2026 KACE Grassroots Internship Program – Application Instructions & Upload Link

Thank you for your interest in applying for Korean American Civic Empowerment’s 2026 KACE Grassroots Internship Program! This application is for an unpaid volunteer high school internship lasting approximately 22 weeks from May 29, 2026 through October 23, 2026.

The application Period for the 2026 KACE Grassroots Internship Program (for high school students in New York and New Jersey) will be between December 15, 2025 through March 31, 2026

Full Program Timeline Summary: May 29, 2026 through October 23, 2026

Interns are expected to participate fully for the entire 22 week duration of the internship program (May 29, 2026 through October 23, 2026) and attend our end of year Gala in the fall (official Gala date to be announced later in the summer).  Interns meet generally once a week during the Spring Orientation period, five days a week during the Summer Training Session, and be available and on standby to participate in the Autumn Main Session.

The following is a general reference guide to help understand the schedule demands, and is only a guideline The actual schedule will differ and change from time to time as is the nature of community advocacy work:

• Spring Orientation Period: May 29th through June 26th (Approx. 5 weeks)
  • Generally meets once-a-week over Zoom for orientation and lectures (avg. 2 Hours a week – 6PM Eastern)
  • Must complete writing assignments for our annual journal publication
• Summer Training Session: June 26th (NJ) / 29th (NY) through August 16th (Approx. 7 weeks)
  • Meets daily in person. The schedule may differ depending on where the Intern lives.
    • MONDAYS – WEDNESDAYS: In-Person Office Meetings (10am-6pm)
    • THURSDAYS: In-Person Field Research Trips
    • FRIDAYS: In-Person Campaigns (New York)
    • SATURDAYS: In-Person Campaigns (New Jersey)
  • Throughout the Main Session, Interns will be participating in our campaigns and projects, including weekly voter registration drives, writing additional articles for our annual internship journal publication, performing at our annual trial reenactment performance, and preparing for major projects in the late summer and throughout the Autumn. 
  • Interns MUST attend our Washington, D.C. trip
    • Tuesday, July 14, 2026 through Thursday, July 16th (3 days, 2 nights) – dates are subject to the hotel and bus company schedules.
    • Estimated cost per person $800 for coach bus transportation and lodging; due by the start of the Summer Training Session.
  • Avg. 40 Hours a week – all of the above general schedule is subject to change due to weather, availability of visits or guests, local events or campaigns, etc. 
• Autumn Main Session: August 16th through October 23rd (Approx. 10 Weeks):
  • Throughout the Autumn Main Session when school is back in session, we will be utilizing everything we learned over the summer and apply those learnings at several in-person community events and gatherings. These include the Chuseok Festivals in New York and New Jersey, parades, and more! 
  • Interns MUST attend our end of year Gala. 
  • On weeks that we do not have in-person meetings, we will have a Zoom meeting in place (avg. 1 Hour a week  – 6pm Eastern). 

Application Period (December 15, 2025 through March 31, 2026).

The Application Period will open December 15, 2025. (If you are accessing this page prior to that date, it is highly recommended that you prepare your application during this time for timely submission. The link to upload all required documents through our Google Form is available at the bottom of this post.)

The DEADLINE to apply is March 31, 2026. Because there is an interview component, it is highly recommended that applicants apply at the earliest opportunity to ensure enough time to schedule a job interview if selected.  February is the start of the Lunar New Year festivities which can last to over a month. May is also AANHPI Heritage month, meaning that it will be near impossible to conduct any interviews after April 30, 2026 prior to the start of the 2026 program in May.  Therefore, the best time to schedule an interview is within January 2026, with the last best time during the NYC DOE Spring Recess that starts the first week of April 2026 (the February Midwinter Recess overlaps Lunar New Year so it would be a good idea to schedule an interview BEFORE mid-February).

All applications are reviewed for consideration on a rolling basis in the order that they are received. If you need help with your application, please email us at internship@kace.org. Please remember to include your name, grade, and school in your inquiry. All fields of this application and uploading of all documents are required. Please have all of your documents ready to upload before proceeding. Incomplete responses or failure to upload required documents may result in the rejection of your application. If you are selected to move onto the next stage for an interview over Zoom, you will be contacted with further instructions via the Gmail address you provide. 

Application Process Overview

The following seven (7) documents are required and must be uploaded together for consideration:

1. KACE Applicant Information Form (link for download)
2. Applicant’s Photo
3. Clear picture or scan of School ID, both front and back sides
4. Resume
5. Personal Statement (further instructions below)
6. Complete School Transcript
7. Stop Sexual Harassment Training Certificate

Failure to provide any of the required documents may result in the delay of processing your application or the rejection of your application in its entirety. As a reminder, this is a job application.

