Advocacy Organizing Intern at Bike Durham

Wayne State University; Durham, Northern (NC, KY); Hybrid; USD 20,664 - 27,552; Part time

Job summary

Bike Durham is seeking a summer intern in Miami to support organizing for safe streets and transit improvements. The intern will work on a Transit Equity Campaign and a Change Agent Training Course, engaging community members and collecting data. Qualified candidates should have strong interpersonal and communication skills, a passion for transportation's impact, and a commitment to diversity and equity. This role offers the chance to make a significant community impact.

Qualifications

• Passion for the impact of transportation on safety and environmental quality.
• Ability to build trust and maintain relationships with diverse individuals.
• Strong ability to write and speak clearly in public settings.

Responsibilities

• Collect stories from bus riders about their experience with public transit.
• Engage individuals in conversations about transportation at events.
• Assist in preparing materials for Change Agent Training classes.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Time management skills

Professionalism

Job description

Bike Durham seeks to hire a summer intern to support our organizing for safe streets and great transit in Durham. The intern will work on two projects throughout the summer.

• For the first project - Transit Equity Campaign - the intern will work with Bike Durham’s Advocacy Campaign Organizer and lead volunteers to build our base of supporters for increased funding for transit, biking, and walking infrastructure in Durham and across the region. This will include regular canvassing of bus riders, residents, and business owners - collecting stories to demonstrate visible public support and to deepen relationships with directly impacted community members. This consistent engagement allows us to grow a base of supporters who can be mobilized for future advocacy efforts.
• For the second project - Change Agent Training Course - the intern will support Bike Durham’s Advocacy Campaign Organizer and Executive Director in delivering a four-class training course for residents who want to become Change Agents around Durham’s transportation system. This will include supporting each of the four sessions and contributing to evaluations of and revisions to the curriculum for a Fall cohort.

Bike Durham is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to use events, advocacy and education, to empower all people to walk, bike and ride transit more often. Our vision is a Durham where everyone has access to safe, affordable and sustainable transportation regardless of who they are or where they live.

Bike Durham currently has seven full-time and three part-time positions. This intern position will work closely with the executive director, the advocacy campaign organizer, the communications director, and our volunteer advocacy leaders.

Primary duties and responsibilities of the policy intern include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Through canvassing or one‑on‑one conversations, collect stories from bus riders, other residents, and business owners about their experience with public transit, bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
• Through tabling at events, engage individuals in conversations about their experiences with transportation and share information about Bike Durham’s services and campaign.
• Documenting notes from interactions and assisting volunteers and staff with capturing their notes from interactions.
• Assist in preparing for each of the four Change Agent Training classes, assembling materials for participants, ordering dinners, confirming participation needs (e.g., childcare, language interpretation) of participants and coordinating with identified providers to meet those needs.
• Collect evaluation data and prepare summaries of results from participants’ responses to Change Agent training surveys.

Qualified candidates will bring with them:

• Passion for the impact of transportation on safety, equal access to opportunity, environmental quality, and quality of life.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to build trust and maintain relationships with diverse individuals by race, gender, age, economic status and an array of key stakeholder groups.
• Strong communication skills; ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively, including in public settings.
• Strong organizational and time management skills; ability to meet goals and deadlines while working independently.
• High degree of professionalism, sensitivity to political dynamics, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced, frequently changing environment.
• Experience working in an environment where commitment to justice based on race, ethnic origin, gender, age, sexual orientation and physical ability is an important institutional value.