internships

Campaign for Fair Food Seeking 2008 Fall Interns

The Student/Farmworker Alliance and Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida are looking for interns to live and work in Immokalee, Florida alongside farmworkers and allies who are organizing around the Coalition of Immokalee Workers' national Campaign for Fair Food. Internships are available for Fall (late August through December, 2008).

Applicants should be flexible to organize with both SFA and/or Interfaith Action -- in partnership with the CIW -- in a variety of tasks including logistical support for the CIW, office support, and national and local campaign organizing.

Applications are due July 15, 2008.

To apply, please read below:

Each year, SFA selects a few people to live in Immokalee for 4-6 months working alongside farmworkers and allies who are organizing the national Campaign for Fair Food. Specific responsibilities vary widely depending on the time of year, but one can generally expect a challenging, unique, and rewarding experience.

SFA is committed to developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds; people of color, women, working-class, LGBTQ, and differently-abled people are strongly encouraged to apply. Free lodging and a modest stipend are provided.

we are

SFA is a national network of students and youth organizing with farmworkers to eliminate sweatshop conditions and modern-day slavery in the fields. (Candidates should be open to also working in conjunction with Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida.)

We work in alliance with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, a membership-led organization of mostly Latino, Haitian, and Mayan Indian low-wage immigrant workers based in Southwest Florida. Together we won the four-year Taco Bell Boycott in 2005 and McDonald's campaign in 2007.

intern responsibilities

• Assist with office duties such as phones, copying, databasing, mail, and accounting
• Provide on-the-ground support to CIW (translation, technical assistance, driving, etc)
• Tour, conference, and mobilization logistics
• Learn first-hand about sweatshop conditions and modern-day slavery in the fields
• Work as a fully-integrated member of the Immokalee organizing team
• Create campaign strategy with a team of farmworkers, students, and faith-based organizers
• Develop a wide range of organizing skills such as coalition building, campaigning, media work, materials production, database management, mobilization planning, and fundraising

ideal candidates

• Prior organizing experience
• (At least) conversational in Spanish or Haitian Creole
• Prior experience living outside the US or working with immigrant communities
• Willingness to work long & unpredictable hours, including late nights and weekends
• Basic computer proficiency
• Strong commitment to social and economic justice and working as part of a collective
• Availability of at least 4 months

to apply

Carefully review the above criteria. Send in a completed application along with a resume, two letters of recommendation, a writing sample in Spanish or Haitian Creole, and a 1-2 page cover letter responding to the following questions:

• What previous involvement have you had with SFA and CIW?
• Why are you interested in interning with SFA?
• What strengths do you bring to the position?
• Do you have experience living outside the US or working with immigrant communities within the US?
• What motivates you to participate in the fight for social justice?

Materials should be submitted via email in Word or PDF format to: organize (at) sfalliance.org. Applications are due July 15, 2008.