My name is Sara Smith, Staff Attorney with TexPIRG, a citizen based consumer advocacy group, and we are reaching out to you because you’re a professor and a member of TexPIRG. We’re looking to recruit interns for our public interest issue campaigns, including Toxic Chemical Security, Youth Voter Registration and Antibiotics in Factory Farming.

Our internship program focuses on giving students a well-rounded experience in campaign politics. Students will work on each major part of any political campaign, grassroots/grasstops advocacy, direct advocacy (lobbying), media relations and policy research. These skills are essential whether you’re working on a presidential campaign or a ballot initiative.

Furthermore, TexPIRG is non-partisan, which means students will learn to build coalitions across partisan boundaries. Our focus on coalition building and cooperation has lead us to success in many of our issue campaigns.

Students will work closely with experienced advocates, staff attorneys, community organizers and legislatures on our campaign, gaining valuable skills.

Below are internship descriptions for our three types of positions. It would be great if you could forward this e-mail to your students.

Keep in mind that we are looking for volunteers as well. We’re willing to be flexible with your schedule to ensure a productive and educational internship for you, no matter how many or few hours you can commit.

Thanks,

Sara E. Smith, JD

Staff Attorney

Texas Public Interest Research Group (TexPIRG)

815 Brazos, Ste. 600

Austin, Texas 78701

740-591-6928 – cell

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE 

TexPIRG Internship: Research and Issue                 

Research Interns are an important link to the educational mission of  TexPIRG’s campus program.  The problems that our society faces seem complex and daunting.  Research interns take important information, cut through the confusion, and present the information to the campus and community in accessible and action-oriented ways. The position is open to students wishing to learn more about a particular issue, improve writing and communication skills, and learn more about the political system.

Responsibilities vary from project to project, but may include:

• Working with TexPIRG and USPIRG staff to
• Compiling local facts on top priority issues including Texas specific transportation developments, New Voters Project work across Texas campuses, Healthcare enrollment   and developing potential coalition partners.
• Working with media interns to organize a news conference centered around research results on a particular issue.

TexPIRG Internship:  Media, Public Relations

Media and public relations are key to each TexPIRG project.  Media/PR interns work to educate the campus and surrounding community about the environment, consumer protection and community service opportunities.  The position is open to students who want to learn how to work with the media, improve writing and designing skills, and learn more about campaigning and politics.

Responsibilities vary from project to project, but may include:

• Designing, editing, and producing a poster that encourages the campus to attend an education forum.
• Organizing local newspapers, radio and television stations to cover an event.
• Writing media advisories, press releases, and fact sheets.
• Pulling together a meeting between the editorial board of the campus or local newspaper and the Project Coordinators.
• Generating letters-to-the-editor and op-eds in local newspapers on a particular campaign.
• Managing and maintaining social media accounts including Twitter, and Facebook

TexPIRG Internship: Grassroots Organizing

Grassroots interns have a key role in each TexPIRG project.  Grassroots interns recruit and mobilize the hundreds of volunteers who make TexPIRG’s campaigns successful.  Grassroots interns supervise the letter writing and petitioning, generating political pressure on our elected officials to support our issues, and design the materials to educate the public about the problems of our time.  The position is open to students who want to work with other people, have a direct impact on our elected leaders’ decisions, and learn more about campaigning and politics.

Responsibilities vary from project to project, but may include:

• Recruiting, training, and motivating volunteers to organize a call-in-day to your target on a particular campaign.
• Coordinating petitioning drives.
• Building a coalition of campus and community groups to endorse your particular campaign.
• Organizing campus and community organizations to turn out volunteers for an event