workers to Smart Voter team members as needed to answer questions and troubleshoot problems.
3. Maintain close e-mail and/or telephone contact with Smart Voter team member to collaborate on goals and strategies and report progress regularly.
Qualifications: Ability to communicate by telephone in a pleasant manner, with clear diction and reflecting a completely nonpartisan approach (Ability to communicate in spoken Spanish or Chinese would be a plus.)
Days/Hours: Flexible; after initial training (at the LWVLA office, on campus, or by phone) work can be done off-site at intern's convenience; a commitment of at least two hours per week would be appreciated. (Note: If using phones off-site, identify which L.A. area codes can be handled without financial hardship, e.g., 818, 310, 213)
Duration: From eight weeks to two days before any state or local election. (Current election preparation periods are from mid-February to early April, 2008, and from mid-April to June, 2008.) Any two to three weeks of this period would be beneficial, but a shorter time would not justify the training required.
Compensation/Incentives: This is a volunteer internship. For interns who share the interest and focus of the League of Women Voters, benefits are the opportunity to make a substantial contribution to voters and to the election process in the greater Los Angeles area. On an academic and personal level, incentives include an opportunity for in-depth learning about candidates and political campaigning and for developing communication skills within a professional/political context.
Contact: Zhita Rea, 323-571-1603 Email: internships@lwvlosangeles.org

Information Planning and Community Outreach

LWV Los Angeles recognizes information as its most important commodity. Now we are taking a new look at how we deal with the valuable information that we have: Who wants it, who needs it, how do we distribute it...? That is why we are seeking Outreach Interns with a fresh point of view and knowledge of current communication methods. Your perspectives and your abilities to engage your peers and communities have invaluable potential for our organization.
Information Planning and Community Outreach: Internship, Service Learning or Volunteer Opportunities
Organization: The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a non-profit, nonpartisan political organization. Its mission is to promote informed and active participation in government. LWV Los Angeles wishes to find effective ways to engage youth and diverse populations in our community in the awareness of civic issues. We are eager to work with students and staff to design projects that are relevant to our goals and theirs. The following is a description of general student qualifications and potential project approaches.
Qualifications: Academic study, practical experience and/or personal skills in the following areas are particularly desirable: Communications, sociology, political science, information planning and management; Creative thinking, personal enthusiasm and ability to engage peers; Commitment to LWV goals as described above.
Project Description/Possible Approaches: LWV Los Angeles recognizes information as its most important commodity. Now we are taking a new look at how we deal with the valuable information that we have: Who wants it, who needs it, how do we distribute it...? That is why we are seeking to work with students and staff with a fresh point of view and knowledge of current communication methods. Your perspectives and your abilities to engage your peers and communities have invaluable potential for our organization. Students will work with League members to plan outreach projects that may include any or all of the following:
1. Review and evaluate existing LWV information resources and current distribution media.
2. Conduct interviews and focus groups with student or community groups to identify best audiences.
3. Design information distribution and communication strategies to reach these audiences.
4. Plan campus voter education and/or registration drives, including co-sponsoring activities with the Associated Student Body.
5. Design outreach to ethnic groups in the community to encourage them to vote; identify stumbling blocks that may inhibit or prevent their communication with governmental entities; and survey their needs for civic services with which LWV might assist.
Days/Hours: Flexible scheduling and time commitment are negotiable.
Compensation/Incentives: This project may fulfill individual course requirements for civic engagement. For students who share the interest and focus of LWV, benefits are the opportunity to make a substantial contribution to voters and to the election process in the greater Los Angeles area. Students should expect to gain specific and practical knowledge about the detailed operation of government.
Contact: Zhita Rea Email: internships@lwvlosangeles.org

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: April 4, 2008 14:20 PDT.