Summer 2024 Civil Rights and Technology Internship

Deadline to Apply – March 15, 2024

Who We Are:

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a 501(c)(4) organization, is the premier coalition of more than 240 organizations that promotes and protects civil and human rights in America. The Leadership Conference has coordinated national lobbying efforts on behalf of every major civil rights law since 1957.  To learn more about The Leadership Conference, please visit www.civilrights.org.

The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, builds public will for federal policies that promote and protect civil and human rights in the US.  Founded in 1969 as the education and research arm of The Leadership Conference, the Education Fund’s campaigns empower advocates to push for progressive change in the US.  To learn more about the Education Fund, please visit www.leadershipconferenceedfund.org.

About the Civil Rights and Technology Internship

The Civil Rights and Technology Intern will support the Center for Civil Rights and Technology, a joint initiative of The Leadership Conference and The Education Fund, and will be part of a substantive, fast-paced internship program that provides real-world work experience in the policy arena to undergraduate and graduate computer science students interested in civil and human rights and social justice.

The Civil Rights and Technology Intern will be expected to provide technical expertise and insights into the latest developments and trends in computer science research and practices, to better inform policy recommendations for the governance of technology with implications for civil and human rights and social justice.

This position will report to the Senior Program Director, Center for Civil Rights and Technology, and is not part of the collective bargaining unit.

What you will do:

• Attend team, coalition, and task force meetings.
• Attend congressional hearings and briefings.
• Attend meetings with congressional, executive branch, and agency staff.
• Attend skills building workshops and trainings.
• Conduct research on topical issues.
• Prepare explainer memos, demos, and presentations on aspects of advanced technology directed at a broad audience of policymakers, legislators, and advocates.

What you will bring:

• Strong writing and research skills.
• Desire and ability to work with diverse groups of people.
• The ability to work collaboratively.
• The ability to multitask.
• A strong commitment to social justice issues.
• Completion of at least three semesters of coursework and current enrollment in an accredited college.
• Technical knowledge about a variety of topics in computer science, including but not limited to artificial intelligence, machine learning, data privacy and security, and cryptography.

Internship schedule: The internship is twelve-weeks long, Monday through Friday, beginning May 20, 2024, and concluding August 9, 2024.

Compensation: The interns will be paid an hourly rate of $20 per hour for a maximum of 40 hours per week.

Internship FAQs:

Q: Which students are eligible for the internship?
A: Applicants for this undergraduate internship must have completed at least three semesters of coursework and be currently enrolled in an accredited college.

Q: Is the internship virtual?
A: Yes, our internships will remain entirely virtual for the foreseeable future. There may be optional events in Washington, DC that interns who reside in DC may be invited to attend.

Q: What do I need to do to apply? When can I expect to hear back?
A: Please submit your resume, cover letter, a writing sample, and two references to our career center portal. Applications missing any of these components will not be considered to be complete. Unfortunately, due to the sheer volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to everyone individually. If you are selected for an interview, you will hear from us within a month after the application deadline.

To apply, please visit our Career Center and submit your resume and cover letter. Cover letters are required and should be attached.

Office Re-opening Statement

Currently, staff has the option to work from the office or home while we determine our long-term policy on remote and hybrid work. Please note this position is not permanently remote and over time the person filling this role may be required to work on occasion or regularly from the Washington, DC-based office.

Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace

The Leadership Conference and The Education Fund are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability.