Internships

The Coalition for American Leadership Abroad (COLEAD) and the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) are offering an Advocacy and Legislative Affairs and Media/Grassroots/Arts Initiative Internships to students with an interest in advancing programs supporting American engagement abroad. Interns are taken for the Summer, Fall and Spring semester lengths. Both graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to apply.

The COLEAD positions include working with grass-roots organizations and with Congress in support of foreign affairs programs and activities of the government and private sector. AFSA, is the professional organization and the recognized bargaining agent for the 23,000 active and retired foreign affairs professionals of the U.S and the home of the Coalition. COLEAD is a non-profit broad-based coalition of 45 foreign affairs organizations furthering well-informed public debate on international issues, promoting cooperation within the foreign affairs community and advocacy for engagement abroad. We campaign against neo-isolationism and for active U.S. leadership abroad

Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Internship

COLEAD's main activities include a major campaign of working with grass-roots groups around the country to strengthen their cooperative activities in their communities advancing engagement abroad, examining options in American foreign policy, encouraging debate and dialogue on key international issues, and promoting attention and support by the media, public officials and the public for foreign affairs generally and American leadership abroad.

We are supporting congressional action to make sure the U.S. has adequate resources to carry out such a role. You will work directly with the President of COLEAD and other leaders of the non-profit community. Your work will include drafting letters to Congress and opinion leaders, making calls to Congressional staff members, visiting the Hill and the State Department, working with local community leaders to support programs, speakers and activities which advance the goals of the Coalition. You will help to implement our front-line strategy in a variety of other ways. You may also have an opportunity to work at the national headquarters of one of our members organizations, and should indicate any such preferences.

Media/Grassroots/Arts Internship

A second possible internship is working with our Arts Initiative. This position centers around promotion of public diplomacy through legislative and media outreach. This will include drafting and editing OpEds speaking on the importance of educational and cultural affairs in diplomacy, general correspondence with the members of the arts initiative and contact with legislators to inform and educate them on the need for cultural diplomacy funding. The position also includes working with grassroots advocacy activities (especially the Michigan Campaign), some website development and general promotion of both COLEAD and our work with the America for International Arts and Cultural Exchange. As the Arts Initiative Intern, you will frequently attend briefings around Washington to keep our member groups informed of public diplomacy efforts from all sectors. For more information on the Arts Initiative, click here.

What is Needed

We need someone who can write well, can undertake independent initiative, is responsible, can work with a variety of people including grass-roots leaders, Hill staffers and non- profit executives. A majority of time spent will focus on tracking Congressional activities on foreign affairs issues especially funding. Also you may be working on our communications outreach activities including the media and our Web Page.

Basic office skills are required. We work with WordPerfect, FrontPage, and the Microsoft Office Suite. Especially helpful is knowledge of developing and working on web pages. These skills are also useful in communicating with our members and activists.

Internship Conditions

A very small honorarium (about $350-400 depending on hours worked and duration of Internship) is paid for the internship, we are looking for someone who can commit about 30-40 hours per week. Normally, the summer internship is for 32-40 hours. We work from 9 AM to 5 PM five days a week. We will be glad to work with your university about possible college credits. Your work with COLEAD will help advance your career in international affairs or related fields and support your future resume.

Where We Are

We are located at the corner of 21st and E Streets, N.W. Our office is adjacent to the George Washington University Campus, directly across from the State Department, near the Foggy Bottom Metro stop on the orange and blue lines.

How to Apply

Please send or fax the following materials to Harry C. Blaney, President of COLEAD, AFSA Building. 2101 E Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037. FAX (202) 338-6820.

If you need more information, please call Harry C. Blaney at (202) 944-5519.

Summer internship decisions are normally made around the middle of April. Decisions on Fall internship applications will be made by early August. We will make decisions about Spring internships by the end of November.

For additional internship opportunities, please visit the AFSA site, and our other member organizations.

Supporting U.S. Engagement Abroad

Phone: 202.994.5519 :: Fax: 202.338.6820 :: 2101 E St. NW Washington, DC 20036 :: colead@afsa.org

Last modified: 05/02/08