Voting Rights & Civics
Citizen Action of New York – hybrid position
https://citizenactionny.org
Non-profit, 20+ staff members + members/volunteers
Address: Poughkeepsie
Action Areas: Education Policy and Equity, Environmental Justice and Food Security, Housing Insecurity/Justice, Prison Abolition, Public Health, Racial Justice, Reproductive Rights, Voting Rights
About: Citizen Action of New York is a grassroots membership organization taking on big issues that are at the center of transforming society by:
– Ensuring our children have a quality public education no matter their zip code
– Ending our current system of mass incarceration and establishing a new system of justice
– Holding government accountable to all citizens
– Fighting for guaranteed quality, affordable health care
– Taking big money out of politics by creating a fair elections system
– Aiming to dismantle the historic racist system by promoting racial justice
– Striving for a more progressive tax system to begin to end the runaway inequality in our state
– Addressing the climate crisis and transitioning to a renewable energy economy
– We look for opportunities to accomplish big changes – not small, incremental reforms. We work to elect progressive candidates to office who are committed to these issues. Our power comes from the grassroots: people coming together to push the edge of the possible. – Every new member helps bring New York and America closer to a society that works for all of us!
We envision a world where every person’s basic needs are met. It’s a world filled with love and respect for its people and the planet. It’s a world where democracy reigns and each person is able to reach their fullest potential.
Position Description: Student will contribute to our organization by assisting with:
1) Community outreach through phonebanking, community canvassing, tabling, and social media engagement.
2) Recording, tracking, and submitting weekly data reports to help illustrate & analyze our work in the community.
3) Assisting development of community profiles, policy fact sheets, and other resources to help inform our local advocacy efforts
Desired Skills: Communications – emails, phone calls, in person outreach, Fact-checking, Public speaking/presenting, Research skills, Social media management, Data collection/analysis
Are you interested in getting involved with Citizen Action? Visit here for your next steps.
Dutchess County Democratic Committee
Volunteer-run, 1-5 team members
Address: 272 Mill Street, Poughkeepsie NY
Action Areas: Education Policy and Equity, Environmental Justice and Food Security, Expression, Arts, and Culture, Housing Insecurity/Justice, LGBTQAI+ Rights, Mental Health Access and Support, Prison Abolition, Public Health, Racial Justice, Reproductive Rights, Voting Rights, Legal Access
About: The Dutchess County Democratic Committee is a Democratic grassroots organization serving the people of our county. Together, we try to make a real difference in our community and beyond. We work for a brighter future, one where equality, equity and diversity are celebrated.
Position Description: Student will aid our field efforts in flipping our county legislature to a Democratic majority. Student will help staff candidates and DCDC leaders at fundraising events. Students will interact with voters and share our organizational values with the broader community. Phone calling, door-knocking, and data collecting will be major contributions to our goals for the next few months. Students will get to meet our local elected officials and get a glimpse of the political environment here in Dutchess County.
Desired Skills: Communications – emails, phone calls, in person outreach, Copywriting, Fact-checking, Research skills, Writing
Are you interested in getting involved with Dutchess Dems? Visit here for your next steps.
For the Many
Address: 302a Mill St, Poughkeepsie NY 12601
Action Areas: Environmental Justice and Food Security, Housing Insecurity/Justice, Racial Justice, Immigration Justice
About: We are a Hudson Valley-based organization building a grassroots movement of everyday people to transform New York so it works for all of us. For too long, greedy corporations, billionaires, and political elites have rigged our country to work against us – and then pit us against each other by blaming immigrants and people of color for the problems we’re facing. We are coming together across race, age, and class to fight for laws and win elections that put the power back in our hands and create lasting change.
Some of our recent wins have included: winning the first government-mandated rent reduction in US history; passing protections for renters from unfair evictions and ridiculous rent hikes in 9 Hudson Valley cities and towns; mandating New York State build publicly owned, 100% renewable energy; and restoring access to drivers licenses for undocumented New Yorkers.
Currently we’re focused on three campaigns: expanding rent stabilization in upstate communities; replacing our local utility monopoly with a public alternative; protecting undocumented folks from deportation by passing the New York for All Act.
Position descriptions (there are 2)
**Position Description – Student Organizing Intern**
Students are an incredibly important base for social movements. Student Organizing Interns will organize other students to take action in support of our priority campaigns. Activities will include: making calls and talking to potential volunteers and members, having 1-1 conversations with volunteers to develop their relationship with the organization, and event planning.
