Affordable Housing Education & Communications Intern, Feb - May 2011

East Bay Housing Organizations (EBHO) is the leading affordable housing advocacy coalition serving Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. We preserve, protect and expand affordable housing opportunities through education, advocacy and coalition building. Our dynamic non-profit membership organization includes 300 organizations and community leaders advocating for affordable housing development and equitable housing policies at the local and regional level. EBHO’s broad-based membership includes non-profit affordable housing developers, architects, planners, contractors, homeless and housing advocates, service providers, fair housing agencies, tenant advocates, community and interfaith organizations and activists, clergy and congregations, labor unions, environmental organizations, lending institutions, intermediaries and policy organizations, and city and county agencies and staff. Since our founding in 1984, EBHO has become the unifying force in an affordable housing community recognized as one of the nation’s most sophisticated and innovative.

Project Summary:
EBHO provides an exciting opportunity for a self-motivated and creative individual who wants to have an impact on affordable housing issues in the East Bay. The intern will work with EBHO staff and members to support our education and communications activities, especially our 15th Annual Affordable Housing Week, a series of events through Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in May. The intern will play a substantial role in interviewing residents of affordable housing and writing resident stories for our Annual Guidebook published in May to coincide with Affordable Housing Week. Other projects are dependent on time and need but could include conducting outreach, developing and collecting education tools, participating in membership committees and coalition work, conducting policy research, and helping to organize EBHO events including our State of Housing Symposium. The intern will work under the supervision of the Education & Communications Director. EBHO is a fast-paced but fun environment, as our small staff works with a large network of allies on many issues and campaigns.

Duties and Responsibilities
· Interview residents of affordable housing and write profiles of their stories to be featured in EBHO’s Annual Affordable Housing Guidebook
· Assist with compiling and checking content for our Affordable Housing Guidebook and website. This could include some research and writing as well as fact-checking and proofreading.
· Assist with other education and communications tasks, including website updates, drafting written materials, and creating visual communications.
· Assist with outreach and preparations for our 15th Annual Affordable Housing Week, a series of events through Contra Costa and Alameda County taking place May 6-15. This may include logistics and volunteer management, soliciting proclamations from elected officials, helping to distribute promotional materials, creatively marketing through electronic and social media, etc.

Compensation
The position is unpaid, but EBHO will reimburse for travel and other necessary expenses.

Timeframe
February – May 2011. We are looking for someone who can commit through the third week of May, since our major events of the year run from May 6-15. Time commitment could vary from 4-16 hours a week, depending on availability and need.

Qualifications
Strong verbal, written, and visual communication skills. Commitment to social justice. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups of people, and sensitivity to racial, ethnic and economic diversity. Self-motivated, creative, energetic, and oriented to teamwork in a small and fast-paced organization. Experience and familiarity with affordable housing, urban planning, community development, architecture, community organizing, social work, policy or a related field strongly preferred. Graduate-level study, degree, or equivalent work experience one of these areas strongly preferred. Some experience in advocacy campaigns, popular education, photography or videography expertise, graphic design, and interviewing a plus. Spanish or Chinese fluency a plus.

Work location
Most work will be done at EBHO’s office in downtown Oakland (accessible by public transit). Interviews with residents will take place at their homes throughout the East Bay, scheduled at mutually convenient times. Some remote work will also be possible.

Application Process
Send cover letter and résumé and any questions to Gloria Bruce, Education & Communications Director at Gloria@EBHO.org or the following address by January 31:

East Bay Housing Organizations
538 9th Street, Suite 200
Oakland, CA 94607

Resumes will be accepted until the position is filled.

EBHO is an equal opportunity employer