Intern, Office of Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr.

Posted by on July 28, 2008

[emailed 7/22/2008]

Internship Opportunity:
Office of 4th District City Councilman, Curtis Jones, Jr.

Join this dynamic and fast paced Philadelphia City Council office and learn about municipal government from the inside.  Instead of reading the newspaper you will be where the news is made!  The Office of Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. is seeking undergraduate and graduate students who are enthusiastic, creative and out-of-the box thinkers for an extraordinary internship.

Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. has only been in office six months but in that time he has been able to make a real difference in the lives of every-day folks in his district and beyond.  Of particular significance was his successful effort to bring about a moratorium on mortgage foreclosure (sheriff) sales.  He brought advocates, lenders and the courts together and as a result, one of the most creative programs in the nation was launched, the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Foreclosure Diversion Program, which will help many homeowners facing foreclosure remain in their homes.

Councilman Jones is the Chair of City Council’s Committee on Transportation & Public Utilities, a committee that is likely to be very busy in the coming months as we continue to face skyrocketing energy costs.  He is also Vice Chair of Council’s Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and sits on Council’s Committees on the Environment, Commerce & Economic Development, Streets & Services, Public Safety, Labor & Civil Service, Disabled & the Handicapped, Housing, Neighborhood Development & the Homeless, Fiscal Stability & Intergovernmental Cooperation, Legislative Oversight and Technology & Information Services.

If selected, you will work with the Councilman’s staff to provide direct service to the 4th Council District community, which includes the neighborhoods of Roxborough, East Falls, Manayunk, Overbrook, Wynnefield, Carroll Park, Allegheny West, Parkside and parts of West Philadelphia. You will also work on a wide-array of projects and assignments, as dictated by the Councilman’s committee obligations, legislative aims and the community’s needs, all which will help you develop and refine your professional skills.

Areas in which interns may be expected to work include:  legislation, constituent services, community relations, media and public relations, economic analysis, best practices and primary research, program planning, and/or organizational and administrative support,

Required Qualifications:
Applicants must be an undergraduate/postgraduate student in order to apply. A background or interest in one or more of the following areas is desired: law, public policy, environmental sustainability, transportation, community economic development, communications, finance, social services, or web design and graphic arts.  Exceptional generalists will also be considered.

This Internship Program has attracted outstanding individuals from colleges in and around the Philadelphia area as well further a field. If you are interested in a career in public service or public administration, this four month, part-time program provides the perfect exposure to elected and appointed officials and the many issues facing a large, city government while developing important professional skills. As the only comprehensive City Council Internship Program, we provide the most diverse and hands-on local government internship. It is designed to attract, develop, and retain innovative people in local government.

If you are interested in this excellent opportunity, please submit your cover letter and resume along with a brief writing sample to Shoshana Bricklin, Legislative Counsel at shoshana.bricklin@phila.gov.

This is a non-paying internship, requiring a minimum commitment of 10 hours per week. We are an eligible placement for work-study students and we will work with programs where students may earn academic credit.