Call for Applications: Internship with WILDR Santa Cruz (Women in Leadership for Diverse Representation), Women’s History Month Event 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

Event Planning and Coordination (40%)
- Support Planning Committee in overall design of the event, attending bi-weekly virtual meetings, disseminating information to the committee members, and other tasks as assigned.
- Participate in and lead as assigned on day before, day of, and day after event to ensure an efficient and successful event. May include setting up equipment, decorating, providing parking support, registration of participants, ensuring translation capacity, etc.

Program Committee support (20%)

- Attend Program Committee bi-weekly meetings, coordinate meeting materials, disseminate information to the committee members and to the Planning Committee. At the direction of the Committee contact speakers and/or performers, ensure that speakers and/or performers are supported on the day of the event.
Communications (40%)
- Maintain and share Google sheets database of contact names for various purposes: potential participants, partner organizations, sponsors, nominators, etc.
- Prepare and send out social media (Instagram, Facebook, text and email) to communicate with potential event participants.

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 with using Google documents along with familiarity with Google sheets and/or interested in developing skills in building and using Google sheets as a database management system.
Experience with or an interest in learning about developing financial sponsorship, promotional strategies to build attendance.

In This Role, You Will Gain:

Real life experience in working to address diversity issues and uplift women’s voices.
A network of contacts within the Santa Cruz community of women who want to see other women be successful.
Understanding of what it takes to organize and put on a successful community event.

When: Winter Quarter 2024 (January 8, 2024 – March 15, 2024*) *There is a possibility to extend this internship through April 15, 2024 depending on intern availability.

Hours: 10-20 hours/week

Compensation: $20/hour

Location: Mostly remote. You will need to be in person in Santa Cruz during the week of the Women’s History Month event only (March 27-29 2023.) The event will be on Thursday March 28 from 11 -1, so you will need to be available from 9 until 3 that day.

Most work will be conducted online with the major exception that attendance the day before, day of, and day after the event (March 27 - 30) is mandatory. There may be a few other opportunities to attend a meeting or event in Santa Cruz in person.

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.
APPLY NOW

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.