Call for Applications: Internship with WILDR Santa Cruz (Women in Leadership for Diverse Representation), Communications and Community Development Intern

Application Deadline: Sunday December 10, 2023

The Humanities Division is excited to announce an experiential learning opportunity for Humanities undergraduates at UC Santa Cruz to work with WILDR (Women in Leadership for Diverse Representation / Mujeres en Liderazgo para la Representación Diversa). WILDR is a nonprofit organization in Santa Cruz County which provides information, connects people to resources, and, most importantly, builds a network of support in Santa Cruz County and all of its jurisdictions to support and encourage diverse women to serve in public office. They do this through providing forums for training, education and networking; their website; monthly newsletters and social media messaging; and a Women’s Leadership Circle for women running for election. 

Internships connect students in the Humanities to projects in the community, with the aim of mutually benefiting students and community organizations. Students gain first-hand experience learning about positions outside of the university that build on their studies in the Humanities and give them professional training, while, at the same time, organizations benefit from students’ assistance and academic background. Internships foster positive collaborations between the campus and community, demonstrating the value of a Humanities degree for a range of careers.

About WILDR:

WILDR is committed to realizing more diverse representation by women in elected and appointed positions in Santa Cruz County. We support progressive women who reflect the communities they serve through training, networking, and leadership development. WILDR's vision is a democracy where elected officials and other leaders reflect the population, serving in roles that uplift all people in equity and justice.

WILDR participants support and work to uphold racial and gender equity, reproductive justice, lifespan education funding, voter access, housing justice, and equitable and shared economy for all. WILDR works to create the conditions for women with aligned values to enter and be supported in leadership roles, with a focus on elected and appointed positions in government. WILDR engages people that align with our core values, regardless of party. WILDR does not support specific candidates through endorsements or campaign funding

Position Description: 

WHAT’S GREAT ABOUT THIS INTERNSHIP  

This job will give you the opportunity to build engagement among a spectrum of community members to support the work of WILDR. You will learn how to apply techniques to develop community engagement especially among younger women, and women who have through cultural, sociological, and other barriers historically not known how to engage in public service in the county of Santa Cruz. 

RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

• Supporting and conducting community engagement, network development (60%)
  • Build out WILDR’s network by engaging with groups representing under-represented individuals: e.g. college attendees and staff, younger women, women living in South Santa Cruz County, women for whom English is not their first language, through the following means:
    • Research to identify one or more organizations, at UCSC and Cabrillo College, serving and engaging students and/or staff, with WILDR leadership, identify how to best engage and test implementing those efforts. 
    • Continue to further develop engagement in two groups with whom WILDR has made initial contact: Cradle to Career and South County Triage Group. 

• Developing and disseminating WILDR Communications (40%)

• • Prepare and send out communications in a variety of media/systems (Instagram, Facebook, email, text) to communicate with existing WILDR participants.
  • Manage WILDR Google Sheets database of participants.
  • Improve WILDR communication systems both by include email newsletter and text communication; also by refining messaging 

What We’re Looking For In a Candidate 

• You are a  declared major or minor in a department within the Humanities Division, and you are in good academic standing? (required)
• You are a strong interest in the work of WILDR and in working to get more women engaged in serving in public office in Santa Cruz County broadly.
• You are reliable and able to meet deadlines and communicate proactively using multiple media (email, text, Zoom, in person, etc.) You have strong time-management strategies to handle a flexible remote role. 
• You show a commitment to learning about barriers to serving in public office, and how to be successful in bringing more individuals to be involved with WILDR. Also commitment to and interest in learning communication techniques that will encourage broader support for WILDR. 

Bonus Points For 

• • Experience and skills in social media communications,WIX website tools,  

• Experience with using Google documents including familiarity with Google sheets; and/or interested in developing skills in building and using Google sheets as a database management system.   

In This Role, You Will Gain: 

• Real life experience in working to address diversity issues and uplift women’s participation in public office. 
• A network of contacts within the Santa Cruz community of women who want to see other women be successful.
• Understanding of what goes into a successful community and network building effort.

When: Winter and Spring Quarters 2024 | January 8–June 14, 2024

Hours: 10-20 hours/week 

Compensation: $20/hour

Location: This position is fully-remote and all work will be conducted online. There may be 1-2 opportunities to attend an in person meeting or event in Santa Cruz.

Reports to:  Dorian Seamster, Lead Coordinator

How To Apply

Apply by submitting your resume and a short cover letter (no more than one page) answering these questions: Why this job? Why you? Why now? 

Please address your cover letter to Dorian Seamster, Lead Organizer, WILDR.

• TIP: think about how this position will further your undergraduate studies as well as your professional goals once you have completed your education.
• NOTE: If you are a PROPOSED major in the Humanities Division, or in the process of declaring a major or minor, please explain that in your cover letter. 
• Review these resume and cover letter resources to ensure that you are a strong candidate. 

Once the application closes on 12/10, there will be a virtual interview process with selected candidates in December or early January, with official duties beginning in Weeks 1-2 of Winter Quarter 2024. 

Please contact Experiential Learning Coordinator Kylie Rachwalski at hum-experiential-learning@ucsc.edu with any questions.

NOTE: This undergraduate internship is generously supported by The Mellon Foundation.