The Seeds of Fire Program (SOF) at Highlander is looking for one Spring to Summer Youth East Tennessee Organizing Intern to join to us from Mid-March and to the last week of September 2019! This position will be an opportunity for a youth in the Knoxville, New Market, Kodak and/or Morristown area to build their political and organizational analysis through mentorship and guidance from Highlander staff, as well as develop their own campaign(s) and project(s). The intention of this position is to create capacity for youth leadership development and organizing in the East Tennessee region. This position is a 6 month internship and will require 23 hours each week from the Highlander office in New Market, with some flexibility to work from home occasionally.
One of the ways in which SOF works to create spaces for young people to be at the forefront of the work towards systemic change is by offering Spring to Summer internship opportunities. Being a Seeds of Fire Organizer allows for Southern and Appalachian youth to gain paid organizing experience and be at the leadership table of organizing and political work, while also providing opportunities to expand on skills and to bring their expertise to Highlander and their surrounding communities.
Applicants will have the chance to expand and exercise their campaign based skills, which include but are not limited to: coordination, research and power-mapping, action and event planning, community engagement and outreach, public speaking, resource generation, communications and fundraising.
Key Areas of Work:
Craft infrastructure to support youth organizing and leadership development efforts in the East Tennessee area
Develop and coordinate relevant campaign outlets from current political issues in the region
Conduct community engagement and outreach in key areas to expand youth participation, organizing, leadership, and networks
Host events, political education opportunities, actions and trainings for political engagement
Provide mentorship and leadership to young people in East Tennessee who are seeking guidance around campaigning, action planning and education
Support Highlander staff in any other relevant organizing opportunity as needed
Act, and push out, Highlander as a resource
Generate organizing resources and materials like handouts, newsletters and one-pagers
Internal record keeping and databasing as needed
Online organizing and social media maintenance
Assist with fundraising for the Seeds of Fire Fund when possible
Act as a representative of Highlander in coalition building opportunities and events
Potential travel
Attend any needed trainings as identified by you and your manager
Outreach and attendance at the Seeds of Fire 2-week Summer Camp in July
Work collaboratively and provide support to any fellow SOF Organizer
What we’re looking for:
A young person living in the New Market, Kodak, Morristown or Knoxville area
You have a strong investment and interest in social justice and movement building, with a specific concentration on mass-incarceration, criminalization, immigrant justice and/or climate justice
You have a willingness to learn, challenge and be challenged, and expand on political theory and practice
You are as relaxed and fun as you are disciplined!
Priority will be given to queer, trans, immigrant and/or youth of color and those organizing on or existing within the immigration system and to youth living in the East Tennessee area
Pay:
This position pays $15 an hour for 23 hours a week, for 6 months and 2 weeks, and provides a $100 monthly health stipend.
What project(s), campaign(s) and/or issue(s) you’d be interested in working on
What skills you have and would like to expand on and what you feel you can learn while at Highlander
What community-based work you’ve done, and/or what community-based organizations you’ve been involved with
Any other application content that you feel would be relevant for us to have and would showcase your interest and experiences. Make sure to include any explanation needed of the content within your Letter of Interest. The content can come in any form of media which can include but is not limited to:
A Timeline of your work, life or experiences
A Video
A Powerpoint or other form of presentation
A Graphic design, Collage or sets of Pictures and Photographs
A Song, poem, or other writing samples
DEADLINE:
Applications will be accepted until February 28 or until position is filled, with interviews conducted as applications come in. Start date for this position is flexible, with a suggestive start of mid-March .
Seeds of Fire is committed to providing opportunities to young folks, with a commitment to engaging the skills and leadership of youth of color, working-class and low-income youth, LGBTQ youth, differently-abled youth, and other young people from diverse backgrounds. Youth from these and other traditionally marginalized backgrounds and communities are strongly encouraged to apply to all opportunities.
