Children's Defense Fund, DC Fellowship Description

Description of Work:

• Assist with the mobilization, organizing and follow-up efforts for religious communities to advocate on behalf of children through participating in the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths® and the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry.
• Assist in creating a theological frame for CDF’s Policy programs such as America’s Cradle to Prison PipelineSM and the Healthy Child Campaign.
• Research and gather data on religious communities involved in various child advocacy ministries for the Religious Action Listserv.
• Help promote CDF’s Tax and Benefit Outreach program to religious communities, child advocacy organizations and other organizations throughout in the D.C. Metropolitan Area.
• Provide assistance and support to congregations and other community organizations involved in CDF’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Sites.
• Develop and maintain databases, well-organized filing systems, and mail distribution procedures, and order supplies to accommodate the multi-faceted work of the division.
• Perform other division, department, and organization-wide special projects as needed and assigned.
• Be able to meet the educational component of the CDF Internship Program, including luncheons, seminars, and trips.

Skills required:

• Interested in thinking and communicating theologically about how faith influences one’s world-view and behavior.
• Comfortable functioning in religious settings.
• Ability to work effectively and calmly in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with daily deadlines.
Strong organizational and execution skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Commitment to social advocacy and CDF’s mission to be a voice for all children in America.
• Must be familiar with database use and design (i.e. Microsoft Excel, Access, etc.)
• Ability to organize facts and present issues in a clear, concise and logical manner, both orally and in writing, is essential.

Unique opportunities this internship provides:

• Meet Marian Wright Edelman, Founder and President of the Children’s Defense Fund.
• Experience the workshops, preaching, and worship of CDF’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry, July 14-19, 2008
• Network with other CDF interns.

Click to learn more about the Children’s Defense Fund.

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