Communications Intern

Borderlandsinitiative; Phoenix (AZ); Hybrid; USD 20,664 - 27,552; Part time

Job summary

Borderlands Resource Initiative in Phoenix, Arizona, is seeking an intern to contribute to their communications strategies. You will play an essential role in shaping how their mission and community stories are presented to supporters and partners.

This is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in nonprofit communications, assisting in creating content that highlights the resilience of migrants and border communities while learning in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Comfortable collaborating with a team and managing projects.
• Ability to communicate across different audiences.
• Approach storytelling with emotional maturity and respect.
• Interested in immigration and social justice work.

Responsibilities

• Create engaging social media content.
• Assist with newsletters, blogs, and campaign messaging.
• Support photography and visual storytelling efforts.
• Collaborate with staff and partners to gather stories.
• Help maintain consistency in messaging and branding.

Skills

Clear communication

Team collaboration

Organizational skills

Time management

Storytelling

Interest in social justice

Education

Enrollment in communications or related field

Tools

Canva

Adobe Creative Suite

Mailchimp

WordPress

Job description

At Borderlands Resource Initiative, we believe that migration is a human experience deserving of dignity, compassion, and justice. We are a community of advocates, organizers, storytellers, and problem-solvers working primarily across the Phoenix Valley to support migrants and strengthen border communities through collaboration, innovation, and care.

Communications is central to everything we do. The stories we tell help shift narratives, inspire action, and remind people that migration is about human beings, not headlines. We approach our communications with warmth, hope, and honesty, always centering the resilience and dignity of the people and communities we serve.

If you are someone who loves storytelling, cares deeply about social justice, and wants to use your creativity to support meaningful work, we would love to meet you.

Why We Need You

You will help shape how people understand our mission and the communities we serve. Your work will help supporters feel connected, help partners stay informed, and help migrants’ stories be told with care and humanity.

This internship is not about fetching coffee or sitting quietly in meetings. You will be a real contributor to our communications strategy and an important member of our team. Your creativity, curiosity, and perspective will help us grow our reach and deepen our impact.

The right person for this role understands that good communications can change hearts, influence policy conversations, and build stronger communities. You see storytelling as both an art and a responsibility.

What You Will Be Doing

You will work closely with our team to create thoughtful, engaging communications that reflect Borderlands Resource Initiative’s mission, values, and voice. Some days you might be drafting social media content or helping prepare a newsletter. Other days you may attend community events, interview partners or volunteers, brainstorm campaign ideas, or help organize visual content that captures the spirit of our work across Arizona border communities.

You will gain hands‑on experience in nonprofit communications while contributing to projects that matter. We want this internship to be collaborative, creative, and empowering — a place where you can learn, experiment, and build confidence while supporting meaningful work.

• Creating bilingual or English-language social media content that reflects our warm, hopeful, and human-centered voice.
• Assisting with newsletters, blog posts, campaign messaging, and storytelling projects that highlight the strength and resilience of migrants and border communities.
• Supporting photography, video, or visual storytelling efforts that document community events and organizational initiatives.
• Collaborating with staff and community partners to gather stories, quotes, and updates for public-facing communications.
• Helping maintain consistency in messaging, branding, and communications strategy across platforms.

You Need These Qualifications

• You know how to communicate clearly and thoughtfully across different audiences and formats.
• You are comfortable collaborating with a team, receiving feedback, and managing projects with guidance and accountability.
• You have strong organizational and time management skills and can balance multiple assignments thoughtfully.
• You approach storytelling with emotional maturity, respect, and care for the people whose stories are being shared.
• You are interested in immigration, human rights, border issues, community organizing, or social justice work.
• You are comfortable working in a hybrid and collaborative environment that values direct communication and flexibility.

It Would Be Nice If...

• You are currently enrolled in, or recently graduated from, a college or university program related to communications, journalism, marketing, public relations, nonprofit management, political science, media studies, or a related field.
• You have experience creating content for social media, newsletters, blogs, student organizations, community groups, or other public-facing platforms.
• You are bilingual in English and Spanish, especially conversational or written Mexican Spanish.
• You have experience with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, CapCut, Mailchimp, WordPress, or similar communications tools.
• You have photography, videography, graphic design, or editing experience.
• You have lived experience connected to migration, border communities, or multilingual households.
• You have experience volunteering or working in nonprofit, advocacy, mutual aid, or community-centered spaces.
• You enjoy translating complex issues into accessible and engaging content.
• You are curious about ethical storytelling and community-centered communications practices.

What Comes Next

Please send us your resume, any relevant portfolio items, and – most importantly – a cover letter that tells us about your interest in this role. We’re excited to meet you!

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

At Borderlands Resource Initiative, we believe in the power of a team of people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and inspired. If you need any assistance or accommodations during the application process, please reach out to us at [e-mail]. Join us in building an equitable workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute to our mission and success.