Current Interships

DFL at the University of Minnesota is looking for interns that want to help out and get an inside look at party politics. For more information contact Peter Strohmeier stro0396@umn.edu

Progressive Minnesota: is a community based nonprofit political organization with 4,000 individual members and supporters and 9 affiliated groups. PM’s mission is to bring about social and economic justice and grassroots democracy through community organizing, coalition building, education and elections.  With a strong base of active volunteers, PM runs effective grassroots campaigns to win on issues that matter, like affordable housing, living wages and better public schools.  PM has won major campaigns that stopped public funding for private sports stadiums, brought police under local civil rights laws, placed living wage job requirements on taxpayer-subsidized corporations, and won major funding for public school children. Currently PM is organizing community action groups around the state to fight back against Governor Pawlenty’s budget cuts, Hmong action groups in the suburbs, as well as endorsing and organizing voters in races ranging from the state legislature to the Minneapolis school board.  

Job responsibilities include:

·         Organizing volunteers for phone banks, petitioning, membership meetings, accountability sessions with elected officials, and other activities.

·         Working one-on-one with PM members to develop their campaign and leadership skills.

·         Recruiting new members and building an active volunteer base through door-knocking, home visits, and phone banks.

·         Maintaining PM databases through data entry.

·         Compiling information on PM related issues and campaigns my monitoring the local media.

 Qualifications:  Applicants must be self-motivated; organized and able to work well with others.  Applicants especially need an ability to motivate diverse groups of people; deep commitment to progressive politics, social justice issues and working with communities of color; ability to speak Hmong, Spanish, or Somali is a plus!  

 To Apply: Send cover letter and resume by May 15^th to Ryan Greenwood, Organizing Director email: ryan@progressivemn.org; fax: (651) 645-1311, mail: 2484 University Ave. W., St. Paul, MN 55114

Position Title:  Reality Checker with Planned Parenthood

 Function of Organization:  Planned Parenthood of Minnesota/South Dakota is a non-profit organization that provides reproductive health care to tens of thousands of women, men, teens and families each year. PPMSD is an affiliate of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and believes that everyone should have access to quality medical care at an affordable cost. PPMSD’s medical services are complemented by educational programs and advocacy for family planning and reproductive rights.

 Function of Public Affairs:  The Public Affairs department at Planned Parenthood of Minnesota/South Dakota works to educate our constituents and elected officials around reproductive health care and rights.

 Description:  A reality checker volunteer will monitor local media outlets, particularly newspapers, for items on reproductive health and family planning, or those concerning or mentioning Planned Parenthood.  After monitoring local media outlets, the Reality Checker volunteer will educate the public by responding to news items on reproductive health or Planned Parenthood by writing letters to the editor.

Specific Duties:

·         Monitor local paper

·         Monitor nightly news programs

·         Keep a record of items in the news

·         Keep clippings of written items/pieces

·         Write and send original or pre-written letters to the editor to local papers monthly

·         Keep a record of letters written and sent

·         Complete a monthly report including your record of letters sent and reason for sending

·         Make recommendations to the Public Affairs Organizer about new topics to focus on

 Qualifications:

• Previous habit of reading the paper and watching television news preferred
• Strong writing skills and interest in writing
• Ability to work independently
• Interest in family planning and reproductive health issues
• Commitment to public education and to Planned Parenthood
• Must be willing to have your name in print

 Contact:  Volunteer Coordinator at 651-698-2401 or volunteers@ppmsd.org