Youth/Student Services

League of Women Voters^®
of Los Angeles

Internship Opportunities

What We Offer. What our students think. Internship Opportunities. Program Planning Assistant: Running & Winning Project, 2009. Marketing Internship. Smart Voter Website: Research Assistant. Smart Voter Website: Contact/PR Assistant. Information Planning and Community Outreach. Communications and Media Coordinator. Running and Winning.

What We Offer

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.

The California Academy of Math and Science has partnered with the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles on Facebook to involve students in the broader discussion of participating in the voting process. Chime in!
Responses and requests for further information can be sent to:

Zhita Rea, internships@lwvlosangeles.org, 323-571-1603.

What our students think

Zinia Gangopadhyay was an office intern during the Spring and Summer 2009 semesters. She was enrolled as a political science major at California State University Northridge and is now living in New Orleans. She continues to be active in League in her new hometown.
Elis Lee was an office intern during both the Summer 2009 and Summer 2010 semesters. She is a recent graduate from Crescenta Valley Senior High School and will be attending Smith College in Northampton, Massachusettes in the Fall of 2010.

Internship Opportunities

The League of Women Voters of Los Angeles is seeking interns/volunteers to assist in the following:

Database Support: Assist in the management of the League's databases and preparation of requested management reports. (Note: Interns/volunteers should have experience with data entry, spreadsheets, etc. using Microsoft applications.)

Website Maintenance: Assist in the maintenance and updating of the LA League's website, http://www.lwvlosangeles.org, following League's established policies and using the League Easy Web (LEW) template for websites.

Observer Corps: There are some opportunities to attend, as an observer, meetings of government entities, boards, commissions, etc., in which LWVLA has particular interest. Initially, an intern will accompany a League member when participating in Observer Corps activities. For more information about this function, the publication, Observing Your Government in Action, is available online at http://tinyurl.com/yq52xo.

Program Planning Assistant: Running & Winning Project, 2009: See description below.
Communications and Media Coordinator: see description at the bottom of the page.
Marketing Internship: See description below/ PDF with the full job description.
These are examples of the variety of internships that the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles offers. Our organization is an excellent resource for students looking to complete volunteer requirements for classes that students are taking at the high school, undergraduate and graduate levels. Interns that volunteer their time are a key part of LWVLA and can also benefit by gaining valuable experience in a non-profit organization or by receiving a letter of recommendation. There are new projects that the League needs help on frequently so if you are interested in volunteering to improve your resume, please call the office (213) 368-1616, ask for Zhita Rea and tell us that you want to volunteer! All of our internships are unpaid, but the experience that you will receive as a result of interning here in combination with the resume boost will certainly improve your employment chances in the future.

Program Planning Assistant: Running & Winning Project, 2009

Internship, Service Learning and/or Volunteer Activity
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

Marketing Internship

A few of the Marketing Internship projects are as follows:

Prepare a summary report on our current marketing status: Work with LWVLA executive director to gather information about our target audiences, how our current marketing tactics are performing, and what barriers we may need to overcome these barriers in the summer and fall.

Development of basic marketing goals: Assist with the development of goals to achieve by the end of the calendar year. Identify the leadership and staffing needs to achieve the goals. Prepare descriptions of the roles and responsibilities for each.

Please see the attached PDF file for the full description of the Marketing Internship

Smart Voter Website: Research Assistant

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

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
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

Communications and Media Coordinator

This internship consists of a variety of responsibilities. Much of what an intern will do is picked up through training at the office. Interns should be enthusiastic, hard working, reliable, and ready to learn from our experienced staff members. The following projects are examples of what you will encounter:

Editing the League Newsletter and E-Newsletter called the VOTER

Drafting and sending out press releases to local newspapers regarding upcoming community events and local meetings that the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles facilitates.

Updating the public and members-only website, and using your creativity to improve the website in order to increase the user-friendly nature of the site.
- Helping around the office in any way that is beneficial to the needs of the staff and the projects that are take place during a given time period.

Running and Winning

Multi-year project that connects high school students with elected officials to learn how to participate in government by campaigning either as a candidate or as a proponent of an initiative.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: August 30, 2010 11:44 PDT.