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Human Rights & Social Justice

, Filed Under: Internship

Spring Internships with the Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice: Deadline November 24th!

Call for Applications

Spring 2015 Undergraduate Internship

Deadline: Monday, November 24, 2014

The Bernard and Audre Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice at the University of Texas School of Law is currently accepting applications for UT undergraduates to intern with us during the spring of 2015!  Interns will support various initiatives at the Rapoport Center.  This internship is ideal for students who are interested in:

  • Working on human rights research and advocacy projects
  • Learning how an academic center functions
  • Engaging in human rights scholarship
  • Gaining practical experience
  • Collaborating with faculty, staff, and students

This is an unpaid internship.  Selected interns should be available at least 10 hours per week during the semester.

The Role of Human Rights Interns

Undergraduate interns play an important role at the Rapoport Center.  Interns will focus on different activities, depending on their background, interest, and the needs of the Center.  Primary duties include:

  • Assisting with human rights research and advocacy projects
  • Supporting the coordination and publicity of events and programs
  • Expanding the Center’s social media outreach
  • Providing administrative support for Center programs
  • Contributing written work for press releases, website, and Annual Review publications
  • Serving as liaison to the UT undergraduate community and helping develop the Center’s undergraduate outreach
  • Assisting Center Administrator, Co-Directors, Human Rights Scholars, graduate students, and affiliated faculty with other projects and tasks as assigned

Required Qualifications 

  • Commitment to working on issues of human rights and justice
  • Excellent writing skills
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Regular and punctual maintenance of office hours
  • Professional demeanor
  • Experience with internet research, standard office equipment, and Microsoft Office

The following qualifications may be preferred in some candidates:

  • Proficiency in Spanish and/or Portuguese
  • Experience with scholarly research and editing
  • Experience with publication, design, and website software (e.g. Adobe Creative Suite)
  • Event planning and/or fundraising experience

How to Apply

Qualified students should submit the following materials individually in PDF format to Rapoport Center Administrator William Chandler at wchandler@law.utexas.edu (subject: Undergraduate Internship):

  • Cover letter (state why you are interested in the position; demonstrate basic knowledge of our programs and activities)
  • CV/Resume (indicate any relevant skills and foreign language proficiency)
  • Transcript (unofficial is acceptable, as long as it’s not a grade report; an official copy can be mailed separately if needed, to arrive by the application due date)
  • List of three references (at least two must be UT faculty; include contact information)
  • Writing sample (3-5 pages; does not need to relate directly to human rights, although that is preferable)

Questions?

Contact William Chandler at wchandler@law.utexas.edu or 512-232-4857.

Thank you and good luck!

, Filed Under: Internship

Spring 2015 Internships Available with Caritas

Mission Statement: Caritas provides a service continuum for those experiencing poverty that begins with a safety net and links them to resources to achieve self-sufficiency.

Internship Title: Employment Guide

Responsibilities/Projects: Caritas of Austin’s Employment Program serves persons making the transition out of poverty by assisting them with gaining employment. The Employment Guide may assist refugees, low-income family members, veterans, or disabled persons who have experienced homelessness.
The Employment Guide Intern supports the client with job search activities or projects, under the guidance of an Employment Specialist. The Employment Guide may develop new skills in assisting Caritas clients in seeking employment and financial stability. Duties and responsibilities may include the following:

  • Serve as a guide and resource to the client engaged in the job-seeking process.
  • Coach the refugees in employment language utilized in the United States.
  • Assist refugees with limited English skills in completing job applications.
  • Accompany refugees in applying for Social Security, shopping, accessing health care, and other

    acculturation activities.

  • Model appropriate dress for meeting prospective employers. (no jeans, t-shirts, or sneakers)
  • Submit on-line applications or coach clients in the procedure.
  • Accompany women to Dress for Success appointments.
  • Practice public transportation skills to new job sites.
  • Conduct mock interviews to provide practice for the job applicant.
  • Inform Caritas Employment Specialist about the client skill development in the job-search

    process.

  • Complete volunteer timesheets, due at the end of each month to the Employment Specialist.
  • Other duties, as agreed upon with the Employment Specialist

Qualifications:

  • Ability to work independently, under the direction of the Employment Specialist.
  • Project driven and see projects through to completion.
  • Willingness to work with people who possess little to no English skills.
  • Friendly, but always mindful that relationships must be professional, not personal.
  • Patient, communicating with cross-cultural sensitivity.

Language Requirement: There is no language requirement for this position although students with a working knowledge of our client languages are strongly encouraged to apply. These languages include but are not limited to: Swahili, Spanish, Nepali, Burmese, French, Tigrigna, Amharic and Arabic.

Working Conditions: Interns will be working in standard office conditions and may be asked to work with clients in community and employment related settings as needed.

On-Site Supervisor/Mentor:

Maritza Rosario
Employment Program Manager Caritas of Austin
611 Neches Street
Austin, TX 78767-1947
(512) 479-4610 x145 mrosario@caritasofaustin.org

Mentorship Plan: Interns will be required to attend Caritas of Austin’s Direct Service Volunteer training where they will learn about working one on one with clients, confidentiality, and other service provision information. Each intern will be overseen by the Program Manager as well as an Employment Specialist. The Employment Specialist will serve as a mentor and will manage the intern on a day to day basis. The intern will shadow the Employment Specialist, receive training, and observe client meetings before taking on clients of their own. The intern will also be required to attend departmental and all staff meetings.

Preparation: Interns are not required to do any reading before beginning their internship. Below are some recommended resources that he/she may investigate more about what Caritas does and the process of Employment:

  • Caritas of Austin www.caritasofaustin.org
  • Read Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich
  • International Office of Migration http://www.iom.int/cms/en/sites/iom/home.html
  • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home
  • Cultural Orientation Resource Center http://www.culturalorientation.net/
  • Movie God Grew Tired of Us

To Apply: 

Students interested should send their resume as soon as possible to Houmma Garba at  hgarba@caritasofaustin.org

, Filed Under: Internship

Internship with the Anti-Defamation League

Are you an Austin college student looking for a meaningful work experience?

We’re looking for a spring 2015 intern in the Education department.

PRIMARY FUNCTION

Under direct supervision, participate in day-to-day operations and projects within the Division/Department/Regional Office in order to learn real-world transferable skills and gain work experience.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary: Shadow the respective manager, and designated colleague(s), to gain real-world work experience in, and a greater understanding of, the respective field of interest. Participate in Division/Department/Regional Office meetings to gain a better understanding of the mission of ADL and familiarity with community service work. Read print and electronic media on topics connected to the ADL mission. Under direct supervision, conduct research, prepare memos and letters, and draft meeting minutes in order to gain experience in the implementation of community service work. Gain a better understanding of field of interest by participating in special projects in the fields of development, civil rights, international affairs, education, community service, management, or other areas of interest.

Secondary: Provide clerical assistance as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

Skills

  • Effective verbal and written communication skills.
  • Research skills.
  • Ability to demonstrate commitment to ADL’s mission.
  • Experience in Microsoft Word.

Work Experience:

  • Prior volunteer or work experience helpful.

Education:

  • High School student, matriculated college student, or recent High School or college graduate.

The information in this job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification.  It is not designed to contain, or be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job, nor is it to be interpreted as a contract for employment.

To Apply: Email Megan Flowers at mflowers@adl.org, with a cover letter and resume