2018 Summer Organizing Program – Now Accepting Applications!
Do you want to work with queer, transgender, and gender nonconforming API people and communities? Do you have a commitment to social justice? Are you ready to transform, learn concrete community organizing skills, and work to build movements for change?
The application for APIENC’s (API Equality – Northern California) Summer Organizer Program is now open!
Applications are due March 2nd, 2018!
ABOUT OUR SUMMER ORGANIZER PROGRAM Every year, APIENC (API Equality – Northern California) embarks on an intensive summer program to develop the next generation of LGBTQ API social justice and cultural change leaders. The Summer Organizer Program, previously called our Summer Internship, is a transformative opportunity to build organizing skills and strengthening values in service of social change. At APIENC, we know that LGBTQ API people are targets of interpersonal abuse, state violence, and systemic oppression both historically, and in this current political climate. Leadership development for our own queer, trans, and gender nonconforming API people is critical in addressing our material conditions and in supporting larger movements for change.
APIENC Summer Organizers receive in-depth trainings on a variety of topics, and employ dynamic approaches for intersectional and multi-issue based organizing. Summer 2018 marks our 9th cohort of summer participants, and each Summer Organizer contributes to the LGBTQ API community by impacting the organization’s history,current projects, and partnerships.
Throughout the summer, Summer Organizers will build meaningful relationships with partner organizations focused on a wide array of issues and committed to queer & trans API justice. Summer Organizers will be expected to participate in our API Queer Justice Leadership Exchange, two weekend-long venues for API leaders to learn organizing skills, exchange ideas, and build community. During the course of the program, Summer Organizers will also also have the opportunity to take leadership in our different projects, including a trans-led contingent the SF Trans March, an intergenerational community care network within the Dragon Fruit Project, and at a national conference for LGBTQ API people. Overall, Summer Organizers get to bring their full selves each day, work hard, laugh a lot, and have a blast.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Work with APIENC staff to develop and implement strategies for empowering and mobilizing the LGBTQ API community
- Spend a minimum of 15-20 hours in the APIENC office each week (located in SF Chinatown)
- Meet once a week with APIENC staff and the rest of the intern cohort to reflect, debrief, and give and receive feedback
- Recruit, support, and train volunteers
- Develop and implement a fundraising campaign
- Plan and execute trainings and events
- Represent APIENC at external meetings and events
- Attend a 300+ person national gathering for LGBTQ API communities in July 26-29
- Participate in a two-weekend Leadership Exchange with other API leaders committed to queer justice
- Reflect on personal narrative and emotional growing edges with other cohort members
- Build relationships with other LGBTQ people of color, API, and intersectional organizations working towards progressive social change
QUALIFICATIONS
- Displays a strong, long-term commitment to the diverse communities APIENC works with
- Shows a fundamental understanding of the power of community organizing and LGBTQ API leadership
- Exhibits desire to build intentional relationships, reflect on personal experience, and grow
- Can build a team and work collaboratively
- Demonstrates curiosity, proactive leadership, can work independently, and takes initiative
- Possesses strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
- Employs a critical lens and solution-based thinking when addressing issues
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Applications are due by March 2nd, 2018
- Interviews will be conducted by March 5-16th
- Selected participants will be notified in late March
- Summer Organizer Program runs for about 8 weeks from June – August (exact dates TBD)
- A small stipend is available, but participants are responsible for their own housing and commute costs.