Each semester, spring and fall, and during the summers, Open Communities Alliance's work relies on the assistance of interns to fulfill its mission.

What type of work do OCA's interns do? Because of the complexity of the work that OCA does, and the small size of our staff, OCA interns have the opportunity to work in a wide variety of areas. To the greatest extent possible, projects are geared towards the intern's interests and goals for the internship.

• Research and writing of policy recommendations, reports, legal memos, etc.
• Attending meetings with housing and regionalism stakeholders
• Data collection and analysis
• Mapping
• Community outreach
• Social media outreach (email blasts, Facebook, Twitter)

What topics might an intern at OCA pursue?

• Affordable housing policy
• Fair share housing & housing data
• Zoning
• Racial equity
• Regionalism
• The connection between:
  • Housing and women
  • Housing and health
  • Housing and education
  • Housing and its impact on children
• Legal aspects of any of the above

How long is the internship? How many hours per week are interns expected to work? During the spring and fall semesters, interns generally work 10-15 hours a week for 10-12 weeks. During the summer, interns generally work full time for 10-12 weeks.

What level of education is required/preferred? OCA welcomes interns who are either undergraduate students, or graduate students pursuing their J.D., M.S.W., or other related graduate degree.  

When is the deadline to apply for spring/summer/fall internships? OCA accepts applications for internships on a rolling basis.

All internships are unpaid.

If you are interested in interning with our organization, please email your cover letter and resume to [email protected] with the subject line "Spring/Summer/Fall Internship."