Health Justice Internship

ABOUT THE PRAXIS PROJECT

The Praxis Project is a values-driven national nonprofit organization that seeks to improve health justice through partnerships to build community power. Praxis believes strongly that organized communities are critical partners in the struggle to increase equity in African American, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian and Pacific Islander, and other communities of color. Praxis works with over 200 diverse grassroots groups from across the United States that build power to increase health, equity and racial justice. Praxis works in strong partnership to enable local efforts to build community power through training, technical assistance, and capacity building services, as well as through comprehensive fiscal sponsorships. Our work focuses on developing and maintaining partnerships that actively advance Praxis’ mission to build healthy communities by transforming the power relationships and structures that affect our lives.

The work environment at The Praxis Project is fast-paced, creative, and fun, and our team is hardworking and extremely passionate about our mission. These positions will support our ambitious growth and impact.

POSITION SUMMARY

Praxis interns are an integral part our team and will receive experience in one or more of the following areas: health justice policy, public health training, organizational capacity building, and field organizing. For candidates with extensive training and experience, this will be an opportunity to apply your skills to national projects impacting various communities; for candidates with less direct experience and training, this is an opportunity to learn the current national landscape of community-based organizing, people-centered training methodologies and grassroots campaign strategy, while exploring equity, advocacy, organizing and communications. Praxis interns are typically currently enrolled full-time students working toward earning either a bachelor’s or master’s degree and tend to have an academic focus on public health, public policy, urban planning, communications, or a related field.

For 2021, Praxis will hire two health justice interns with one of the positions designated as The Dileep Gopal Bal Fellow in honor of an emeritus board member.  Both positions will report to the Program Director, and work collaboratively to accomplish the duties described below:

• Support The Praxis Project in our effort to forge a broad-based movement led by the communities most affected by health inequity in bold, creative and effective ways. This work concentrates on three primary areas:
• Expanding capacity-building support to public health and community-based partners to address the root causes of inequities.
• Leveraging our networks to advance national initiatives that connect communities with national foundations.
• Developing tools and resources based on our extensive evaluation data to improve equity practice in the field.
• Support the planning and execution of Praxis’ virtual convenings for social justice leaders to learn about best practices and explore opportunities for shared work to make communities healthier and safer.
• Support Praxis communications including contributing to email and social media campaigns and/or blog posts.

This is a paid, full-time, temporary, non-exempt, non-benefits-eligible position based either in Oakland, CA or working remotely.

Our interns work full-time at 40 hours per week and are paid at an hourly wage of $19-$21 depending on education and experience level, and specific duties. We welcome interns that have their own funding or who are eligible for work study. Our summer internship terms are typically 10-12 weeks long. We require a minimum 8-week commitment from our interns and the longest possible internship term is 12 weeks.  Office equipment will be provided to interns working remotely, and we will reimburse for business usage of personal cell phone and internet service. 

Internship candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

GENERAL ROLES

• Fosters an environment that promotes trust and cooperation among partners and staff.
• Understands Praxis’ mission, values and principles and applies them in work responsibilities.
• Works collaboratively with other programmatic staff to achieve overall program goals.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contribute research and strategic thinking for Praxis’ community-centered initiatives.
• Participate in planning and coordination of Praxis’ virtual Learning Circles, network activities, and other partner meetings and communications.
• Assist with updating Praxis’ strategic outreach plans.
• Contribute to the development of trainings, tools and presentations.
• Curate research and best practices for advancing health equity and justice.
• Contribute to Praxis’ social media outreach.
• Administrative work directly related to Praxis’ organizational priorities and communications efforts.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrated interest and commitment to equity and justice issues through either personal experience, past employment, or volunteer opportunities.
• For undergraduate applicants, completion of junior year is preferred. For graduate applicants, completion of the first of the two year program is preferred. For community partner applicants, at least two years of front line organizing experience is preferred.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES

• Basic knowledge of people-centered/popular educational methodologies.
• Basic knowledge of outreach techniques.
• Detail and problem-solving oriented.
• Excellent and demonstrable research, writing and communications skills.
• Proficiency in Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, Tagalog, Vietnamese, especially writing, is a plus.
• Tenacity to see assignments through to the end.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Fast-paced work environment.
• High level of concentration and attention to detail required.
• Time speaking and listening: (range 25–50%).
• Participating in frequent remote video and telephone conferences is required.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Praxis Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity and gender expression, religious creed, disability (mental and physical) including HIV, AIDS, and AIDS-related conditions, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, age, marital status, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

The Praxis Project will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of qualified employees with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on Praxis operations. Please advise of any accommodation needed at the time of application.

REQUIRED TRAINING

Praxis is committed to fostering a safe and welcoming work environment. All Praxis employees are required to complete training on preventing harassment and discrimination, managing bias, and creating an inclusive workplace on an at least annual basis.

HOW TO APPLY

To be considered for this position, please send a cover letter explaining your interest in and qualifications for this internship as well as how you learned about the opportunity, and your resume or CV to Jenna Gaarde, Program Director, at jenna@thepraxisproject.org with “Praxis Health Justice Internship” in the subject line (Praxis will determine the Health Justice Intern vs. Dileep Gopal Bal Fellow designation during the selection process depending on education and experience level). Please submit your application by March 15, 2021. We anticipate making offers around April 12, 2021 for a May/June start date. Please, no calls.