Start and Submit Your Application AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE

It is advised that all applicants submit their application as early as possible in order to ensure enough time for an interview. We are only able to schedule an interview during regular business hours (9am – 5pm; last interview at 4pm) Mondays through Fridays not including weekends or holidays. We are only able to interview 1 or 2 people per regular business day. If you are contacted for an interview but are unavailable for your interview at the aforementioned time range, please provide us with three Reasonable different dates and times that you are available for an interview.

Instructions for each document for upload:

1. KACE Applicant Information Form

Please download and complete the information form (link for download) to the best of your ability. You may scan or take a clear and legible photo of the information form for upload into the Google Form application (the link is at the bottom of this post).

2. Applicant’s Photo

Square size (1:1 ratio) from the top of the applicants head to shoulders. This should be something that could be used in a professional profile picture (for example: a LinkedIn account; you do not need to have a LinkedIn account for this application). This is also to help the interviewer verify your identity.

3. Clear picture or scan of School ID, both front and back sides

Please include a scan or clear and legible photo of both the front and back sides of your School ID. This is to help the interviewer verify your identity. If you do not have a school ID, you may include a different form of official photo ID such as a passport or State ID Card (Please note that official Government Photo ID is required for the Washington D.C. trip).

4. Resume

Please prepare a standard resume for this job position. This should be a resume that you would submit for any other job application or for your college application. Seek reliable persons (i.e. your school’s guidance counselor; etc.) to help you write or look over your resume for feedback, and edit a final version before uploading.

5. Personal Statement

Please select ONE (1) of the following writing topics and write your personal statement in at least 500 words, but no more than 2,000 words, and upload to the Google Form (link below) as a Word or Google Document. You must indicate which writing prompt to which you are responding.

AI-Generated content is strictly prohibited and may result in the immediate rejection of your application. 

This is a job application, so please remember to take this and all portions of this application seriously. Remember to check for spelling and grammar. Please also remember to cite your sources and provide a bibliography if applicable.

1. Combatting AI Psychosis: The use and overuse of new and developing technologies without proper guardrails and protections often lead to the emergence of hidden or overlooked dangers. With the increase in mass consumption of consumer “AI” chatbot products, a new issue coined “AI Psychosis” has become an increasingly worrying societal issue especially among those already with underlying vulnerabilities. What are some ways that young people can protect themselves from succumbing to AI Psychosis and aid others to reverse the adverse effects of overuse and misuse of this new technology?
2. Revitalizing Small Business: Small businesses are the lifeblood of a local economy. Many Korean Americans and immigrants happen to also be small business owners. But with the rising costs of living, dynamic shifts in the market for imported and exported goods, and a myriad of other economic factors, small businesses are struggling to thrive in today’s economy. What are some ways to help revitalize struggling small businesses in your local community?
3. Activating Young American Voters: There is a long standing and continued trend among young American voters, despite educational seminar and workshops and even social media outreach throughout the country, where their numbers of voter registration and voter turnout are often much lower than the national average. While there are some boosts in the numbers during major and popular elections (e.g. Presidential Elections; the 2025 NYC Mayoral Election; etc.), the data suggest that the same voters do not seem as engaged in other election years. What are some new creative, tangible, and realistic ways to get more younger Americans that are eligible to register to vote and able to vote to be more civically responsible and more involved in American representative democracy?

6. Complete School Transcript / Complete Report Card

Please upload a copy of your most recent and complete high school transcript / report cards from 9th grade to the present. This is something that you can obtain from your guidance counselor.

If you are a current Freshmen in high school, you should still be able to obtain a copy of your transcript, albeit your final year grades may be pending.

If you are currently in 8th grade at the time of applying but meet the minimum age requirements (at least 14 years of age as per the laws of the State of New York), you should also be able to acquire a copy of your complete transcript or its equivalent (i.e. report cards) from your school guidance counselor going back from 6th grade to the present.

For some schools getting these documents can taken weeks or months, so make sure you ask for these ahead of time.

7. Stop Sexual Harassment Training Certificate

This training is mandatory and required as per the laws of the State and City of New York. This is a link to New York City’s webpage for the training video that complies with the requirements: https://www.nyc.gov/site/cchr/law/sexual-harassment-training.page 

This training is available in multiple languages. The training takes approximately 45 minutes. You can take the training on a computer or a phone. At the end of this training, you will get a certificate of completion. The certificate must be dated in the year 2026. 

Please note that you cannot save your progress. Do not refresh the page, as you may lose your place and have to restart the training. At the end of the training, you must click the “SAVE” button first in order to generate your certificate of completion. If you are taking this training on a desktop computer or laptop, you will be able to print or save the certificate to your computer. If you are on a mobile device, you can use the device’s capabilities to take a screenshot, save, or email the certificate.

This training requires Chrome 67 (or later), Firefox 66.0.4 (or later), or Safari 11.1.1 (or later). Accessibility features for users with disabilities include audio descriptions and closed captioning and alt-text for the images and the icons, as well as languages other than English (such as Korean) for those with English language proficiency issues.

