Summer 2024 - Intern, Advocacy & Partnerships

Who you are:

Vera’s Advocacy & Partnerships department is responsible for coordinating the vision, strategy, and staff development across Vera’s initiatives to pass legislation, change policy, and create change at scale. We work to ensure that the goals of our advocacy campaigns align with the people and communities most impacted by criminal justice and immigration policies, and we collaborate with movement and advocacy partners to produce the right knowledge and ideas needed to change policies and legislation at the right time.  

Vera’s advocacy department serves the following core functions:  

• Providing state and local government and movement strategy guidance to Vera’s national and place-based initiatives, with a focus on lobbying, campaigns, and coalition work; Vera Insights, a rapid response data and evidence team responsible for developing and producing data and knowledge to key partners and audiences;  
• Federal Policy expertise to lead Vera's advocacy strategies in DC; and 
• Vera Action, an independent (c)(4) entity. 

 As an intern with Vera’s Advocacy & Partnerships department, you will gain insight into the day-to-day issues affecting those who are incarcerated as well as the opportunity to work alongside and learn more about the range of work Vera does across the country and deeper knowledge on issues and advocacy efforts across the criminal legal and immigration landscape .You are passionate about social and racial justice and motivated to help drive change. You are enthusiastic, collaborative, curious, and kind, and you value working with and helping others. You like creating processes to help teams function, and you like building information systems

What you'll do:

Manage the backlog of communications from incarcerated individuals: 

• Review and gather information from communications received from incarcerated individuals 
• Research and respond to requests from incarcerated individuals. 

Assist with research and drafting: 

• Conduct daily online, media, literature, and news reviews.  
• Draft research synopsis memos

Help create and maintain a database of executive and legislative members and staff:   

• Assist with the creation of a quick-reference database providing information on electees and their staff in the state, city, and local governments we work in. 

Other duties as assigned by Manager, but not limited to:

• Provide support for special events and projects 

What qualifications are we looking for?

• Education in program management or equivalent work experience 
• Strong ability to conduct research. 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

• Proficiency in Smartsheets software. 
• Exceptional organization skills  
• Ability to pay attention to details. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Knowledge of project management software and models. 
• Interest in criminal justice reform, racial equity, and justice 

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn office. Vera interns and employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule. Full-time positions generally amount to 10 days per month. Part-time positions generally amount to 5 days per month.

Schedule:

The intern should be available to work up to 35 hours per week during the summer. The dates will be between June 3rd and August 9th, with some flexibility to accommodate personal and academic schedules.

Compensation:

The compensation range for internships is $16.00 - $25.00 per hour. Actual compensation will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. Applicants may choose to receive academic credit. For those who need to earn academic credit, Vera will gladly assist in working with the school or program to make arrangements and meet requirements.

How to apply:

Please submit cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, please explain why you are passionate about criminal justice reform and what you hope to gain from this internship.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People Resources / Summer 2024 – Intern, Advocacy & Partnerships 
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

In order to ensure a healthy and safe work environment, Vera Institute of Justice is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine before their start date. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical contraindication or sincerely-held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.g., an exemption) to this requirement.

Vera is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org