Intern, Negotiation Works, Fall 2021 (Social Justice organization)

Save to Favorites

NEGOTIATION WORKS COLLEGE INTERN, 2020-2021

Negotiation Works seeks a College Intern to serve beginning in Fall 2021 to assist with: managing negotiation courses for individuals experiencing homelessness, returning to the community from prison, living in domestic violence shelters, or otherwise experiencing challenging life situations in the Washington DC area; facilitating Negotiation Ambassadors meetings with former program participants; conducting research and outreach; and assisting with data collection and evaluation, communications, and fundraising. A description of Negotiation Works and the internship follows. This internship is unpaid and part-time (10-15 hours per week, with the possibility of more). It can be conducted remotely, as necessitated by public health concerns.

Negotiation Works is a non-profit organization founded in 2018 that seeks to empower people from marginalized communities with tools to resolve conflicts, advocate for themselves and others, and build more stable lives. Its core services involve multi-week, interactive negotiation courses for underserved women in the Washington D.C. area.

Individuals returning to the community from prison and women who are experiencing homelessness or living in domestic violence shelters need strong negotiation skills in order to manage their interactions with case managers, potential employers, landlords, family, and friends. Until now, however, comprehensive, customized negotiation programs have not reached our society’s most vulnerable members. Negotiation Works offers negotiation programs that these individuals can use to achieve positive, long-term outcomes such as sustainable employment, stable housing, and stronger social networks.

Negotiation Works provides its courses in partnership with community service providers and relies primarily on volunteers - teachers, lawyers, law students, and social workers - to serve as class instructors. Current provider-partners include: Calvary Women’s Service, Georgetown Pivot Program, Community Family Life Services, Together We Bake, Friends of Guest House, and Southeast Ministry.

Given the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, strong negotiation skills become even more critical for the communities we serve. The economic, social, and health disruptions add more uncertainties and pressure to individuals who are already struggling to maintain stability. For example, individuals might have disputes with landlords over rental payments that were suspended during an eviction moratorium, with household members over the use of limited private space, or with case workers over whether they are adequately managing a job search. Moreover, as the most acute stage of the pandemic subsides, individuals will need effective negotiation skills as they try to reassemble their lives by, for example, approaching a former employer about returning to a furloughed job or meeting with a human services caseworker about increasing food stamp benefits.

Negotiation Works seeks an Intern to begin in the Fall of 2021 to support its current programs, general operations, and new initiatives. The Negotiation Works Intern will have the opportunity to observe the negotiation courses taught at local service providers, including homeless shelters and programs for individuals returning to the community from prison (note: programs are currently being offered both in-person and remotely via Zoom). Intern’s duties will include some of the following:

• managing curricular materials (role plays, worksheets, etc.)
• assisting with communications and website maintenance
• managing social media
• assisting with data collection and recording, including conducting interviews for our long-term evaluation process
• conducting research to support development and evaluation activities
• assisting with the management of the Negotiation Ambassadors program and our new Negotiation Ambassador initiatives (Ambassadors are former class participants who serve as informal consultants to Negotiation Works)

• At least 1 year of college
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to deal effectively with a wide range of individuals and organizations
• Proficiency in using technology, including Google Sheets, Google Forms, and Zoom
• Strong organizational skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with exceptional attention to detail
• A commitment to the communities in which Negotiation Works is involved

APPLICATION

To apply, please submit a statement of interest, resume, and list of references to melissa@negotiation-works.org . Will consider applications on a rolling basis, with an outside deadline of September 3, 2021.