Advocacy Intern

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The Advocacy Intern will work with the Volunteer and External Relations Coordinator and Executive Director to support the advocacy and government relations initiatives of the Denver office. The intern will help establish advocacy priorities and will coordinate meetings and visits with local, state and federal elected officials. This intern will also conduct outreach and research focused on Colorado-state laws and policies that impact refugee resettlement and programs and services eligible to refugees, SIVs and asylees in Colorado. ​

Time Commitment: 10 hours per week (3-6 month minimum) ​

Duties:​

• Assist with policy analysis and legal research on state and federal issues affecting refugee resettlement in Colorado​
• Help track and analyze state legislation related to refugees, asylum seekers, and other populations of concern​
• Attend meetings and congressional hearings on behalf of the IRC in Denver, taking detailed notes and reporting back​
• Assist with research and profiling of key advocacy issue and stakeholders​
• Help draft and prepare materials for distribution during meetings and briefings​
• Help with the planning and execution of advocacy training events for volunteers and community partners ​
• Represent the IRC in Denver at community events ​
• Participate in regular meeting with other advocacy groups including the Refugee Advocacy Coalition of Colorado ​
• Participate in IRC lead advocacy trainings and community of practice calls ​
• Create monthly advocacy newsletter and help manage advocacy email distribution list ​
• Other duties and tasks as assigned ​

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Preferred Skills: ​

• Previous legislative experience or background in public policy, human rights, law, international studies, public administration or other related fields​
• Familiarity with the Colorado legislative process ​

Required Skills:​

• A strong interest in public policy and refugee issues​
• A deep commitment to IRC’s core values and the ability to model and communicate those values in relationships with IRC staff, clients, partners, and community leaders​
• Strong writing, editing and research skills with a focus on details ​
• Comfort speaking to elected officials and other key stakeholders​
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook​
• Must be able to work productively in a team environment, as well as under minimal supervision, taking the initiative to ask questions as needed and to take ownership of projects.​

Learning Objective: ​

The learning objective for this role is to provide the intern with a broad understanding of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and how to effectively advocate to elected officials and other decision makers. The Advocacy Intern will learn to analyze and review policies and practices impacting refugee admissions and will gain experience writing with an advocacy focus while learning about the complex system of factors affecting policy at the local and national level. ​