Something big is happening in our democracy - young people are voting. For the past three elections, young people have turned out in big numbers and the Student PIRGs are working hard to make sure that 2008 is a banner year for youth voting. The youth generation, or “Generation Y”, born between 1977 and 1994 is large and growing. By 2015, Generation Y voters ages 18-38 will be one-third of the U.S. electorate. As such, they have the potential to make big impacts on key issues such as global warming, college affordability, health care and financial security.
The Student PIRGs’ New Voters Project is a nonpartisan effort to register young people and to get them to the polls on Election Day. Since launching the New Voters Project in 2003, we do this work both to boost youth participation in democracy and to get politicians to pay attention to young people and the issues that they care about.
In order to boost the level of engagement of young people, the Student PIRGs plan to run a major nonpartisan youth voter turnout effort in the 2008 Presidential election. The project will combine voter registration, list building, issue organizing and grassroots Get Out the Vote (GOTV) strategies at 100 to 150 target college campuses to turn out 18-29 year olds who are eligible to vote in the 2008 election.
Job Description
- Run a non-partisan voter registration and turnout campaign in a campus community. Campus Organizers recruit and train a cadre of volunteers to register 18-29 year olds, collect pledges to vote from 18-29 year olds who are already registered to vote, and contact all of these young people to turn out to vote on Election Day.
- Educate students and train new leaders. Campus Organizers teach citizenship and organizing skills. Campus Organizers also oversee an internship program, through which students can earn academic course credit for their work to boost youth voter engagement.
- Build an organization. Campus Organizers build active, cohesive and highly visible PIRG campus-organizing committees that are recognized by faculty and student leaders as an asset to the campus community.
- Build a coalition. Campus Organizers work with student volunteers and interns to build a diverse, invested coalition of organizations and people, such as the student government, college president, College Republicans, College Democrats and others, to boost youth voter turnout.
Salary & Training
Recent college graduates earn $23,750 in their first year on staff. In addition, full-time staff can opt into our state health care coverage, are eligible for paid sick and vacation days, and can apply for our college loan assistance program. Our staff accrue two weeks of vacation by the end of their first year and three weeks by the end of their second year. Staff are also eligible to join our 401(k) program in their second year.
Qualifications
Qualified applicants need to be goal-driven and sharp, with good problem-solving skills. Applicants should be driven by the idea of working on a huge, non-partisan youth voter mobilization project, capable of taking on leadership, and ready to work 50-70 hour weeks. We are looking for a commitment through December of 2008.
Location(s)
CO, CA, FL, IA
Application
To apply, e-mail your cover letter and resume to Ellynne Bannon at . We'll carefully consider your application and if we think you may be a good fit, we'll be in touch.
The Student PIRGs are an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, handicap, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or veteran status.