Kalmanovitz InitiativeResearch in Action Internship

SummaryThe Kalmanovitz Initiative Research in Action Internship (RIA) places carefully selected student applicants with top research organizations advocating for working people. The KI Research in Action Internship will provide students with the opportunity to learn from leaders in the world of workers’ rights, support and contribute to ongoing campaigns and research projects, and develop their own research skills throughout the course of the internship.

PurposeThe purpose of the KI Research in Action Internship is to expose students to activism on workers’ rights issues and the important role of research in that work. This program will:

introduce students to a range of issues affecting the labor movement and the working poor;

develop the research skills of students; positively contribute to the efforts of groups working towards worker justice; and establish a stronger link between Georgetown and the organizations and

communities pursuing important research questions.

By placing students with groups doing this type of research, students will gain valuable skills for future work in movements and organizations dedicated to social justice and creating change.

Structure and OperationIn order to receive consideration for the KI Research in Action Internship, student applicants will answer a series of short questions, provide a 500 word personal statement, and submit the contact information of two references. RIA Interns will be selected based on the materials they submit and the suitability of their match with a partner organization.

Upon selection, the KI Program Coordinator will meet with all research interns to provide them with an understanding of what will be expected as part of the internship and introduce them to the work of the partner organizations. During or following the orientation, each intern will meet with their partner organization to set clear expectations and goals for the period of time that they will be working with the partner organization.

Once interns and partner organizations are matched, the interns will work for approximately 10 hours per week with their organization for ten weeks during the semester.

The KI RIA Internship will pay each intern $13/hour for their work completed as part of the program. The KI Program Coordinator and interns will have regular check-in meetings throughout the semester; the KI Program Coordinator will also receive regular updates from the main point of contact at the partner organization on the performance of the intern.

At the end of the semester, all interns must submit a 1,000-word report on their experience with their partner organization and what they learned through the KI RIA Internship. In addition to this, they must submit a 500-word blog post related to their particular research project with the partner organization or a future topic they hope to investigate. The blog post does not need to be a research or position paper; instead, it can reflect the individual’s understanding of the larger issues addressed through their research.