Social Justice

UUA Social Justice Internship Program Application
For 2003-2004

The Program:

The goal of the UUA Social Justice Internship Program is to combine service, learning, and faith development in order to produce energetic young adults with the professional skills and strength of character to be lifelong leaders in fighting for social justice.

The program requires a time commitment of eleven months in which interns invest their time and energy in three main areas: Advocacy, Community Service, and Theological Reflection.

Advocacy Each intern is responsible for monitoring several areas of federal public policy in which they track and analyze proposed legislation and represent UU positions to government officials and to coalition partners. Interns also engage the denomination in their area of focus by informing UUs about policy developments, mobilizing constituents in key locales, and organizing UU outreach to elected officials.

Community Service Interns volunteer approximately five hours a week to engage directly with the communities and individuals who are affected by the legislation in focus.

Theological Reflection To avoid "social justice burnout," interns are encouraged to consider the bigger picture, the moral reasons behind their work, and the role of their Unitarian Universalist faith. Theological discussion and reflection, book readings, outside experiences, and meetings with a UU mentor are all part of the holistic learning and serving experience.

Issue Areas

Three internships are available, one each in the following issue areas: Economic Justice, Racial Justice, and Women's Issues.

Term and Pay:

The term is late August 2003 - July 31, 2004. The monthly stipend is $1500; some benefits are included (including 50% of health care costs). No housing is provided.

Qualifications:

Applicants must be US citizens, Unitarian Universalists, and 18 years old by the start of the internship. Priority will be given to young adults, students and seminarians. The Women's Issue Internship is reserved for women. Successful applicants will have good writing skills, passion for the job and theological reflection, the ability to work independently, and some experience with either (1) a UU congregation or organization, or (2) some type of lobbying or justice organizing.

Deadline:

Applications are due in our hands by Tuesday, March 1, 2003. Sending materials by email is great; but they must be formatted (i.e., in Word or WordPerfect, not pasted in). If mailing, we recommend using priority mail or another express-type service. We will confirm that we have received your application, so if you don't hear from us please follow up.

Application Process:

Applicants are required to submit the following:

A cover letter (not more than 2 pages) that articulates your passion for social justice, interest in this internship, and qualifications for it. Be sure to state which issue area you are applying for, and if you'd be willing to do another area.
A resume (not more than 2 pages) that summarizes your academic, work, justice, and UU experience;
A writing sample from an article, paper, etc. that shows you can write well. If it's more than two pages, please recommend two pages to us.
Two Letters of recommendation, preferably one from a Unitarian Universalist source. If possible, please include these letters with your other application materials.

PLEASE FOLLOW THE LIMITS ON LENGTH! NOT DOING SO MAY HURT YOUR APPLICATION.

Direct your application and questions to:

Rob Cavenaugh
Director, UUA Washington Office for Advocacy
1320 18th Street NW, Suite 300B
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 296-4672 x15
(202) 296-4673 fax
email: rcavenaugh@uua.org
web: http://www.uua.org/uuawo

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 email alert list at http://www.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/washofc-l. The best way to learn about the internship experience is to read the on-line journals kept by the current interns. You'll find them on the Internships section of our website at http://www.uua.org/uuawo .