Popular Education Organizing Internship
The Seeds of Fire Program (SOF) at Highlander is looking for one Spring to Summer Popular Education Organizing Intern to join to us from Mid-March and to the last week of September 2019! This position will be an opportunity for a youth in the Knoxville, New Market, Kodak and/or Morristown area to build their political education skills using intentional and grounded popular education pedagogy/teaching methods through mentorship and guidance from Highlander staff. This position will also allow for the development and practice of educational resources, and the development of their own project(s), training(s) and curriculum(s). The intention of this position is to create capacity for popular education and other Highlander methodology within Seeds of Fire and at Highlander in New Market (onsite). This position is an internship lasting for 6 months, and will require 23 hours each week from the Highlander office in New Market, with some flexibility to work from home occasionally.
One of the ways in which SOF works to create spaces for young people to be at the forefront of the work towards systemic change is by offering Spring to Summer Organizing opportunities. Being a Seeds of Fire Organizer allows for Southern and Appalachian youth to gain paid organizing experience and be at the forefront of organizing and political work, as well as providing opportunities to expand on skills and to bring their expertise to Highlander and their surrounding communities!
Applicants will have the chance to expand and exercise their political education skills, which include but are not limited to: curriculum and training/workshop building, research, facilitation, pedagogy and methodology expansion, and post-training assessment, as well as budget and logistic management.
Key Areas of Work:
65% of time
Work alongside SOF Coordinator to create trainings, workshops and any curriculum for the Seeds of Fire Program and the Seeds of Fire Camp
Facilitate trainings and workshops on the Hill (onsite), in the surrounding community, and at any SOF event as needed, with mentorship and guidance from staff
Attend the SOF 2-week Summer Camp in July
Collect and document past and present Seeds of Fire documents, creating a system where all documents can be searched and found in an easy manner
Provide logistical and operational support for the Seeds of Fire Camp as needed
Support with budget management for the SOF Camp and overall Program
Assist with fundraising for the Seeds of Fire Fund when possible
Act as a representative of Highlander in coalition building opportunities and events
Potential travel
Attend any needed trainings as identified by you and your manager
Work collaboratively and provide support to any fellow SOF Organizer
35% of time
Support general Education Team with workshop, training and curriculum building
Act as co-facilitator with an Education Team member(s) on and offsite when needed
Document and source relevant documents as needed for the Education Team
Support Library efforts as needed
Develop individual project(s) to be accomplished during the Organizing time given
Who you are:
A young person living in the New Market, Kodak, Morristown or Knoxville area, preferred, but not required
Someone who has some understanding of popular education pedagogy (if not no worries!)
You have a strong commitment to popular education and collaboratively sourced learning
You believe that the people have the knowledge and answers to solve their own problems!
You have a strong investment and interest in social justice and movement building, with a specific concentration on mass-incarceration, criminalization, immigrant justice and/or climate justice
You have a willingness to learn, challenge and be challenged, and expand on political theory and practice
You are as relaxed and fun as you are disciplined!
Priority will be given to queer, trans, immigrant and/or youth of color and those interested in expanding in rural and cultural popular education organizing
Pay:
This position pays $15 an hour for 23 hours a week, for 6 months and 2 weeks, and provides a $100 monthly health stipend.
What project(s), campaign(s) and/or issue(s) you’d be interested in working on
What skills you have and would like to expand on and what you feel you can learn while at Highlander
What community-based work you’ve done, and/or what community-based organizations you’ve been involved with
Any other application content that you feel would be relevant for us to have and would showcase your interest and experiences. Make sure to include any explanation needed of the content within your Letter of Interest. The content can come in any form of media which can include but is not limited to:
A Timeline of your work, life or experiences
A Video
A Powerpoint or other form of presentation
A Graphic design, Collage or sets of Pictures and Photographs
A Song, poem, or other writing samples
DEADLINE:
Applications will be accepted until February 28 or until position is filled, with interviews conducted as applications come in. Start date for this position is flexible, with a suggestive start of mid-March .
Seeds of Fire is committed to providing opportunities to young folks, with a commitment to engaging the skills and leadership of youth of color, working-class and low-income youth, LGBTQ youth, differently-abled youth, and other young people from diverse backgrounds. Youth from these and other traditionally marginalized backgrounds and communities are strongly encouraged to apply to all opportunities.
