§ Internship
Assignments § Each intern will work on one special project
of mutual interest related to the issues the RC covers. The project may
be research and or advocacy. In addition, the intern will assist in the
advocacy program of RC by developing and sharing basic information and
policy and action alerts with the members of the RC, or attending meetings,
hearings or seminars on Capitol Hill or elsewhere. During most internships,
the RC will also be preparing for special trainings and events with our
member groups, and will request that interns assist and participate. Interns
will also assist staff with the basic tasks of operating a small office,
including answering phones and preparing materials for distribution and
updating member information in the data base and fax system, and other
team activities that are fundamental to the operation of a small office.
§ Skills § Self-starter with keen interest in the issues we cover. Willing to
understand the needs and concerns of our membership constituency and to
meet their needs for information and services. Basic computer skills (Mac
Preferred) are essential in word processing. Interns must have either
a familiarity with computers, the Internet and an electronic fax modem,
or the ability to learn easily.
§ Most
attractive part § Learn about issues from the point of view of a
multicultural, poor rural constituency in the US and Mexico. In the past
two years, with our very active community-based member organizations,
we have been working on developing an international people-to people trade
network among our diverse constituency, on addressing civil rights violations
of the US Department of Agriculture and transforming the way the department
works with its traditionally underserved customers, on sustainable agriculture,
organic regulations, the issuance and implementation of the Civil Rights
Action report and the National Small Farms Commission report of USDA.
In addition, we are working with USDA and the health community on addressing
the conditions of agricultural workers in the US.
