Paid Design Internship Part Time – Summer 2026

Paid Design Internship Part Time Summer 2026
New Jersey Institute for Social Justice
Newark NJ

The New Jersey Institute for Social Justiceseeks a creative and detail-orientedDesign and Communications Intern to support visual storytelling and digital content creation. The ideal candidate for this position will have a deep commitment to social justice work and familiarity with social mediaandgraphic design

Establishedin 1999 by Alan V. and Amy Lowenstein the Institutescutting-edgeracial and social justice advocacy seeks to empower people of color by building reparative systems that create wealth transform justice and harness democratic powerfrom the ground upin New Jersey.

Known for our dynamic and independent advocacy aimed at toppling load-bearing walls of structural inequality to create justvibrantand healthy communities we are committed to exposing and repairing the cracks of structural racism in our foundation that erupt into earthquakes in communities of color.

The Institute advocates for systemic reform that is at once transformative achievable in the state and replicable in communities across the nation.

The Institutes programmatic focus rests upon three interconnected pillars:

1. Economic Justice

2. Criminal Justice Reform

3. Democracy and Justice

Internship Overview

The Design and Communications Internwill report to the Communications and Design Manager. The role will have a large focus on graphics design - and also provide support to the Communications & Marketing team overall and its work to promote the institutes programmatic and organizational branding. Specifically the Intern will take on the following roles and responsibilities with support from supervisors:

• Assistin creating flyerssocial mediaassets includinggraphicsand other designed materials.

• Createand implementsocial mediacampaignsacross Facebook Twitter InstagramTikTokand YouTube with an eye toward reaching a younger audience.

The Intern might also when needed:

• Assistin organizing the Communications shared folders including uploading photos and videos.

• Attend and support Institute events.

• Participate in Institute meetings and other collaborative activities.

• Assistin organizingadvocacyplatforms email and campaign database.

• Assistin organizing press lists inmediadatabase.

• Compile and distribute press clips including updating the Institutes website media page.

• As needed help draft and proofread collateral materials such as fact sheetsbrochuresand web content as well as press releases and email blasts.

Experience and Qualifications

The ideal communications internship candidate will have:

• Experience or interest in learning basic graphic design using platforms like CanvaPhotoshopandIndesign.

• A passion for social and racial justice.

• Experience effectively navigating social media and knowledge about the latest platforms with a vision for maximizing the Institutes social media presence.

• Experience or interest in learning WordPress.

• A four-year degree preferably ingraphic and/or communicationdesigncommunications marketing journalism political science sociology or a policy related field (or if the applicant is a current student be working toward such a degree).

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups that help to drive the Institutes mission.

• Proficiencywith MS Office applications.

• Extremely detailed and organized.

Economic Justice

New Jersey has one of the largest and most stark racial wealth gaps in the nation. Under our economic justice pillar the Institute works to ensure economic justice for residents in our divested urban communities through expansion of access to (1) quality employment opportunities that promote long-term security (2) housing in safe and healthy neighborhoods and (3) wealth development opportunities so that all people can realize their full potential. Closing the racial wealth gap in New Jersey is at the core of our current work as our economic justice initiativesidentifyand promote meaningful policies that will close the staggering wealth disparities in our addition the initiative integrates a reparative justice framework into its work directly harnessing our understanding that discriminatory policies and exclusion for people of color have been central to the creation of the economic inequalities that we see today. From the periods of slavery to redlining to predatory lending that disproportionately targeted Black and Brown people during the Great Recession and continues todayour economic and social policies have erected barriers to financial opportunity for people of color. Therefore our work aims to rebuild our social and policy systems with intentionality informed by research evidence to redress past and current harms while expanding future opportunities for all particularly Blackcommunitiesand other communities of color. Through our model of research and analysis the production of reports and policy briefs and advocacy for policy and legal change our work unlocks opportunity promotes economic mobility and dismantles structural and racial inequality in New Jersey.

Criminal Justice Reform

Through our criminal justice reform pillar the Institute is working to create a rational and effective criminal justice system that (1) strengthens communities by treating people particularly communities of color and the most vulnerable among us fairly and equitably; (2) provides alternatives to incarceration particularly for youth; (3) protects constitutional rights; (4) ensures racial equality; and (5) transforming policing and public safety. The Institute is a member of the Independent Monitoring Team overseeing reforms to the Newark Police Department in response to a federal consent decreeentered intobetween the Department of Justice and the City of Newark. Through this work the Institute monitors reforms concerning community policing and bias-free policing while also serving as the primary community liaison between the monitoring process and the Newark community. Even as we implement reforms to create accountable policing the Institute is simultaneously rethinking the entire institution of policing and is working toward reducing law enforcements footprint in our communities with a focus on what community members need to feel and be safe and protected. The Institute is also a leader in youth justice reform in New Jersey spearheadingthe 150 Years is Enough Campaign a statewide coalition that seeks to ensure fair outcomes for youth involved in the justice system. The campaign employs a multi-pronged approach that aims to (1) promote racial equality and fair treatment for all youth at all points of contact with the justice system; (2) end youth incarceration; and (3) invest funds into community-oriented alternatives to incarceration.

Democracy and Justice

Our democracy and justice pillarseeksto make the promise of democracy real in New Jersey by expanding the right to vote reducing barriers to participation and ensuring that communities of color are afforded equal representation in the redistricting process. The Instituteleada campaign to restore voting rights to all people in New Jersey with a criminal conviction. The Institute also leads efforts to reduce barriers to participation including championing early in-person voting same dayregistrationand expanded automatic voter registration. The Institute also engaged with the 2021 legislative and congressional redistricting processes to ensure racial equity and public participation.

Interning in Newark

For individuals who are looking to gain substantive skills and develop their professional networks while advancing social justice Newark isa great placeto be. It is less than 30 minutes by train from Manhattan Hoboken Jersey City and Montclair. Newark itself is galvanized by its young and dynamic local leadership and boasts an admirable and effective spirit of collaboration among nonprofit organizations law firms and local government officials. TheSummerIntern Program at the Institute ishybrid consisting of in-office and remote will alsohave the opportunity toattend in-person events over the course of their time at the Institute.

Compensation/Hours:

The intern will work approximately 20 hours per week depending on organizational needs and their availability. The internship will last about13 weeksand will follow a hybrid schedule (primarily remote with some in-officeor off-sitehours). The position pays $16 per hour.

Application Process:
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. To be considered pleasesubmita cover letter resume two professional writing samples (demonstratingdifferent styles) for which you are the primary author and three professional references (full name job title phone number and email address). Attach all required documentstothis job posting.

For inquiries please contact our recruitment team atemailprotected ensuring that you reference the specific position in your email.

***The NJISJ is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race color religion gender sexual orientation gender identity or expression age national origin marital status citizenship disability and veteranstatus.***