The Interview Process

The interview is mandatory for all new applicants. Returning Interns are exempt for this portion.  

You will need to indicate your general availability to have an interview over Zoom during regular business hours (Monday through Friday from 10AM -5PM; last interview at 4PM).

If you are requesting an accommodation for an interview outside of regular business hours, you MUST provide a reasonable explanation for why you are not available during normal business hours and what alternate days and times you are requesting an accommodation for an interview. Please note that there is no guarantee that anyone will be available to accommodate an alternate date and time outside of normal business hours for an interview. Please also keep in mind that the Autumn Main Session will be taking place during the school year in Autumn and full participation and commitment is expected of all Interns. 

Each interview averages and can exceed 1 hour. The interview will cover three major areas:

1. Getting to know who you are;
2. Typical interview questions; and
3. Confirming your availability, ability, and commitment to participate in this year’s internship program. 

This is a job interview. It is highly recommended that you prepare in advance for your interview, that you dress appropriately for the interview, and that you log in for the interview in a quiet place without distractions and strong internet connection. 

Here is a YouTube playlist with some videos that may help you prepare for the interview (you do not need to sign up for any course or buy anything; the tips in the videos are more than enough for this interview): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSoraRLW8kLZNwPX-gQtk3jaUcDKdlPgp 

AFTER the Interview AND IF you receive a job offer:

1. Working Papers / Employment Certificate

As per New York State and New Jersey State law, applicants will need to get working papers, sometimes referred to as an employment certificate. Students must also be able to acquire working papers by the time of the start of the internship.  It is the student’s responsibility to acquire their own working papers.  Speak with your parents first.  Your high school guidance counselor should be able to help you get your working papers. Acquiring your working papers may take a lot of time, so it is advised that you speak with your guidance counselor immediately to get the process started. If you run into issues in getting working papers, please let us know. Working papers for minors in New York are small physical certificates. Working papers for minors in New Jersey are digital.

• More information about Working Papers in New York: https://dol.ny.gov/working-papers
• More information about Working Papers in New Jersey: https://www.nj.gov/labor/youngworkers/find-a-job/working-papers/getstarted.shtml

2. Parents/Legal Guardians Orientation

The Parents Orientation is mandatory, even for returning interns. At least one parent or guardian must attend the Parents Orientation for the high school intern to participate in this year’s program. Interns accepted into the program may attend with their parent(s). 

The dates of the orientation is as follows (please plan ahead):

• NEW JERSEY PARENTS ORIENTATION: Saturday May 16, 2026 at 7PM.
• NEW YORK PARENTS ORIENTATION: Saturday May 23, 2026 at 7PM.

Additional information, including the location for the Parents Orientation, will be provided to applicants that are accepted into the program. The New Jersey Orientation will be taking place in New Jersey. The New York Orientation will be taking place in New York. All Parents Orientations are IN PERSON ONLY. Food and refreshments will be provided. These are outside of regular business hours to accommodate parents that may be working on Saturdays. 

3. 2026 Washington, D.C. Trip

This year is the 30th Anniversary of the organization’s founding. We are planning a 3 day, 2 night trip to Washington, D.C. over the Summer. The current estimate is at approximately $800 per person, which includes travel via coach bus and lodging at a hotel. This does not include costs for lunch. Payment for transportation and lodging will be due on the first day of the Summer Training Session.

We are looking at Tuesday, July 14th through Thursday July 16th as the date of our trip, subject to confirmation from the hotel and bus company schedules. This trip is mandatory for participating Interns in the 2026 program.

4. End of Year Award for Interns

KACE is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering the Korean American community through civic education and community engagement since 1996. Although KACE is a PVSA certified organization, it is unlikely that any PVSA will be awarded for the foreseeable future due to the current state of the PVSA program. You can learn more about the PVSA on their official website: https://presidentialserviceawards.gov/ 

KACE provides our own awards for volunteer service earned throughout the internship program. Different tiers for our award certificates can be earned on a merit based system that will be explained in further detail throughout the Spring Orientation Period. While attendance is a crucial factor, so will be meaningful participation in community events and successful completion of our major projects throughout the year.

End of Year Awards and Certificates are presented live at the annual KACE Gala. These include the KACE Award Certificates, and may include recognition from other prominent figures. Traditionally, there is also an Intern Representative for that year’s cohort that has the honor to deliver the speech on behalf of the entire Internship for that year in front of hundreds of our guests at our annual end of year Gala. As this is our 30th Anniversary, we expect much from the Intern that is selected to represent the 2026 cohort.

For any other questions

For any questions or inquiries about the Grassroots Internship Program, please email internship@kace.org. If you are a student, please remember to include your name, grade, and school in your inquiry. If you are a parent, please indicate your child’s name, grade, and school in your inquiry. Thank you.