Paid Clean Elections internships for students

[eridani]

Did you know that college and high school students are fighting for Fair and Clean Elections? Democracy Matters is a national student organization that is devoted to the struggle for full public financing of election campaigns at the local, state and federal levels. We offer a PAID internship to college students and a FELLOWS program for high school students to get involved in grassroots organizing at their schools and universities. We provide organizing materials, year-round mentorship, attendance at our annual national youth conference, links to your state organizations, and partnership nationally with Public Campaign and other national reform organizations.

BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP in finding great young organizers to apply to our program. The attached flyers explain both the Democracy Matters college internship and the high school fellows program. Please spread the word so we can create the next generation of progressive leaders to work on this issue. Here's how you can help:

--Forward this email and the flyers to your email list.
--Take flyers with you to your speaking engagements and encourage folks to tell their kids and grandkids to apply.
--Highlight these youth opportunities in your newsletters to members and supporters.
--Send everyone to our great website: www.democracymatters.org.
--Use any means to spread the word about these great opportunities - especially to your activists who are students, faculty, or teachers.

If you need more materials from us or want more information, please don't hesitate to email or call me: joanm {at}democracymatters.org [phone].

Thanks for your commitment! Together we will continue to make a difference.

Joan

Joan D. Mandle, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Democracy Matters
Chair, Public Campaign Board


The Democracy Matters High School Fellows Program


The Democracy Matters High School Fellows Program introduces students to the issue of money in politics and gives them support and guidance in developing skills of activism such as outreach, public speaking, and writing. Students who achieve the goals of the program will receive a certificate of achievement and a letter from Democracy Matters to send to colleges and universities of the student's choosing, outlining their accomplishments. Being a high school fellow also is a first step towards becoming a paid college coordinator. More than one student per high school can receive the certificate and letter as long as they are all contributing to the campaigns.


To complete the program, students must achieve the following goals:

Find a faculty advisor who can supervise and sign off on your progress. The faculty advisor will be an ally in your efforts, helping you organize other faculty and students in putting together successful campaigns.
Organize an assembly and/or class focused on the issue of money in politics by bringing in a guest speaker (activists, elected official, etc.), screening a movie followed by a discussion, etc.
Write a two-page research paper outlining the ways in which money in politics influences an issue of your choice (environment, healthcare, national defense, civil rights, etc.)
Coordinate a group of students to do school and neighborhood outreach to educate community members about the clean elections system.


You will also:

Receive a subscription to the Democracy Matters monthly E-News.
Receive any materials and supplies needed for your campaigns (pins, movies, flyers, stickers, etc.)
Receive support and guidance from a Democracy Matters Regional Field Organizer.

Don't wait until college to become politically active. Learn how money in politics influences the issues that you care about and start becoming an effective advocate for change. Be part of the fastest growing youth movement in the country and help revolutionize our democracy by getting big money out of politics and putting the voices of the citizens back in. We look forward to working with you!

To apply, write a letter to Professor Joan Mandle, Executive Director of Democracy Matters, joanm {at} democracymatters.org, explaining why you want to be a high school fellow.

www.democracymatters.org


THE FACTS:

Politicians depend on large private contributions to run their campaigns. Therefore they are more accountable to their big funders and special interests than to the majority of Americans.

Student voices are ignored on important issues ranging from tuition increases to environmental protection.

Ordinary citizens are locked out of an unfair system because they cannot afford to run for office.

Too much time is spent by politicians raising money instead of raising issues and talking with voters

Many people have lost faith in the system and don't even bother to vote because they think candidates are bought and sold.

"People say our generation is apathetic. But I don't think so. We need to make some noise to stop the big donors and special interests from controlling policies on education, war and peace, the environment and the things we care about." Adonal Foyle, NBA Player, Founder and President of Democracy Matters


".. is our generation's civil rights movement... The beauty is this is not some far fetched unattainable pipe dream, but rather a movement with a defined and clear purpose..." Nichole Diestel, Texas State University

"No matter what issue you are passionate about—education, women's rights, health care, racial equality, social justice—reform starts with campaign finance reform..." Amanda Ruthven, Mount Holyoke

"...Clean Elections would prevent `kick-back' legislation, which provides millions of taxpayer dollars to private interests... It's time to start plugging the holes in our democracy... " Jake Miller, Bloomsburg University

Democracy Matters is strictly non-profit and non-partisan.

[grasswire]

1. thanks for that

I'll pass it on to some students I know.