Cultural Survival's internship program is an integral component to the organization. Interns are actively involved in all areas of the organization, and play a vital role in the day-to-day operations. We require interns to commit no less than 16 hours per week at our offices in Cambridge, MA or Boulder, CO for a minimum of six weeks. The average internship lasts for the duration of one school semester or three to four months in the summer. Interns are required to attend a half-day orientation session at the beginning of their volunteer service to learn about all of Cultural Survival's current programs and our organizational history.
Interns convene on at least one Wednesday during their internship commitment for a lunch hosted by Cultural Survival, and to engage with staff in discussion on Indigenous Peoples' concerns and current events - or occasionally for discussion with a guest speaker or to view a film.
Internship Departments
Bazaars, Fundraising, and Events: A great opportunity for students and graduates alike, interns gain professional experience in fundraising, marketing, and outreach for a human rights organization. Interns work on special Cultural Survival events, provide membership and advocacy functions at our fair trade Bazaar series, and gain experience interacting with media and community partners, vendors and artisans.
Community Radio: Are you a fluent or proficient Spanish speaker? Practice your language skills while advancing a multi-year project supporting Indigenous community radio stations! The Guatemala Radio Project is a partnership between Cultural Survival and 200+ community-based radio stations working to protect Maya peoples' access to media. The project aims to improve the effectiveness of community radio as a means for Guatemala's Indigenous groups to receive and convey information locally, nationally, and globally. Interns working with the Guatemala Radio Project translate documents and memos; write updates for our publications and website related to the Guatemala Radio Project; and talk with our community radio station partners on a regular basis; among a variety of other tasks. Qualified interns are innovative and are able to think creatively about supporting the project implementation plan. Interns must be fluent or proficient (reading and writing) in Spanish.
Endangered Languages Program: Endangered Languages interns compile research, fact sheets, and maintain up-to-date contact and activity information in parternship with 300+ tribal language programs throughout the U.S. Campaign interns coordinate petitions and letter drives to key members of Congressional appropriations committees for Indian Education and Native language immersion funding. Interns may also draft website and e-newsletter updates, and creatively research foundation and corporate sources of urgently needed language revitalization funding. Interns may also support the work of our tribal grassroots program partners and advisors in Alaska, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. Interns should have a working knowledge of Indian Country and key policy organizations such as the National Congress of American Indians, National Indian Education Association, United Southern and Eastern Tribes, and the National Indian Gaming Association.
Global Response: Global Response campaign database interns must have excellent research skills and experience with using and developing databases. Experience with Raisers Edge database is a plus. Interns have the option to work in the Boulder, Colorado office of Cultural Survival. Interns will research and compile mission statements and contact information for national and international organizations that advocate for human rights, Indigenous Peoples' rights, environmental protection, environmental justice, etc. This database will be used by the Global Response program to identify potential campaign partners and build coalitions for each of our campaigns.
Global Response campaign outreach interns must have excellent communication skills (writing, person-to-person, some public speaking), the ability to organize events and volunteers, the ability to work with little supervision, and an interest in promoting letter-writing as a means of protecting the environment and defending Indigenous Peoples' rights. Interns will develop and carry out a plan to promote letter-writing for Global Response campaigns in the Boston, MA or Boulder, CO areas—or as a semester or summer project wherever you live. Interns will contact schools, universities, civic
clubs, faith communities, non-profit organizations, etc., and ask for opportunities to give presentations or to staff information tables at events. At these events, interns will engage adults and young people to write letters for the Global Response campaigns and to become active members of Cultural Survival.
Research and Publications: Interns applying in this department must have outstanding writing skills and be comfortable interviewing sources. Research and Publications interns will support existing Cultural Survival programs (Endangered Languages, Global Response, Guatemala Radio) and the general administration and production of our publications, such as the Quarterly magazine, monthly enewsletters, and website. Interns must have excellent communication skills. They should be adept Internet and journal researchers who pay particular attention to detail, and are able to read extensive amounts of information and present clear and concise summaries. Interns must be independent, self-motivated, and reliable. Interns will work mainly in collaboration with the Publications department and the Executive Director. Please submit a writing sample (3-5 pages) with your application.
Deadlines to apply:
Summer Internships-March 31
Fall Internships-August 15
Spring Internships-December 15 (to begin internships in January) and December 31 (to begin internships in February).
Application Process:
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume as an attachment to internship@cs.org (in one MS word document or PDF file). In your cover letter, describe your goals for the internship and explain how your experiences and skill set will contribute to Cultural Survival's programs. Please be sure to include the minimum dates you are available to intern and the hours per week you are available (when possible). As this is an unpaid internship, we encourage applicants to seek grant support or for-credit options through their university.
Successful applicants will be notified by May 7 (Summer); September 1 (Fall); and January 5 or January 15 (for Spring internships beginning in January and February, respectively).
Please send inquiries and requests for assistance with funding/course-credit deadlines to internship@cs.org or call Jennifer at 617.441.5400 ext.15
