RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - FW: Nonprofit Jobs for Recent Graduates

Dear Professor Banguara,

I'm writing on behalf of the Public Interest Research Group (PIRGIM), a non-profit consumer advocacy group ,to ask for your help in identifying people who might be interested in career opportunities with our organization.

PIRGIM works in federation with U.S.PIRG, a nation-wide network of state-based public interest advocacy groups and this year we are hiring 100 graduating college students for our jobs here in Michigan and across the country.  We work on a range of public interest issues, from protecting and improving public health to making college more affordable and working for more and better public transportation, including high-speed rail. We are currently looking for a smart, enthusiastic and hard-working individual to work as a Fellow in our Ann Arbor office.

The fellowship program is a two year training program to train people how to be an advocate on public interest issues.  Fellows work closely with one of our experienced advocates and learn everything from creating the strategy of a campaign to direct lobbying of our elected officials. 

Here in Michigan our Fellow will work to build a strong statewide coalition to push for open and transparent budgets for Michigan and local communities, mobilize diverse voices ranging from small farmers to public health officials in support of ending wasteful big agribusiness subsidies, and work to generate the tide of public pressure it will take to put power back in the hands of the people in the wake of Citizens United.

I would greatly appreciate your help in forwarding our job announcement on listservs, posting our job description on department bulletin boards, and/or making suggestions of qualified candidates.  The job description is pasted below.  Please let me know if you would be willing to help in any of these ways.

Thanks in advance for your support!

Best,

Dan Smith

Tax and Budget Advocate

U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG)

Washington, DC

Office: 202.461.3822

Cell: 203.520.1427

www.uspirg.org

PIRGIM Fellowship Program

From Lansing, to Washington, DC, to city halls across Michigan, everywhere important decisions are made, powerful interests push for laws and policies that are against the public interest. As a PIRGIM fellow, you will stand up to powerful interests like Wall Street lobbyists and pharmaceutical companies as you work to win concrete results for consumers. You'll work closely with experienced advocates and organizers, and you'll learn to make the case for reform through targeted research, coalition building, outreach to citizen activists and the media, and direct lobbying of decision-makers.

As a PIRGIM fellow, you might work on food safety, government aid to education, money in politics, voting reform and more. Through the course of the two-year fellowship, you will get the skills, experience and training necessary to be a leader in the social change movement. 

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Responsibilities include:

·         Developing issue expertise through research and report writing

·         Building and demonstrating public support through media events and by working with activists and like-minded organizations

·         Making the case to decision-makers in meetings and through legislative testimony

·          Building the organization by canvassing for portions of the year, and running a summer citizen outreach office

Qualifications:

·         Strong work ethic

·         Outstanding verbal and written communication

·         Proven leadership skills

·         We value experience with campus groups or student government and academic achievement

Training & Experience

Fellows participate in trainings throughout the year, which include fieldwork with experienced staff and classroom trainings of lectures, briefings, and discussions.

Apply online at www.pirgim.org/apply

Location: Ann Arbor