Interns in this role will develop skills around community organizing, facilitation, volunteer recruitment, and familiarity with digital organizing tools.
**Position Description – Fundraising Organizer Intern**
For the Many has one of the strongest grassroots fundraising programs in the country for an organization of its size. Our grassroots fundraising program builds power by raising funds and bringing thousands of people into contact with our work. Fundraising Organizer Interns’ key project will be to build a team of volunteers who will ask people to donate during a week-long fundraising drive at the end of the semester. Interns will then manage team members to help them succeed during the fundraising drive!
Interns in this role will develop skills around community organizing, volunteer recruitment, supportive management, assertive communication, and fundraising.
Please complete this interest form for either position.
Desired Skills: Communications – emails, phone calls, in person outreach, A passion for social justice and a willingness to talk to others – we’ll set you up with everything else!
Are you interested in getting involved with For the Many? Visit here for your next steps.
Town of Poughkeepsie
Municipality (local government), 30+ team members
Address: 1 Overocker Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
Action Areas: Environmental Justice and Food Security, Housing Insecurity/Justice, local government services
About: Town of Poughkeepsie is our municipality, responsible for infrastructure (roads, water, sewer), public safety, parks and recreation programs, Senior Center, and a Town Hall Farm Stand with Dutchess Outreach.
Position Description:
We are seeking a student intern to assist with new initiatives, primarily a “buy local” campaign and online local business directory, and with public outreach, including outreach to Spanish-speaking resident. Our Town Engineer is also working with Vassar faculty member Neil Curri on an OCEL intern to work on GIS and OpenGov mapping upgrades and I believe Professor Curri is in touch with OCEL already; both projects / needs are reflected below.
Desired Skills: Bilingual Spanish-English, Communications – emails, phone calls, in person outreach, GIS/Mapping, Social media management, Writing
Hours: 4hrs/week, If a student is interested in 8 hrs/week, we can arrange that.
Are you interested in getting involved with The Town of Poughkeepsie? Visit here for your next steps.
Prisoners’ Brain Trust – remote work
Non-profit, 1-5 team members
Mid-Hudson Valley
https://www.instagram.com/prisonersbraintrust
Action Areas: Prison Abolition
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 ow 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.
Spring 2026 Position Descriptions
- Felony Murder Law Policy Intern: We are looking for a dedicated Policy Intern to support the “Faces of the Felony Murder Law” campaign during the Spring 2026 semester. This is a volunteer role requiring 80 hours total. the intern will work closely with the Campaign Lead, attend strategic meetings, and help produce advocacy materials for legislative actions in Albany. Read the full description here.
- Data-Justice Research Intern (Felony-Murder Doctrine, Dutchess County): The Prisoners’ Brain Trust (PBT) invites motivated undergraduate students to join a fourteen-week, unpaid research internship for the Spring 2026 semester (January 20 – May 2). Working remotely the intern will help build a rigorously vetted dataset on individuals charged under the felony-murder doctrine in Dutchess County over the past ten years. The data will be used to inform a policy brief, visual advocacy tools, and a larger, statewide funding campaign aimed at dismantling the doctrine. Must commit to 5-6 hours/week. Read the full description here.
- Social Media Intern: We are seeking a motivated Social Media Intern to support our Social Media Manager in expanding PBT’s Instagram presence during the Spring 2026 semester. This part-time, remote internship totals 80 hours and is designed for a candidate who shares our commitment to abolitionist politics, Black feminist theory, and centering the voices of prisoners. The internship is unpaid. Read the full description here.
Are you interested in getting involved with PBT? Visit here for your next steps.
Senator Rob Rolison NY 39 District Office
Government, 5-10 team members
Address: 3 Neptune Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Action Areas: Education Policy and Equity, Environmental Justice and Food Security, Expression, Arts, and Culture, Housing Insecurity/Justice, Mental Health Access and Support, Public Health
About: District Office Community Outreach/ Constituent Services
Position description:Attend community meetings, constituent meeting with senator and or staff. Research legislation. Maintain data bases.
Desired Skills:Communications – emails, phone calls, in person outreach, Fact-checking, Public speaking/presenting, Research skills, Data collection/analysis
Hours:4hrs/week, 8hrs/week, Whatever fits with both schedules
Are you interested in getting involved with Senator Rolison? Visit here for your next steps.