Seminary Summer/Islamic Internship for Worker Justice

Sr. Marianne forwarded me the following information. If you're wondering what you might do this summer, this might be something to consider.

-------------------------------

Seminary Summer/Islamic Internship for Worker Justice is a joint project of Interfaith Worker Justice, the AFL-CIO, and Change to Win unions. This unique program will give 35 to 50 Muslim and rabbinical students, seminarians, and other future religious leaders the opportunity to:
• Witness workers' struggles for a voice in the workplace;
• Discover how unions can be a vehicle for achieving social justice;
• Work with religious, community and union activists to build support for workers who are organizing unions;
• Find ways to include worker justice in future ministry.

This 10-week internship program will begin on June 10 with a one-week orientation at a central location. Interns will then travel to worksites around the country to spend eight weeks supporting a specific worker campaign. Requests for placement in local worksites will be considered, but cannot be guaranteed. Participants will reconvene Aug. 15-17 for reflection and to plan next steps.

Each intern will receive:
• A weekly stipend;
• Possible academic credit;
• Help with housing costs if needed;
• On-the-job transportation costs;
• A mentor for theological reflection throughout the summer (if desired).

Qualified applicants must be enrolled (or accepted) in a graduate program preparing them to be religious leaders. Muslim students enrolled in any graduate program are also eligible. Applicants should be committed to social justice, willing to work relatively independently, able to communicate with a broad range of people, and flexible. This is not an internship for someone who likes everything to be perfectly clear.

Seminary Summer began in 2000 as a track of the AFL-CIO's Union Summer program, which has involved nearly 2,500 young people since 1996. Interfaith Worker Justice is the leading national religious organization addressing worker justice issues and rebuilding alliances with the union labor movement. Deadline: March 1 for early acceptance. Applications will there after be considered on a rolling basis.

For more information, contact Sara Wohlleb at Interfaith Worker Justice, 1020 W Bryn Mawr Ave., 4th Fl., Chicago, IL 60660; (773) 728-8400 x 43; seminarysummer@iwj.org; www.iwj.org.