Prison Abolition
Exodus Transitional Community
Address: 97-99 Cannon St. Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Issue Areas: Housing Insecurity/Justice, Mental Health Access and Support, Prison Abolition, Access to resources for formerly incarcerated individuals
About:
Exodus Transitional Community (ETC) offers reentry services to justice impacted individuals in the Dutchess County region. We partner with DCJS, DOCCS, and DCFS to offer case management, mentorship, supportive services, and parole-mandated programs to our participants. We also coordinate the Dutchess County Reentry Task Force, where we partner with the Public Defender’s Office and other local organizations to create case plans for individuals who are returning home from incarceration.
Expected Responsibilities/Duties:
Working directly with participants to provide case management services and completing intakes, inputting case data into CRM software, assisting with grant contracts/paperwork, assistance with filing/organization, community outreach/networking with other local organizations and resources, seeking/obtaining donations of food, clothing, and other essential goods (hygiene products, baby supplies, household goods, etc.).
Skills:
- Communications – emails, phone calls, in person outreach, Fact-checking, Research skills, Clerical skills, emotional intelligence
Additional Requirements: One form of ID (state-issued ID, passport, etc.)
Hours: 4hrs/week, 8hrs/week
Are you interested in getting involved with Exodus? Visit here for your next steps.
End the New Jim Crow Action Network (ENJAN)
https://endthenewjimcrow.blogspot.com/
Volunteer-run
Address: court watch occurs at the courts (10 Market St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601)
Issue Areas: Prison Abolition, Racial Justice
About:
End the New Jim Crow Action Network (ENJAN, pronounced “engine”) advocates locally and statewide to end mass incarceration, including both unjust imprisonment and the larger web of laws, rules, policies, and customs that control people labeled as criminals outside of prison walls. Because people of color are unfairly and disproportionately targeted by all levels of the criminal justice system, we focus on opposing practices driven by institutional racism to build a powerful movement (or “ENJAN”) for change. One of our focuses is court watch in which we train students to attend city or county court to observe and report on what is happening “”in the name of the people.
Expected Responsibilities/Duties:
Students can be either ENJAN interns or Court Watchers.
1) The ENJAN intern is responsible for attending bi-monthly meetings, taking and distributing meeting notes, completing research for current projects, assisting with events and outreach efforts (including attending city council, criminal justice council, and county legislature meetings), helping to liaise with other local groups and organizations, and supporting ongoing operations and projects. Current projects include police reform in the City of Poughkeepsie, election forums on criminal justice issues, and the school-to-prison pipeline. Must be available to attend meetings on Wednesday evenings.
2) Court Watchers are responsible for supporting the court watch project. Duties include preparing forms for court watching, attending court and recording data, attending weekly meetings to process what is happening in light of readings on criminal legal issues, and for writing or editing court watcher blog posts for the website, and contributing to social media (including Instagram0. In addition, court watch interns may also be asked to conduct outside research on matters related to the courts, criminal justice, etc. Must have availability to attend court at least one day per week. Poughkeepsie city and county courts are typically in session from 9 am to 12 noon, M-F.
Skills:
- Research skills, Social media management, Writing
Hours: 4hrs/week
Are you interested in getting involved with E.N.J.A.N.? Visit here for your next steps.
Prisoners’ Brain Trust
Non-profit
Poughkeepsie, NY
1-5 team members
Issue Areas: Prison Abolition, Racial Justice, Voting Rights
About:The Prisoners’ Brain Trust (“PBT’) embodies people directly impacted by the prison industrial complex’s many harms. Our members are a combination of queer/trans, cis-hetero, Black, Brown Indigenous People of Color, and white anti-racist/anti-authoritarian partners. Each member brings their full carceral and personal experiences into our work to dissect how policies impact and intersect our lives and communities. Prisoners’ Brain Trust addresses toxicity associated with the patriarchal structure; provides gender & sexuality training, political education, and leadership development; hones public speaking/debate skills; and offers moral/emotional support through the community.
Position Description:
Prisoners’ Brain Trust is seeking a Graphic Designer and Website Developer Intern to join our team for a remote internship position from the 1st week of June to the 1st week of August. The intern will collaborate closely with our Director of Design and other members of the PBT team, both internal and external, to create promotional materials and design our website. This internship offers a unique opportunity for individuals interested in using art for political activism and social change to gain hands-on experience in a dynamic and supportive environment.
