The Newburgh LGBTQ+ Center is a hub for resources, education, community building, advocacy, and organizing for more resilient networks. A grassroots organization committed to addressing the barriers that are created by racial, social, and economic injustices, centering people of color and our allies by creating visibility and reclaiming power. One of our five focus areas is Community Safety and Prison Abolition; we will be looking for interns for our Queer Justice Committee. Queers for Justice committee made up of queer and trans, Black + Brown folks, and white allies. Members of our group have directly experienced the harmful impacts of the carceral system in our lives and intersecting communities. The committee addresses the disparity experienced by people of color through over-policing, the criminal justice system, and incarceration of LGBTQ+ identified people. Currently, we act as an advocate for incarcerated and systems impacted LGBTQ+ identified community members. We connect community members to legal resources; we provide moral support, political education and leadership development, and community connection to take action.
Project or Position Title: Queer for Justice Intern
Project or Position Description:
The ideal candidate would have or be interested in developing an anti-oppressive lens through multimedia learning experiences through a mix of supervised and self instructed activities, be required to work collaboratively within and amongst teams, self manage work assignments and activities, and be able to have good organizational skills, clear and effective written and verbal communication, be able to represent the organization in coalition and meeting spaces. The focus around the fellowship work will be event planning for The Organization’s Annual event The Remembrance of Attica.
Learning Outcomes:
- Increased knowledge of LGBTQ+ cultural competency
- Bridging the gap within intersecting communities
- Increased knowledge of the intersecting impacts of LGBTQ+ identity and race
- Somatic awareness of personal bias
- Engage community members who are affected by systems of oppression
- Engage in community service providers
- Engage with elected officials across the Mid Hudson valley
- Learn the administrative aspects of community organizing
- Learn an embodied facilitating style
Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:
- Be able to work independently
- Be able to commit – primarily Monday to Friday and some weekends
- Be able to work from an intersectional feminist lens framework.
- Clear communication, with proficiency in virtual platforms:
- Slack, Google platforms, and Zoom.
- Sending email on behalf of the Organization.
- Co-facilitate small groups.
- Represent the Organization in coalition meetings. Note-taking, and Company email management.
Specific Skills/Experience Required for the Project:
- Be able to work independently.
- Be able to commit to Primarily Monday to Friday and some weekends.
- Be able to work from an intersectional feminist lens framework.
- Clear communication, with proficiency in virtual platforms: Slack, Google platforms, and Zoom.
Mentorship Opportunities from Organization:
The candidate would work on a 1:1 basis with the core community organizers using a relational model for community organizing and a human-based design approach to problem-solving.
Time Commitment:
- Fellows should expect to be available during the organization’s work hours.
- In some cases, fellows might be invited to participate in events over the weekend/ evenings.
Previous Engagement with Students:
“During the Fall semester of 2020. We had four interns part of our research team their work was around Voting information and Budget breakdowns across the Mid-Hudson Valley. One intern doing content for social media around social justice campaigns the Newburgh LGBTQ+ Center is fighting for.”