Institute of Politics

Overview of Organization:

At Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP), our mission is to empower those most affected by economic and racial oppression through organizing and leadership development. We work in Woodlawn and surrounding South Side Chicago neighborhoods, rallying Black, low-income/working-class residents to influence decisions that impact our lives. We unite three member groups: (1) tenants, (2) individuals with mental health needs, and (3) high-school students and youth to create tangible change in our community. Developing allies among University of Chicago (UofC) students, we've achieved milestones like establishing a trauma center at UofC and fostering human rights leaders. Now our main campaigns are for an Obama Community Benefits Agreement, Treatment Not Trauma, and police-free schools.

Internship Summary:

The STOP Communications Intern will focus on leveraging social media to advance STOP initiatives and events related to racial and economic justice. This will be a hands-on, primarily in person experience with opportunities to document and support community events. The ideal candidate is a talented writer, copy editor and interested in learning how to best apply those skills to support activism efforts. Candidates who have personally experienced the issues STOP works on are especially valued.

Responsibilities:

• Assist with Programs: Help plan and implement youth activities and events, including the after-school social justice club.
• Support Peace Circles: Facilitate and support peace circles during lunch periods.
• Work with Students: Collaborate with Hyde Park High School students in various initiatives.
• Administrative Tasks: Perform clerical duties like filing and data entry.
• Outreach and Promotion: Create flyers and promote programs through social media and community outreach.
• Research: Conduct research on relevant topics and provide feedback.
• Communication: Update participants and their families about programs.
• Teamwork: Collaborate with other interns and staff to achieve goals.
• Feedback Collection: Gather participant feedback for program evaluation.
• Training Participation: Attend workshops to enhance skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A personal commitment to activism and a minimum of two years of volunteer or professional activism experience, including racial and social justice, housing, gentrification, health, police, or youth and schools. We especially value people who have personally experienced issues we work on.
• A Basic understanding of restorative justice and experience working with high school students
• Proficiency in copy-editing and writing, adhering to a specific style. Experience with editing final copy or designing layout for publications is a plus.
• Ability to write with brevity and energy, suited for online communication and speeches.
• Detail-oriented, patient, and persistent when learning and completing tasks.
• Experience coordinating with grassroots colleagues and members to gather information.
• Familiarity with databases or expertise in Excel.

About the Supervisor:

Your supervisor will be Anna Durr, a RJ Practitioner committed to mentorship and developing student leaders. As STOP’s Youth Organizer & Restorative Justice J coordinator, Anna leverages her wealth of experience to advance economic and social human rights in Woodlawn and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Eligibility:

• Undergraduate students
• Graduate students
• Domestic students

Location, Modality, and Commute:

This is an in-person internship (exceptions may be made to do a few hours remotely). We are located close to the UChicago campus at 602 E 61st St, Chicago, IL 60637, three blocks west of Cottage / Jewel. Our offices are open during business hours (usually at least 10am-5pm M-F) and for occasional irregular evenings/weekends.

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 2025
• Intern Work Period: January – May 2026