YOLANDE GREGORY STUDENT INTERN AND
YOUNG VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
THE ACLU OF MARYLAND: WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
The ACLU of Maryland (ACLU-MD) is the Maryland state affiliate office of the American Civil Liberties Union. Our mission is to ensure that all people in the state are free to think and speak as they choose and can lead their lives free from discrimination and unwarranted government intrusion. The ACLU-MD engages in constitutional and civil rights litigation, legislative analysis and lobbying, and public education on a wide range of issues.
Beyond the defense of First Amendment rights for which the ACLU is best known, the ACLU-MD has taken on major initiatives on behalf of citizens who are racially, politically and economically disadvantaged. The ACLU-MD is pursuing precedent setting lawsuits challenging segregation in Baltimore’s public housing, inadequate funding of Baltimore’s public schools, and racial profiling by the Maryland State Police. Beyond those lawsuits, the ACLU-MD’s docket addresses almost every area of constitutional and civil rights law, including freedom of speech and association, freedom of religion, race and gender discrimination, privacy, police misconduct, the right to vote, due process, lesbian and gay rights, prisoner’s rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, criminal procedure, and access to public records.
THE YOLANDE GREGORY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Yolande “Lon” Gregory was a long-time volunteer at the ACLU-MD. Lon loved working with the ACLU staff and had a particular fondness for our student interns and young volunteers. Our internship and young volunteer program has been named in her memory.
Interns benefit from a convivial and participatory environment, learning by working closely with ACLU staff. They are crucial to our work to protect civil rights and civil liberties in Maryland. Undergraduate interns at the ACLU-MD perform a variety of tasks depending on the requirements of their internship (we offer internships for credit only; all internships are unpaid). Interns work with our legal staff to help process requests for legal assistance by fielding phone calls, helping with general case investigation and research, and providing general office support. Start/end dates and hours are flexible. We prefer a commitment of at least 8 hours/week for at least 10 weeks during the school year. Summer interns are expected to work at least 2 or 3 days a week; full-time interns are preferred.
The ACLU-MD seeks interns with excellent research and writing skills, a commitment to public interest work, and a healthy sense of humor. Candidates with office experience will be given preference. We expect interns to be comfortable communicating with clients from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds with a wide range of needs.
TO APPLY FOR AN INTERNSHIP
Interested applicants should send a resume, short writing sample (1-2 pages) and a cover letter explaining why you want to intern with the ACLU-MD and what sort of time commitment you can offer. It should highlight what you can offer the ACLU and let us know whether there are any issues you are particularly interested in.
Recommended application deadlines: Fall (Sept. 15); Spring (Dec. 1); Summer (Apr. 1). Applications are considered on a rolling basis, and we accept applications until positions are filled, but positions are competitive. Send all materials to Amala Abdur-Rahman, Volunteer Coordinator.
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