Civics in Action Internship Program
It's that time of year again - Check our our Civics in Action Internship Program
It is critical to Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group Education Fund’s mission that our work for a healthier, safer and more sustainable future include young people. They are, after all, the future. At MASSPIRG Education Fund, we are proud of the many decades that our work has not only championed a better future for young people, but also provided them hands-on civic experience through our college campus chapters, program internships and other opportunities.
Our Civics in Action Internship Program (CAIP) teaches undergraduates and other students the civic skills and knowledge necessary to fully participate in a democratic society. The skills of research, writing, media outreach, advocacy and organizing, combined with a better understanding of our political process and the roles of corporations and non-profit organizations therein, are valuable tools for college students looking to make a positive impact on their community, both now and for the rest of their lives.
In the summer of 2016, in collaboration with our Public Interest Network partner organizations, we launched a pilot program to formalize and upgrade our internship program. Over the last three summers, 66 college and graduate school interns have worked on more than 30 campaigns for our network of public interest groups. These are the stories from the Class of 2018. To find out more please contact Deirdre Cummings, [email protected].
Authors
Deirdre Cummings
Legislative Director, MASSPIRG
Deirdre runs MASSPIRG’s public health, consumer protection and tax and budget programs. Deirdre has led campaigns to improve public records law and require all state spending to be transparent and available on an easy-to-use website, close $400 million in corporate tax loopholes, protect the state’s retail sales laws to reduce overcharges and preserve price disclosures, reduce costs of health insurance and prescription drugs, and more. Deirdre also oversees a Consumer Action Center in Weymouth, Mass., which has mediated 17,000 complaints and returned $4 million to Massachusetts consumers since 1989. Deirdre currently resides in Maynard, Mass., with her family. Over the years she has visited all but one of the state's 351 towns — Gosnold.