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Summer 2026 - Intern, Vera Action

Brooklyn, New York

About the team:

Vera Action, launched in 2021, is an independent but aligned 501(c)(4) organization to the Vera Institute of Justice 501(c)(3). At Vera Action, we harness the power of advocacy, lobbying, and political strategy to end mass incarceration, protect immigrants’ rights, restore dignity to people behind bars, and build safe and thriving communities. Alongside organizers and advocates, government leaders, and elected officials across the political aisle, we work to enact transformative policy change for safety and justice at the local, state, and federal levels.  

The learning goals of this internship include gaining insight into the day-to-day activities of the Vera Action team, updating Vera Action databases, assisting with rapid response work, and notetaking in meetings with a variety of stakeholders within the organization as well as the wider criminal justice reform coalition. This internship will also help build the individual’s experience in writing, conducting research, creating documentation for presentations, and networking.  

About the role:

1. Coordinate on political outreach and strategy: 

  • Research and track elections that are relevant to Vera Action’s work. 
  • Assist in writing, editing, and proofreading policy reports. 
  • Take notes and track action items.  

2. Assist with desk research and drafting written memos 

  • Conduct daily online, media, literature, and news reviews.  
  • Draft research synopsis memos. 
  • Draft monthly project updates to distribute to Vera Institute staff. 

3. Help maintain Vera Action databases:   

  • Assist in managing the Vera Action team’s meeting tracker and internal drive with research reports, memos, and other materials 

4. Other duties as assigned by Manager, but not limited to 

  • Provide support for department meetings and special events to include but not limited to, scheduling, meeting set up, creating agendas, ordering needed materials, etc. 

What qualifications are we looking for?

  • Interest and experience in program management or equivalent work experience 
  • Experience conducting a wide range of research to support department needs  
  • A demonstrated interest in the criminal legal and immigration systems by recognizing racial equity and social justice 
  • Experience building and refining document organization systems 
  • Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

Knowledge of project management software and models (i.e. Smartsheet, Asana) 

Technical knowledge helpful for this role:

  • Microsoft Office Suite or similar software 
  • Slack 

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this position is $17.00 - $25.00. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees.

Application Process:

To receive further consideration for this career opportunity, applicants are asked preliminary questions about logistics, their interest and qualifications. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional details about their experience via a phone screen/form in advance of an invitation for a virtual or in-person interview with the team. Some searches may explore scenarios during the interview process and/or an assessment prior to reference checks and a hiring decision.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / Summer 2026 - Intern, Vera Action
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org.

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