Internships 2024

The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) is a nonpartisan organization representing the interests of almost 450 Hispanic state legislators from 38 states, commonwealths, and territories across the United States. NHCSL is a catalyst for joint action on issues of common concern to all segments of the Hispanic community. NHCSL is affiliated to The Council of State Governments (CSG).

NHCSL Interns are an integral part of the NHCSL staff, and we like to give them credit for their work. Our interns are not expected to get anyone donuts or coffee, as unfortunately happens in many other locations. Read more about our approach to internship as a stepping-stone and field-leveling for students of color at the Washington Post.

Interns should ideally be at the Junior level or higher in their college career.

The Spring Semester 2024 internships run from January 22nd to April 26th.

Traveling Requirements for All Internships

Interns help organize and staff NHCSL meetings and summits, which typically happen once per internship term. Those meetings are sometimes held in Washington, DC but many times are held in other cities. This requires that interns travel (with all expenses paid) for about 5 days to the meeting location. During those meetings, interns will personally interact with dozens of legislator members from across the United States.

Communications Internship

NHCSL's Communications Shop is looking for a Communications Intern to collaborate with our media relations, website content and newsletter production verticals. This position reports to the Director of Communications and works in collaboration with the Policy Shop and the Member's Services Director.

Delivery:

• Draft communications materials, such as: press releases, IPMs, media advisories, talking points, remarks, scripts, captions, memos, and internal briefs.
• Assist with newsletter articles and website content creation.
• Assist in media trainings.
• Assist in growing NHCSL's media footprint.
• Follow NHCSL's editorial guidelines.
• Assist in general communications needs.

Skills:

• Prior experience, knowledge or strong interest in public policy and public affairs.
• Strong reading comprehension and written communication skills.
• Interest in working with the media and with editorial products.
• Ability to turnaround deliverables on tight deadlines.
• Bilingual (English and Spanish) preferred but not a requirement.
• Capacity to follow fast-paced and changing news developments.

Social Media Internship

NHCSL's Social Media Intern will collaborate with the maintenance and growth of our platforms and with the development of our campaigns. This position reports to the Director of Communications and works in collaboration with the Policy Shop.

Delivery:

• Draft and post approved social media content on the existing pages, assist with extending our reach and with the strategy and creation of culturally-competent campaigns.
• Creatively and proactively engage social media community members.
• Understand and analyze the news and political environment to ensure NHCSL's voice is a part of the rapid-changing online conversation.
• Live coverage of events.
• Among others.

Skills:

• Knowledge of social media management and analytics tools.
• Strong reading comprehension and written communication skills.
• Basic graphic design and video editing/capturing knowledge.
• Interest in digital trends, campaigns and online advocacy.
• Bilingual (English and Spanish) a plus.

Videography Internship

NHCSL's Communications Shop is looking for a Video Intern to collaborate with our Communication’s Shop campaigns, social media efforts, and events promotion. This position reports to the Director of Communications and works in collaboration with the Policy Shop, the Executive Director and our Members. 

Delivery:

• Capturing and editing content for NHCSL’s communications efforts, including but not limited to b-roll, event coverage, and interviews indoors and outdoors.
• Filming and editing NHCSL’s Interstitials that air on HITN.
• Responsible for the safe transfer, storage and correct labeling of all footage.
• Operate and maintain proper levels and calibration of cameras, microphones and other production equipment.
• Work closely with the Communications Director and the Policy Shop staff to execute concepts through to completion.

Skills:

• Advanced skills in photography, film, video, and/or digital media.
• Knowledge of video production workflows and softwares (i.e. Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Pro, AVID, etc.)
• Video and audio editing skills.
• Familiarity with Sony equipment.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong time and project management skills.

Policy Internship

Policy Interns are the primary researchers for our Legislation Exchange Forum, through which our members learn and benefit from legislation introduced by other members that could be of use in another state. This position reports to the Director of Policy, except during meetings and summits when they report to the Director of Meetings and Member Services, and works in collaboration with the Executive Director, the Communications Shop, the Director of Meetings and the Administrative Assistant.  

Delivery:

• Help our members draft resolutions for adoption by the NHCSL legislator-members, that propose state legislation and or Federal legislative or regulatory action.
• Option to draft articles for our newsletter, which will be published with authorship credit given to the intern. 
• Interns will learn to use the Quorum legislative research database for this work. This platform is increasingly becoming the standard in DC legislative research.

Skills:

• Strong factual researching skills and precision and trustworthyness in research with the understanding that legislation will likely ensue from it.
•  Detail-oriented in research.
•  Interns are expected to be precise and trustworthy in their research, understanding that legislation will likely ensue from it.
• Spanish proficiency writing, reading and/or speaking is desirable, but not required. 
• Scheduling and organizing skills. 

To apply, please send your resume, cover letter and transcripts to jgomez@nhcsl.org using the position you wish to apply to as subject line. 

NHCSL is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. CSG is an Equal Opportunity Employer (Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled)