Volunteer Internship Opportunities for Young Adults

Description:

Korean American Civic Empowerment (KACE) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 1996 dedicated to empowering the Korean American community through civic education and community organization. Among several programs and workshops, KACE regularly conducts voter registration drives and get out the vote drives to uplift and encourage responsible citizen participation with the Korean American community.

This volunteer internship opportunity is intended for young adults, college students, and those pursuing post-graduate studies that are interested in helping us empower our community with your volunteer service.  These positions are for unpaid, volunteer, internship positions, with no expectation or guarantee of paid employment at the end of the internship.  It is not to be confused with our annual Grassroots Internship Program or Coordinator Program.  Interns will support staff with our many different programs, campaigns, and workshops.  Interns may also time-to-time assist with work necessary for organization, maintenance, and upkeep of the office.

Those with a major or an educational focus or interest in American history, Asian American Studies, Korean American culture, politics, law, government, grassroots activism, social justice, not-for-profit organizations, or professional development are encouraged to apply.

There are three general areas of concentration that applicants may state their preference. They are:

1. Research: For those that also have excellent research and writing skills that are interested in issues at the local, State, and Federal levels. We normally start our new research topics at the beginning of the year, start the data collection in the spring and throughout the summer, and present findings near the end of summer.
2. Media: For those interested in media and content creation and wanting to do some good while growing in their skills. Understanding how to present ourselves professionally on social media and other platforms is a plus.
3. Other / Misc: KACE hosts many events and also participates together with others throughout the year. We can always use a helping hand, whether it is preparing for our annual Children’s Day Celebrations, tabling at Chuseok Festivals, and even helping keeping our office spaces clean and tidy for continued use in serving the community. There are many different ways to share our skills and talents to empower the Korean American community. 

Duties and Responsibilities (depending on what tasks you are assigned to work on) include:

• Attend meetings and take notes;
• Attend and assist at campaigns, projects, voter registration drives, community events, and outreach efforts;
• Research topics of interest and relevance to KACE’s mission;
• Draft memos, letters, spreadsheets, infographics, and other content;
• Monitor communications over social media and other communication mediums;
• Assist setting up technology (video conferencing, presentations, etc.); and
• Build positive relations with staff, other interns, and people within the community.

Hours: Workdays (Monday through Friday) 10 AM – 5 PM; not including holidays and school vacations.  Weekends vary depending on the community outreach event / celebration / festival / seminar. Shift days and hours are negotiable for unpaid volunteer internship positions.

Office Locations:
New York: Flushing, NY 11354
New Jersey: Palisades Park, NJ 07650

Rate of Compensation: n/a; this is an unpaid volunteer internship.

Qualifications and Skills:

• 18 years of age or older;
• Must be authorized to work in the United States;
• If enrolled in school, must be in good standing and compliance with the rules of your school’s rules and requirements to participate in this internship;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Excellent time-management and organizational skills;
• Proficient in MS Office and their Google counterparts, Canva, and Zoom;
• Commitment to serving the Korean American community;
• Ability to relate with people of all backgrounds, age, creeds, and gender;
• Ability to work consistently and patiently for long-term team efforts; and
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Bilingual skills in English and Korean is a strong plus, but is not a requirement.

Prior participation in the KACE Grassroots Internship Program, Coordinator Program, or other KACE programs as staff/volunteer is also a strong plus, but is not a requirement.

How to Apply:

Please email us at internship@kace.org with the subject line: “Young Adult Internship Application” along with the following attachments:

1. Cover Letter explaining your stated interest in working with us, what you hope to achieve, and any particular preference for which areas of programming we serve;
2. Resume;
3. Most Up-To-Date and Complete Transcript (unofficial is okay; if you are currently a freshmen, then please also include your complete high school transcript); and
4. Clear picture or scan of School ID, both front and back sides.

All applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  We recommend that you apply at your earliest possibility, as positions may already be filled if you delay too long.  Candidates considered for the next stage of the application process will be contacted by email with an invitation for an interview over Zoom.

For any questions, please contact us at internship@kace.org with the subject line “Questions about Young Adult Internship”, and please remember to include your name.   You can also reach us by mobile phone at (646) 707-2553.