Experience in the field can be valuable in several ways. It can enable you to decide if organizing work really does interest you and it can help you to choose the organizations you would most like to work for as well as the issues(s) you would prefer to address. Also,
experience strengthens your rsum and makes you more competitive for future roles in the field or for admission to an undergraduate or graduate degree program. There are two main ways to get this experience:
Volunteer Roles.
Volunteering is big in this country, and it's very important. According to the Independent Sector, 56% of American adults and 59% of teenagers volunteer an average of 3.5 hours per week each. You can volunteer for as little as an hour or two a week or as much
as full time. The work can be in your own community or in another part of the country or world. The Web provides many sites that can help you locate a volunteer role to your liking. Most will enable you to search by different criteria such as location and
type of work, and many have helpful links. Here are some especially good sites:
If you can't locate your preferred volunteer role through online sources, identify the organizations that interest you, and contact them directly to ask if they need you for the type of work you would like to do, e.g., help with organizing. Another
approach is to identify the organizations that most appeal to you, e.g., those involved in organizing, and contact them to see if they offer volunteer roles in a location that suits you. The Guidestar site will enable
you to identify more than 850,000 IRS-recognized nonprofits. Whichever approach you use, always familiarize yourself with the mission and programs of each organization before you contact them. Also, construct a strong résumé that highlights your
relevant strengths.
Internships and Short-term Jobs.
Internships are usually more structured arrangements than volunteer positions, and they typically have specific starting and ending dates. Summer internships are the most common, but others are possible as well, including those that last an entire year.
Summer or part-time jobs are different from internships in that they always involve pay while internships sometimes don't. Many organizations feel that part or all of the compensation for the internship is in the form of the learning that takes place. While
the Web offers relatively few sites for identifying these opportunities through a database search, both Guidestar and Idealist are good sources. In using Guidestar, type "internship" in the
"quick search" box, then add other criteria such as "type of organization" or "location". For Idealist, do an internship search using "Community Building and Renewal" as an area of focus. A number of organizations offer special programs relating to
organizing. After you have identified those you would most like to spend time with, check to see what they may offer. Here are some examples:
The Midwest Academy, a national training institute for direct action organizing, hires summer interns and pays a stipend.
The AFL-CIO Organizing Institute runs a paid, four-week summer program called Union Summer. It's an "educational internship to participate in and develop skills useful for union organizing
drives and other campaigns for workers' rights and social justice."
The Gamaliel Foundation offers training programs twice each year for new leaders in each of its local affiliates
The Center for Third World Organizing provides weekend training programs for new organizers as well as the Minority Activist Apprenticeship Program.
The DART Center offers their Organizers Institute, an annual, four-month, paid training program created explicitly for those interested in gaining the experience to launch a career in Community
Organizing.
Quotes from People in The Field
"Students are often in the forefront of political change (peace movement, civil rights, etc.); they have the time, energy and resources to make a difference. By campus organizing, one is working to train the next generation of
political leaders, as well as to become one themselves."
- Kathleen Barr, Policy Advocate, U.S. PIRG (Public Interest Research Group)
"Coalition-based organizations in cities across the country, like Jobs with Justice, can serve as gateways for young people to find organizer training, internships, and job opportunities."
- Matthew Jerzyk, Organizer, Rhode Island Jobs with Justice
"Many organizers get their start right on their own college campuses, through various student organizations. Other organizing experience can come from volunteering or getting a work-study job at a local grassroots
organization."
- Charles Walker, Organizer, Day Care Justice Co-op
Tip #1: Your college or high school may have an office that lists volunteer positions-typically a public service center or career services office.
Tip #2: Many experiences, in addition to direct organizing work, can be valuable to starting a career as an organizer. For example, experience regarding an issue that you feel strongly about, whether it's prison reform, women's issues, farming,
immigration, consumer protection, or any one of a long list of others.
