Institute of Politics

Overview of Organization:

The Civic Federation is a 130-year-old independent, non-partisan government research organization that provides analysis and recommendations on government finance issues for the Chicago region and the State of Illinois. The Federation's membership includes business and professional leaders from a wide range of Chicago area corporations, professional service firms, and institutions.

Internship Summary:

Join the Civic Federation for a dynamic internship that offers hands-on experience in fiscal policy research and analysis. An ideal intern need not have a base of understanding in public finance (though it would be helpful!) but will need a desire to quickly learn about public finance issues, from property tax to budgets to the cost of public employee benefits. As a Research Intern, you'll work alongside our Research staff to support ongoing research and conduct your own research that will inform articles and reports that shape the future of Illinois. In this role, you will be able to follow topics that interest you the most to produce articles on matters that most impact Chicago and Illinois citizens, gain insights into the process of utilizing government data to promote efficient government and receive robust mentorship to ensure a valuable internship experience.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct research and write articles and reports on diverse areas such as state and local budgets, pensions, property tax, public safety, education, and more.
• Source and analyze data and contribute to the Civic Federation’s long-term research.
• Fact-check research conducted by Federation research staff.
• Collaborate with the Research staff team to develop skills and dive deeply into your own areas of interest.
• Attend local government meetings and monitor local government legislation and reporting to add to research
• Participate in and help coordinate Civic Federation events with local politicians and government officials.
• Network with Civic Federation members.
• Collaborate with your supervisor to help clarify priorities and determine appropriate assignments for graduate vs undergraduate level.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Pursuing a degree with a focus on political science, government, law, economics, econometrics, public policy, or statistics.
• Proficient in data analysis and possess strong writing skills.
• Proficiency in Excel and keen attention to detail.
• Effective team player with a positive attitude.
• Familiarity with data analysis and visualization software is a plus.

About the Supervisor and Civic Federation Team:

Due to the Civic Federation’s small collaborative team structure, the Research Intern will be supported by several staff members.

Your direct contact and supervisor will be Ellen Morris Palermo, Program Strategist.

Before joining the Civic Federation, Ellen was with the Artistic Fundraising Group, where she worked with dozens of Chicago arts, media, and community-based organizations and raised millions of philanthropic dollars for her clients. Ellen also previously served as the Finance Coordinator at GlobeMed, a health equity and education organization, and led the organization through an ethical winddown process. During her graduate studies in Philadelphia, she worked at CCATE, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering the Latinx community in Norristown, PA. In her former life as a professional pianist and theater musician, Ellen frequently music directed, conducted, and performed at Writers Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Marriott Theatre, and BoHo Theatre, among others. Ellen holds her M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and her B.Mus. from Northwestern University.

Your research will be supported and directed by two Civic Federation staff members:

Joe Ferguson, President

Previously, Joe served as inspector general for the City of Chicago from 2009 to 2021. He was first appointed by former Mayor Richard M. Daley and twice reappointed by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Under his leadership, the Chicago Office of Inspector General doubled its staff from 50 to over 100 employees and expanded the scope of its work, earning national acclaim for its government performance audits and audit-based evaluations, including its investigative reports on the City’s handling of the aftermath of the murder of Laquan McDonald, the raid of social worker Anjanette Young, the City’s red light camera system, the City’s handling of the 2020 George Floyd demonstrations and civil unrest, the Chicago Police Department’s gang database, and fire and emergency medical response times. Under Ferguson, the OIG created an online information portal that includes over 30 interactive data dashboards on police activities.

Prior to becoming inspector general, Ferguson spent 15 years with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. Ferguson’s earlier work as a Civil Division attorney included affirmative civil fraud litigation under the False Claims Act, employment discrimination (Title VII), civil rights, and environmental law. His prior litigation work also included serving as counsel on environmental enforcement and death penalty matters brought before the United States Supreme Court.

Ferguson teaches at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and is a founding co-director and lecturer of the Loyola University of Chicago Law School’s National Security and Civil Rights program. He was recently a Pritzker Fellow at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics. In addition, he is a founder of (re)Chicago, a strategic initiative to assess and address flaws in the city’s governance structure. Ferguson received his B.A. from Lake Forest College, which recently named him an honorary Doctor of Laws, and his J.D. from Northwestern University's Pritzker School of Law.

Annie McGowan, Research Director (returning December from maternity leave)

Annie specializes in the Federation’s work on criminal justice system issues, including the Cook County Courts and Jail system, Chicago policing, and statewide pretrial reform issues. Annie joined the Civic Federation as a Senior Research Associate in June 2016 and later moved into a new role at the Federation focusing on criminal justice research and policy in September 2019, before being promoted to Deputy Director of Research in November 2022. Annie serves on behalf of the Civic Federation as the Secretary of the Governmental Research Association, a national organization of individuals and organizations engaged in government research.

Prior to joining the Civic Federation in 2016, Annie earned a Master of Public Administration degree from University of Illinois Chicago in December 2015 and worked in a variety of roles at nonprofit organizations focused on human services and policy-advocacy. These included the Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Partners for Human Service and the Hope Institute for Children and Families. Annie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Urban Affairs and Spanish from Marquette University.

Eligibility

• Undergraduate students
• Graduate students
• Domestic and international students

Location, Modality and Commute:

Our team is in the office Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays. Ideally our intern would work in the office on at least one of those days as their schedule permits. Our office is located at: 10 N Dearborn Street, Suite 800. Students can take the Metra Electric (ME) Line or 6 Bus from the Hyde Park Campus. We are also located within a few blocks of loop stops for all “L” lines.

Start and End Date:

The Academic Year internships will take place according to the IOP’s timeline, with specific dates and weekly hours to be determined by the employer partner and intern during the interview process:

• Onboarding: November – December 2024
• Intern Work Period: January – May 2025