Democracy Summer interns get real-world experience in organizing, communications, and advocacy. In 2019, students lobbied the NCGA for policies that would strengthen voting rights and helped win back the last Saturday of Early Voting! In 2020, interns prepared voters for the 2020 General Election, resulting in the highest voter turnout in history! In 2021, interns beat back anti-voter & racist bills that would harm North Carolinians. And in 2022, interns led GOTV efforts across the state and helped launch the Democracy NC TikTok channel.
Democracy Summer is an innovative internship program that exposes young leaders to new ideas and political movements. We teach our “friendterns” how to organize people around a shared vision for a better democracy in our state, address structural barriers to civic engagement, and build power alongside historically marginalized groups. This program equips young people with lifelong skills that they can use to work for positive social change in their communities.
Every summer, Democracy NC hires a cohort of undergraduate students from NC community colleges, colleges, and universities to work as paid student interns for 9 weeks under the guidance of experienced Democracy NC staff.
- Khalil J. Cobb, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Democracy Summer starts with a mandatory training orientation (May 2023), then interns work in their respective departments fighting for social change. They interact with civic leaders, veteran activists, elected officials, the news media, and of course each other and Democracy NC staff. Interns gain an insider’s view of the political climate, legislative process, and power structure in North Carolina.
Democracy Summer is ideal for students interested in a career in public service, politics, a non-profit field, or community-based work. All rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled in NC community colleges, colleges, and universities are eligible to apply. Because student interns are responsible for covering their own housing, most participants apply to work in cities where they have family or other living arrangements available. The ideal applicant will have:
“When I moved to America from Mexico, I wanted to empower the Latinx community, who feel like their voices aren't important. It is my turn to make my new home just, diverse, and of equal opportunity to everyone. Democracy NC gave me the skills to get started.” –Veronica Fonseca, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill