State and Federal Policy Intern - 2022-2023 school year - stipend

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This stipend eligible position is for the 2022-2023 school year. Includes a $1500 stipend paid in December and May or utilization of work study if eligible. The Arc Minnesota’s State & Federal Policy Intern will support the public policy program staff and others as needed to advance components of the annual work plan in the areas of legislative advocacy, self-advocacy, civic engagement, and public policy communications/education. Specific duties may include:

Responsibilities:

• Support issue-specific research & data collection in state and federal policy related matters
• Assist with federal and state bill tracking and monitoring Support & assist with researching and drafting public comments regarding issues impacting the disability community at the state and federal levels
• Build & strengthen relationships with Minnesota’s congressional delegation & staff members
• Build and strengthen relationships with The Arc U.S. policy staff and support the organization’s meaningful engagement in federal policy efforts
• Partner with Grassroots & Community Engagement intern to coordinate and attend in-district events, meetings, and home visits with federal level decision makers
• Coordinate federal legislative engagement efforts with all Arc MN Regions, and evaluate opportunities and impact
• Educate federal policymakers and staff about The Arc Minnesota’s mission, legislative agenda and general public policy priorities
• Attend relevant committee hearings, news conferences, and other disability advocacy meetings/events
• Learn about and help track legislation in Health & Human Services, special education, and other areas as applicable
• Support supervisor & members of The Arc Minnesota Communications team to develop & update engaging content for Public Policy Updates, social media (The Arc Minnesota Facebook & Twitter pages, Disability Policy Networking page) & general public policy website
• Other duties as requested

Professional Development Benefits:

• Includes a $1500 stipend payable in December and May or utilization of work study if eligible
• Develop relationships with The Arc Minnesota staff, stakeholders, and lawmakers
• Gain knowledge of public policies relevant to the disability community
• Build experience with the legislative process
• Advocate on behalf of and alongside members of Minnesota’s disability community
• Engage elected officials representing various levels of government
• Deepen interpersonal and external communications skills
• Increase utilization of various technology and communications platforms (email, social media, etc.)

Qualifications:

• Experience with and working on political campaigns and/or with elected officials
• Strong communication and interpersonal relationship skills; comfortable making phone calls
• Communicates well with and respects people of all cultures and abilities
• Self-directed worker who can operate efficiently and effectively in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment
• Reliable, flexible, detail-oriented and open to constructive feedback
• Awareness of issues impacting Minnesotans with disabilities preferred; personal experience preferred
• Experience in self-advocacy committee and/or Partners in Policymaking preferred
• Multiple language capabilities and lived experiences preferred, but not required

Time Commitment: 10-14 hours per week for the September 2022 - May 2023 time frame. Hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm with occasional evenings and weekends as needed.

The Arc Minnesota is a statewide nonprofit organization that works to promote and protect the human rights of people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through statewide programs and services, we help people navigate systems while working to advance social change centered in justice, equity, and belonging in community.