
The Bill Leininger Summer Justice Internship Program is an 8-week summer program that builds regional grassroots political power for our communities by training and embedding future leaders in ongoing political and social change campaigns in Santa Clara County. Interns will develop authentic relationships, leadership, trust, and alliances within Working Partnerships USA, a local community nonprofit renowned for its role as a research think tank, and an advocacy and organizing force for working families. The ultimate goal of the program is to nurture well-rounded, informed, and strategic leaders who can engage in community centered non-profit, electoral, and public policy campaigns equipped with theory-informed hard skills.
Participants will work together within Working Partnerships USA’s various departments to refine their own community organizer mindset, implement power-building and campaign-planning, while also digging deeper into legislative processes, elections, political strategy, unions, and more. Our tailored placement system matches intern interests and personal skill sets to department specific projects and work. By the end of the program, interns will have:
• Supported the advancement of (and won!) campaigns that drive a shared longer-term political strategy and long-term agenda
• Grown as leaders within organizations, movement infrastructure, and our regional political landscape
• Identified and bonded with successful mentors throughout the South Bay, covering several communities and skill sets
• Broadened partnerships and cultivated relationships beyond their immediate networks, with an emphasis on authentic community-building
• Possession of a deep understanding of Working Partnerships USA’s regional theory of change around workers, tenants, and communities of color
OUR VALUES
1) Racial Justice that centers the dreams, priorities, and voices of working people and Black, Indigenous, communities of color to dismantle racial capitalism and win economic justice and liberation for all.
2) Building Political Power with an organizing strategy anchored in base building that demands radical inclusion, names unapologetic truths, and takes on fights not simply to win, but to govern and transform.
3) Community Care that shows up in solidarity with our hearts and hands to listen, learn, and sustain our staff, allies, and communities.
4) Leading with Integrity by honoring our word, being accountable to our base, and creating the impact our communities deserve.
5) Movement Building rooted in the interconnectedness of our communities, the necessity of united fronts, and the power of labor and community organizing.
COMPENSATION
Interns receive $25 per hour and are expected to work 20 hours per week, including 5 hours of training. The remaining days will be spent working within a department in the organization.
PARTICIPANT ELIGIBILITY
Applicants of any and all ages and backgrounds should apply, with preference for those who have an interest in social change and working within a nonprofit setting. We encourage applicants who seek an entry level internship and want to develop a professional skill set, including transitional aged youth.
Transportation: Must have reliable transportation to attend in-person.
Commitment: Candidates must commit to the full internship timeline and attend in-person.
Leadership Experience: Preference will be given to candidates with previous leadership experience.
SCHEDULE
The internship spans 8 weeks, commencing on June 17th and concluding the first week of August. The schedule might shift around the 4th of July weekend.