ACE seeks volunteers in a variety of areas to help advance our work. These include communications, development, legal, and technical assistance. For more information, please contact us at info@ace-ej.org.

Our current internship opportunities are available below.

Updated: February 2012

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE: Communications Intern, Law Student Summer 2012 Intern, Development Volunteer

“ACE is such a special place for me.”

—Kathleen O'Brien,
2008–2009 Dev/Com Intern

See Kathleen's story.

1) Communications Interns

Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE) seeks interns interested in the movement for civil rights and social justice. Based in Roxbury, ACE is a non-profit environmental justice organization that builds the power of lower-income communities and communities of color in New England to achieve environmental justice. We believe that everyone has the right to a healthy environment and to be decision makers in issues affecting our communities. ACE organizes residents, provides legal/technical support to community groups, develops youth leadership and works for first-class public transit.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of ACE’s Communications staff, interns will assist in planning and implementation of fundraising and communication activities throughout the year, including:

• Assist with logistics and organizing of ACE’s annual celebration and fundraiser, Jammin’ for Justice.

• Communicate about ACE work like our annual events, campaigns and EJ issues by writing for our newsletters, blog, social media and materials.

• Attend and participate in events like member meetings, fundraisers, rallies, actions and our Annual Meeting

• Update press and donor information

• Provide support for fundraising and campaign appeals

Communications Interns play a crucial role in helping to broaden the visibility and effectiveness of our work for environmental justice. The intern will also have the opportunity to participate in organizational planning sessions, learn about our campaigns and programs, and work closely with our vibrant, committed and fun staff. This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience with a community-based non-profit working for social justice and systemic change.

We expect interns to be self-motivated and take this opportunity seriously. Part of your work will involve learning more about environmental justice and anti-oppression practices through discussions, presentations, readings and events. This internship is best for those who have a strong commitment to social justice and are willing to take charge of the experience as a time for learning and growth.

Qualifications

Team player, self-starter, quick learner and ability to work in a fast-paced environment • Dependable and reliable • Computer savvy; familiar with Word, Excel, internet and data entry. Desktop publishing experience a plus • Detail oriented and conscientious work style • Good writing and editing skills • Understanding and commitment to social and environmental justice work • Willingness to engage in diversity work, such as discussions on race, class, gender, sexual orientation, white privilege and internalized oppression • Artistic skills a plus • Spanish fluency a plus • Resident of the neighborhoods of Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, East Boston and Chelsea a plus

Hours and Compensation

This internship is offered all year and time requirements are flexible. We ask Communications Interns to attend member events whenever possible, which usually occur in the evenings and occasionally on weekends. We are currently accepting applications for Spring 2012 and beyond. Volunteer opportunities are available year-round, please contact us for details. This position is unpaid, though work-study arrangements may be available and we encourage students to explore school-based funding opportunities. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

To apply

Please send a resume and cover letter addressing the following questions:

1) Tell us about your interest in environmental justice.

2) Describe your contributions to the movement for social justice—how are you actively challenging oppression and helping to create a more equitable world?

3) Drawing from your life experiences, how do you envision your role working for and in a lower-income community of color?

4) What do you hope to learn from this internship?

Also, please let us know your time frame and how many hours a week would you like to work. (For example: I'm looking for an internship from September 29 through December 12, for 24 hours a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.)

ACE welcomes applicants of all backgrounds. We are an anti-racist, anti-classist organization and encourage honest, straight-forward answers.

Please send resumes and cover letters to:

Celina Lee, Membership and Communications Coordinator, celina@ace-ej.org
Or mail to:
ACE: Attn: Celina
2181 Washington Street, Suite 301
Roxbury, MA 02119
Phone: 617.442.3343 x232
Fax: 617.442.2425
E-mail: celina@ace-ej.org

People of color strongly encouraged to apply.

2) Law Student Intern – Summer 2012

*NOTE: Law Student Internships have been filled through Summer 2012. Contact us for information on our Fall Law Student Internships.

ACE seeks a law student intern for summer 2012. The law student intern will assist ACE’s Legal Counsel and Staff Attorney on the cases and issues that require work during the summer. The student should expect to perform legal and factual research and writing, interact with state and local government, and work with community residents. The subject matter will include many of the legal and factual issues that arise in a multi-faceted community-based environmental justice program that provides legal representation to resident groups.

Qualifications

· Law student who has completed one or two years of an accredited law school
· Excellent legal research and writing skills
· Strong commitment to social/environmental justice and community empowerment
· Good active listener
· Organized
· Flexibility to work an occasional weeknight or weekend day
· Commitment to work at ACE full-time for least eight weeks during summer 2012

Salary

ACE does not have funding for the position. Law students have worked at ACE as volunteers or
with funding from their law schools or foundations. ACE may be able to participate as a work-
study employer or assist with proposals for funding that a student identifies.

To Apply

Email your resume, a cover letter, and a writing sample to Eugene Benson at gene@ace-ej.org.
We will accept applications beginning on December 1, 2011, and until the position is filled.

Law students of color are strongly encouraged to apply.




3) Development Volunteer

Grassroots fundraising is a lot of work. Why do we do it?

ACE has a vision of maintaining an independent political voice and range of action that is controlled by our primary members from lower income communities and communities of color.  To ensure this, we want to be “owned” by the communities we work in.  This means the community provides significant support to ACE, with financial and other contributions.  Ownership also means that our primary members are responsible for leadership and fundraising.  Our members vote for our board and annual plan, and lead our campaigns and programs through committees and other decision-making processes.
In this way we are resisting the institutionalized racism and classism (and power imbalance) that exist within foundation funding as well as with funding from wealthy individuals.

We at ACE also recognize that we are part of a larger movement for social justice in the US.  Our funds raised do not only support our programs, they support our movement building work with such allies as Right to the City, US Social Forum, various transit justice allies, etc.

We do not take funds from corporations or companies that are antithetical to our mission.

This position is offered all year and time requirements are flexible. We ask volunteers to attend member events whenever possible, which usually occur in the evenings and occasionally on weekends. We are currently accepting applications for Spring 2011 and beyond. Volunteer opportunities are available year-round, please contact us for details. This position is unpaid, though work-study arrangements may be available and we encourage students to explore school-based funding opportunities. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

Job Description

Outreach Calls: Invite folks to our Annual Meeting and Toxic Tours.

Donor Calls: Touch base with supporters and ask for end-of-year contributions as part of ACE's fall donor campaign. We offer a training in early November.

Data Entry: This is a key part of keeping the membership and grassroots fundraising base going and growing. Attention to detail needed.

Tabling: Staff info-tables at events; talk with people about ACE.

Management: Keep track of our the tour outreach and scheduling.

Office Support: hand-addressing, filing, and collating are all vital parts of keeping this org rolling.

Brainstorming: Help enhance our outreach materials, mail appeals, and holiday giving campaign.

Event Support: The Annual Meeting takes place in late October. We also hope for some house party fundraisers this fall. Cheers!

To Apply

If you are interested in volunteering, please email a little bit about yourself and your time availability to Jasmine Laietmark, Donor Relations Coordinator at jasmine@ace-ej.org.

People of color strongly encouraged to apply.