Social Justice Internship Program
One Position is Available!
Legislative Assistant for Women's Issues (UU Women's Federation Clara Barton Internship)
Scroll down for more information on the Internship Program, a job description for the available position, and our existing internships.
The Internship Program
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Social Justice Internship Program is run through the Washington for Advocacy. Its goal is to combine service, learning, and faith development in order to produce energetic young adults with professional skills and strength of character to be lifelong leaders in Unitarian Universalism (UUism) and social justice work. Interns invest their time and energy in three main areas: Advocacy/Organizing, Theological Reflection, and Community Service
- Advocacy/Organizing
Legislative Assistant are responsible for monitoring several issue areas of federal public policy in which they track and analyze proposed legislation and represent UU positions to government officials and to coalition partners. They also engage the denomination in their area of focus by informing UU's about policy developments, mobilizing constituents in key locales, and organizing UU outreach to elected officials. - Theological Reflection
Legislative Assistants work with a UU minister to consider the bigger picture: the ethical and theological basis behind the work, and the role of their Unitarian Universalist faith. Group theological discussion and reflection, individual meetings with the Minister for the Social Justice Internship Program, book readings, and the occasional field trip are all part of this holistic learning and serving experience. - Community Service
Legislative Assistants volunteer with a local organization in order to engage directly with the communities and individuals who are affected by the legislation in focus.
Job Description
Position Title: Legislative Assistant for Women's Issues, UU Women’s Federation Clara Barton Internship
Department: Advocacy and Witness
Reports to: Director of the Washington Office for Advocacy
Term: Jan 2009-Jan 2010, with possibility of an extension through January 2011
Salary: $29,500 with benefits
Basic Purpose:
To assist the Washington Office in affecting public policy decisions made by the U.S. Congress and Administration on issues of concern to the Unitarian Universalist Association. Legislative portfolio will focus on gender and sexual justice.
Principal Responsibilities:
- Work with the office to track and advocate for or against legislation and other policy initiatives of concern to Unitarian Universalism, in accordance with the Social Witness Positions of the Association and General Assembly.
- Represents the UUA at events and in coalitions with other religious and secular groups to further our common agendas.
- Provides information on public policy issues, including recommendations and resources for action, to interested Unitarian Universalist congregations, districts, activists, and organizations.
- Works with the Office of Congregational Advocacy and Witness on shared priorities and provides resources on effective advocacy and organizing to interested Unitarian Universalist congregations, districts, activists, and organizations.
- Work with the Office of Information and Public Witness and Office of Electronic Communication to raise the visibility of advocacy and social justice work within the Association and the general public.
- Assists in the planning and execution of conferences and events sponsored or cosponsored by the Washington Office of Unitarian Universalist Association.
- Engages in theological reflection and community service as part of the social justice internship program.
- Performs other duties as directed.
- Strives to apply the principles of anti-racism and anti-oppression, including practicing accountability, in all of the responsibilities above.
Qualifications:
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, Unitarian Universalists, and 18 years old by the start of the internship. Priority will be given to young adults, students and seminarians. People with disabilities and candidates who identify as a person of color, Hispanic/Latino and/or B/G/L/T are encouraged to apply. Successful applicants will have good writing skills; passion for both advocacy and theological reflection; the ability to work independently; and some experience with both a UU congregation or organization and some type of lobbying or justice organizing.
Deadline:
Applications must be received by Noon on Monday, November 17th, 2008.
Application Process:
All materials should be type-written or word-processed. Sending materials by email is great; but they must be formatted in Word and not pasted in. We will confirm that we have received your application, so if you do not hear from us please follow up. Applicants are required to submit the following:
- Cover Letter: 1-2 pages explaining why you are passionate about all three aspects of the program;
- Resume: 1-2 page summary of your education, job experience, justice work, and UU connections;
- Writing sample: 1-2 pages that shows you can write well (we strongly prefer writing samples with content and structure relevant to this job - i.e. persuasive writing, letters to the editor or letters to elected officials/people in power, faith statements, etc.)
- Two references, preferably one from a Unitarian Universalist source.
Please follow the limits on length! Not doing so may hurt your application.
Send your application to:
UUA Washington Office for Advocacy
Attn: Internship Application
666 11th St. NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20001
(fax) (202) 393-5494
Applications may be directed to Lesley Murdock, uuawo_mgr @ uua.org; (202) 393-2255 x10.
Help your application by learning more about the program and the work of our office.
The best way to keep up with new developments, deadlines and the work of our office is to join our Action Network. The UUA Washington Office is integral to the work highlighted at uua.org/socialjustice and our staff blog, Inspired Faith, Effective Action.
Existing Internships
We currently have four internship positions:
- Legislative Assistant for Economic and Racial Justice
- Legislative Assistant for International Issues
- UUWF Clara Barton Internship/Legislative Assistant for Womens Issues
- Mary Bonner Memorial Internship/Program Associate for Peacemaking
These positions are for one year, with a possible option to renew. If you are interested in the social justice internship program, check back on this page in January of 2009 for further openings. The best way to stay posted on possible openings is to subscribe to our Advocacy News email list.
Last updated on Monday, November 3, 2008.
