This program is organized by Duke faculty/staff in collaboration with DukeEngage.
June 2 - July 27
Working with women's social justice and advocacy organizations.
(Note: this program is open to both women and men.)
, Director, Duke's Women's Center
Students will be placed singly or in small groups in local or national organizations serving women and girls in New York City. While some students may work on policy issues that impact sexual assault survivors or women in non-traditional employment (trade industries), other students may work with foundations that fund advocacy organizations or with agencies serving domestic violence survivors. All of the organizations and communities with whom they may work are under-resourced and depend on the work of interns and volunteers to effectively meet the needs of vulnerable populations. Students will have the opportunity to consider feminist frameworks within the practice of current-day policy, develop valuable historical context for the public policy challenges facing their generation, and reflect on the ethics of sustaining political commitments and seeking social justice.
Potential sites for placements include the following non-profits:
- Third Wave Foundation
- Legal Momentum
- Hollaback
- Ms. Foundation
- National Domestic Workers Alliance
- Sanctuary for Families
- Sadie Nash Leadership Project
Language/Other Prerequisites: To provide students with the background for the summer internship, students are encouraged to take a course in women’s history and/or public policy. Students may also register for the spring offering of Women in the Public Sphere: History, Theory, and Practice with Rachel Seidman.
Reflection Sessions: Every Friday, the program director or site coordinator will lead discussions with students at one of the host organizations to draw out the connections between their academic studies and their practicum and to encourage reflection on the week’s experiences through writing exercises. In addition to the weekly seminar sessions, students will be expected to post frequently on the program blog.
Neighborhood: New York University residence halls are located in some of the most vibrant neighborhoods of the city, including Greenwich Village, SoHo and Union Square. Placements will be in organizations throughout Midtown, Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Housing and Accommodations: Students will live together in centrally located, dormitory-style housing through New York University Summer Housing. All of the residence halls are conveniently located near public transportation, offering easy access to the rest of the city. All residence halls provide access to NYU athletic facilities, the Coles Sports Center and Palladium Athletic Facility, cable television service, internet (wired) connectivity, local telephone service, and laundry facilities. (NYU Summer Housing)
Meals: Kitchens are available in the residence facilities and a wide range of eateries and restaurants are steps from the dormitories. Some meals will be catered or purchased by the Program Director for Friday seminars, evening programming or weekend activities. Students will have a wide choice of restaurants and eateries for lunch and other dinners on their own.
Communication: NYU basic telephone service is provided and available immediately. NYU telephone service includes on-campus calls, local calls, voice mail, call waiting, caller ID, and three-way calling. Long-distance service can be arranged by completing an application online. Information will be available at check-in. Residents must supply their own telephone equipment. Students will have internet access from their dormitory. Students are encouraged to bring a laptop. Most placements will involve time in front of the computer and students should have some internet access while at their placement. Students are encouraged to bring their personal cell phones.
Transportation: Students will arrange air, train or car transportation to the city based on their particular needs. During the internship students will have monthly, unlimited subway passes to get around the city as needed. Students will be within a 30-minute subway ride and walk from their placement. Students will typically commute to work in pairs as the goal is to place two students at placements. Most program events will take place in the city where public transportation can be used. If an event is taking place outside of the city, group transportation will be arranged by the site leaders.
Volunteer Placement Logistics: Students will be matched to host organizations based on their personal interests, the program director’s discretion and the input of the partnering organizations. Students will be asked to rank their first three choices; partnering organizations will review resumes of the candidates most interested in working with them and provide rankings of their preferences. The program director will make the final pairings based on this information as well as their knowledge of the students and the organizations.
Opportunities for Autonomy / Private Space: Students will be at their placements Monday-Thursday during business hours (9-5 or 10-6 typically) and half of Friday. Students will have most evenings and three weekends free to explore the city. One evening a week will be reserved for a Moxie dinner and the other five weekends will have group activities planned.