- Design promotional materials including but not limited to posters, flyers, social media graphics, and digital assets aligned with PBT’s mission and messaging.
- Collaborate with the Director of Design and other team members to develop creative concepts and visual identities for various campaigns and initiatives.
- Assist in the development and maintenance of the PBT website, ensuring a user-friendly interface and visually engaging design.
- Participate in brainstorming sessions and contribute innovative ideas for leveraging art and design in political activism and advocacy efforts.
- Communicate effectively with team members to gather requirements, provide progress updates, and incorporate feedback into design iterations.
- Educational Component: Throughout the internship, the Graphic Designer and Website Developer Intern will have the opportunity to engage in educational sessions and discussions focused on the intersection of art, politics, and social change. These sessions may cover topics such as the history of political art movements, effective storytelling through design, and strategies for using digital platforms for activism.
Desired Skills/Qualifications:
- Proficient in graphic design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
- Experience with website design and development platforms (e.g., WordPress, Wix, Squarespace).
- Strong conceptual thinking and creative problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and collaboration abilities, with a willingness to work closely with team members remotely.
- Passion for social justice issues and a commitment to using art as a tool for political activism and community empowerment.
- Prior experience or coursework in graphic design, web development, or related fields is preferred but not required.
Hours: 4hrs/week, 8hrs/week; 1st Week of June to 1st Week of August; remote CEL
Are you interested in getting involved with PBT? Visit here for your next steps.
Family Services of the Hudson Valley
About:
Family Services brings people together to find the support they need, improving their lives and communities, and building a stronger, safer Hudson Valley.
Address: 29 N. Hamilton St, Poughkeepsie, NY
Position Description:
The Children’s Center Intern assists the Lead Teacher and Assistant Teacher at the Children’s Center at the Dutchess County Family Court in compliance with all NYS Office of Court Administration Children’s Center Program agreements. The Intern provides a safe and creative curriculum for children while their families attend to court business and offers consultation to families for resources within the community. The position enthusiastically supports, practices, and communicates the agency’s Mission and Statement of Values. Under the supervision of program staff, interns may facilitate activities with children and offer supportive counseling to parents. In addition to direct-services, interns will assist with administrative and clerical duties. Intern responsibilities will be inclusive of areas identified in their respective college/university learning plan. Children Center Interns enthusiastically support, practice, and communicate the agency’s mission and statement of values.
Role/Responsibilities:
- Responsible for assisting with the direct care and safety of the children left in the center
under the supervision of program staff. Implements and maintains the health and safety protocol/procedures and maintains visible instructive printouts of these procedures.Will assure center is in compliance with all program safety and confidentiality guidelines. - Under the supervision of program staff, assisting with required intakes and reports.
- Prepares and submits information for monthly reports to appropriate entities.
- Secures the intake paperwork in proper location.
- Maintains statistical records necessary for reports and research.
- Planning, development and evaluation of program activities.
- Designs and carries out curriculum and activities based on the needs and
development of children in center at any given time. - Develops and implements monthly/seasonal themes and constructive activities in
a long-range plan - Will implement the established curriculum guidelines
- Designs and carries out curriculum and activities based on the needs and
- Assisting with the distribution of referral and resource information to caregivers based on their and their children’s needs.
- Remains informed on current local resources and services.
- Assesses the needs of the caregiver and will respond to them through referrals to
appropriate agency/program.
- Assisting the Lead Teacher and Assistant Teacher in the planning and coordinating the Children’s Center/Supervised Visitation Advisory Committee in conjunction with the Associate Director and Director of Family Support Services
- Completion of all required training for staff.
- Providing appropriate, creative, supportive interactions with the children in the center in group and individual activities.
- Develop creative “in-class” programs based on age and present teachable
Hours: Students can register for either 0.5 or 1.0 unit of credit. 0.5 unit = 40 hours over the semester with the organization + 30 hours of academic work 1.0 unit = 80 hours over the semester with the organization + 60 hours of academic work
Are you interested in getting involved with the Children’s Center? Visit here for your next steps.