Apply Today! 2026 community organizing interns 🌱

InternshipOpen Opportunities
Written By Shannon Daehnke

Position overview

Are you passionate about youth activism & leadership? Are you up to learn more about workshop facilitation and creation?

Join the Next Up team as a Community Organizing Intern! As a Community Organizing Summer Intern, you’ll be supporting our work to build power and move Oregon forward through community organizing and leadership development. More specifically, you’ll be providing program support for our Upturn leadership academy—acting a co-facilitator to a group of ten people. In this position, you will receive mentorship from senior staff, as well as gain practical skills in program management, base building, donor stewardship, and communications.

About US

Next Up (501c3) is a civic home to build upon the collective power and leadership of young people to secure a more just and equitable Oregon. We envision an accountable, inclusive democracy where young people have the collective power to create and sustain resourced, flourishing, and livable communities.

program details

Location: Our office is in SE Portland; travel throughout Portland is required. This is a hybrid position, there will be work days in the office, from home, or in the field. A cell phone or laptop will be needed to participate.

Duration: June through August. Mon-Thurs, 10-6pm. Evening and weekend work may be required.

Compensation: $23/hour, 10-15 hours per week. This is a seasonal, part-time position.

INTErnship Timeline

(Please review the following dates and times to ensure availability and possible program commitment *calendar is subject to slight changes.)

Application Closes: May 12th at 11:59pm PST.

Interviews: Application reviews and interviews will be held on a rolling basis

Final Decisions: Announced week of May 18th

Internship Pre-Boarding: May 28th 5:30 to 7pm, virtual

Start Date: June 15th, 11 am - 5 pm, in-person at Next Up office. *The remainder of the schedule will be shared upon acceptance.

Upturn leadership academy schedule

  • Upturn Session One: Tues, July 14th, 12-3pm

  • Upturn Session Two: Thur, July 16th, 12-3pm

  • Upturn Session Three: Tues, July 21st, 12-3pm

  • Upturn Session Four: Thurs, July 23rd, 12-3pm

  • Upturn Session Five: Tues, July 28th, 12-3pm

  • Upturn Session Six: Thurs, July 30th, 12-3pm

  • Upturn Session Seven: Tues, August 4th, 12-3pm

  • Upturn Session Eight: Thurs, August 6th, 12-3pm

Key Qualifications

  • You are a graduate of Upturn, Community Action Team, Youth Philanthropy, and/or any other related Next Up programs

  • Desire to grow facilitation skills, program coordination, and passion for community organizing

  • Can commit to attending all of the Upturn meetings

  • Strong sense of time management, and follow through on projects

  • Have access to reliable wifi and a smart device (computer, tablet, phone) to access Zoom

  • Great problem-solving and organizational skills

  • A reliable and effective communicator

If you are excited about this program but have barriers to participation, please still apply and we can discuss how you can be successful.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to Iyanna (Ee-yah-nuh) at Iyanna@nextuporegon.org

Please answer all of the following questions below in full sentences - you should aim for at least 3-5 sentences for each one. We want to learn about who you are, so it's important that you give us a sense of yourself and why you are interested in the program!

Equal Opportunity Statement

Next Up is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, disability, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

We believe our work is stronger when it benefits from the experience, knowledge, and wisdom of people who have faced systemic barriers and strongly encourages Black, Indigenous, people of color, disabled people, people of diverse sexual orientations, gender expressions, and identities to apply.

Shannon Daehnke