Fields: technology, housing, disabilities, social services, civil rights
Location: DC
About the Organization: With over 30 years of experience, the Equal Rights (ERC) Center is a Washington, DC based non-profit that investigates and remediates acts of discrimination. We promote equal opportunities nationally in employment, housing, government services and public accommodations for all protected classes. The ERC accomplishes our efforts through education, research, testing, enforcement, advocacy and partnerships.
About the Position:
Civil Rights
Reports to: Program team
Internship Focus: Support the ERC’s Strategic Initiatives & Fair Housing programs
Ideal for: Upperclassmen interested and passionate about Civil Rights, or with particular focus or past experience in housing, LGBTQ+ issues, disability and/or accessibility rights issues.
Internship Overview:
The Civil Rights Programs Intern will be providing support mainly to 2 programs: Strategic Initiatives Program & Fair Housing program. These programs are at the forefront of addressing housing, public accommodations & retail discrimination. To address these barriers, they conduct education and outreach, individual and systemic investigations, and advocate on behalf of their members and others who have experienced discrimination. We are seeking an intern to assist these programs in achieving their goals and continuing our efforts.
The internship runs from Tuesday, September 4th, 2018 through Friday, November 30th, 2018. This is a paid internship that will run for 11 weeks. Students will be paid in compliance to D.C.’s hourly minimum wage. Students are expected to be available for 11 weeks, part time (15 hours per week).
Core Responsibilities:
- Assisting with testing responsibilities as requested;
- Conducting background research for reports and investigations;
- Assisting with data entry;
- Support webinar & trainings logistics;
- Help prepare for meetings;
- Take and edit photos.
Experience & Education Required:
- Educational background AND interest in civil rights, social justice and advocacy issues.
- Currently pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in any social science field (i.e. history, sociology, psychology, politics, etc.).
- Sensitivity toward cultural, racial, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity.
- Integrity, respect, and discretion in handling confidential information.
Experience & Education Preferred:
- Prior experience working or interning for social advocacy groups particularly related to civil rights issues.
- Second language a plus.
- Prior experience conducting intakes or receiving calls from people experience discrimination.
- Prior experience or knowledge of civil rights testing.
- Prior knowledge of the ADA and/or FH Act.
Technology
Reports to: Accessibility Rights Program
Internship Focus: Support the ERC’s app, Access A11Y.
Ideal for: Students with experience in and a passion for using technology to advance civil rights.
Internship Overview:
The Accessibility Rights Program recently developed Access A11y, a web-based app that allows people who use wheelchairs, canes, hand crutches, and other mobility devices to discover, review, and rate the accessibility of stores and restaurants in the Greater Washington, D.C. area and New York City. The Civil Rights Tech Intern would be providing critical support for the app in the following areas: content updates, app maintenance and back end administration, user engagement, social media support, and improvements to user experience. This person would also assist in day-to-day ERC tech troubleshooting.
The internship is designed to run from September 4th, 2018 through November 30th, 2018 but an earlier start date is negotiable. This is a paid internship that will run for at least 11 weeks. Interns will be paid in compliance to D.C.’s hourly minimum wage, and are expected to be available for 15 hours per week.
Core Responsibilities:
- Update app content with photos, written content and business information.
- Troubleshoot technical problems and provide back end administrative support.
- Respond to and route routine inquiries.
- Review, suggest, and implement processes to optimize user experience and overall app efficiency and performance.
- Create reports based off Google Analytics data.
- Draft content for social media to promote the app.
- Engage users.
Experience & Education Required:
- Currently pursuing a college degree from an accredited university.
- Education, training, or significant experience in computer science, computer technology and/or relevant disciplines.
- Interest in civil rights, social justice and advocacy issues.
- Skilled in WordPress; High proficiency with social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
Estimated Salary: $13.50/hr
Deadline: Open until filled
Apply Here:
Equal Rights Center
Entry Level Jobs for Social Impact 