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CalCenter Spring 2026 Internship

Overview
In today’s rapidly changing political landscape, young people play a crucial role in shaping the future of our communities and institutions. The California Center for Civic Participation (CalCenter) is dedicated to equipping this vibrant generation to engage actively in the democratic process. We believe that every voice matters, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that supports youth voter education and civic engagement across California.

We are excited to announce that CalCenter is looking for motivated, passionate, and creative candidates to join our team as Spring 2026 Interns. This is a paid hybrid position, candidates must be able to work remotely and also have reliable transportation. Interns must be located within Sacramento County.

For Spring 2026, our two internship tracks will be in Communications and Programs.

We encourage a diverse range of applicants with interests or experience in the following areas:

  • Research and public policy
  • Voting rights and social justice advocacy
  • Civic engagement and collaborative partnerships
  • Social media, marketing, and event coordination
  • Campaigns and electoral processes

Responsibilities:
Each intern’s responsibilities will be customized based on their skills, interests, and the needs of the CalCenter. Potential tasks may include:

  • Managing outreach communications, including addressing inquiries about voter registration and election processes;
  • Creating engaging social media content (particularly video) focused on civic issues and participation;
  • Drafting informational materials, such as explainers, statements, emails, fact sheets, and press kits;
  • Writing blog posts on timely and important political topics;
  • Assisting in the development of innovative programs and activations that align with our mission;
  • Coordinating voter education initiatives in collaboration with partner organizations;
  • Developing and maintaining resources to inform and engage young people about elections and voting rights;
  • Supporting civic technology efforts by researching and reaching out to strategic partners and evaluating tools for enhancements;
  • Crafting compelling ads to improve our online visibility and engagement;
  • Managing the organization’s digital assets to maximize content creation and distribution;
  • Expanding our volunteer program to enhance our impact and capacity;
  • Performing additional duties as required.

Qualifications:
Our ideal candidate is a proactive and enthusiastic team player who thrives both independently and in diverse teams. Qualifications include:

  • Proficiency in Google Suite and Canva;
  • Ability to work independently and meet deadlines effectively;
  • Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills;
  • A self-starter who collaborates well and contributes to team efforts;
  • Proven leadership and achievements in academic, professional, or volunteer settings;
  • Capacity to work effectively with a diverse range of individuals and communities;
  • Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to learn quickly and multitask;
  • A positive attitude, independence, flexibility, and creativity;
  • A passion for engaging young people in civic activities and promoting civic participation;
  • A commitment to the goals and mission of the California Center for Civic Participation.

In your application, please highlight any experience you have in:

  • Journalism, communications, and public relations;
  • Elections or campaign work;
  • Research or policy analysis;
  • Social media strategy and communications;
  • Video production;
  • Event planning or fundraising;
  • Developing or launching new projects and programs;
  • HTML, CSS, SEO, JavaScript, Adobe, PHP, Bootstrap, Photoshop, or UI/UX design.

 

Hours and Compensation:

Interns will work up to 20 hours per week and will be paid a stipend of $1,500.

The internship will start on February 2, 2026 and end on June 30, 2026.

 

How to Apply:

Please email info@californiacenter.org with a cover letter, resume, contact information for 2-3 references, preferred internship track (communications or programs), responses to the questions below, all compiled into one pdf document. Please include “Spring 2026 Intern” in the subject line.

 

Questions for Intern Applicants:

  1. What issues are you most passionate about?
  2. Tell us the story of voting in your first election. Haven’t voted yet? Tell us what you’re looking forward to when you vote for the first time.

 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Preference will be given to those who apply on or before Friday, January 16, 2025.

 

Equal Opportunity Employer:

CalCenter is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are looking for a diverse applicant pool and strongly encourage women, persons of color, persons with disabilities, immigrants, members of the LGBTQ community, and students from low-income and working-class backgrounds to apply.

Research has shown that women and members of historically marginalized groups often only apply to jobs when they feel they meet 100% of the qualifications. We are committed to creating an equitable, inclusive, and diverse organization and we strongly desire applicants with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds: even if you don’t see yourself fully reflected in every qualification listed, we still encourage you to reach out and apply.