Democracy Summer Internship Program
OVERVIEW
We transform outstanding students into frontline advocates for democracy.
Now in its 27th year, Democracy Summer is an innovative internship program that exposes young leaders to new ideas and political movements. We teach our “friendterns” how to organize people around a shared vision for a better democracy in our state, address structural barriers to civic engagement, and build power alongside historically marginalized groups. This program equips young people with lifelong skills that they can use to work for positive social change in their communities.
Democracy Summer starts with a required training orientation, then interns work in their respective departments fighting for social change. They interact with civic leaders, veteran activists, elected officials, the news media, and of course each other and Democracy NC staff. Interns gain an insider’s view of the political climate, legislative process, and power structure in North Carolina.
Friendterns will:
- Recruit local volunteers to partake in mobilization efforts;
- advocate for local and state policies;
- develop lasting relationships with advocates and coalition members;
- and create communication and marketing approaches for increasing turnout.
The organizing interns will be working in one of five regions: Charlotte/Western Piedmont, Fayetteville/Southeast, Greenville/East, Raleigh/Greater Triangle, Winston-Salem/Greensboro/Central Piedmont.
REQUIREMENTS
- Applications are due by Friday, March 13, 2026.
- Student interns work up to 40 hours per week (including some evenings and weekends) from early June to late July for a total of 9 weeks and earn a stipend of $5,000 (taxable) for the summer.
- Applicants must be a rising sophomore, junior, senior, or graduating senior, enrolled in a North Carolina community college, college, or university. Applicants must live in North Carolina for the 2026 summer.
- This is a full-time job, so students taking summer classes or who have other part-time work cannot realistically participate in the program.
- Students are expected to live in/near one of our five regions: Charlotte/Western Piedmont, Fayetteville/Southeast, Greenville/East, Raleigh/Greater Triangle, and Winston-Salem/Greensboro/Central Piedmont.
The ideal applicant will have:
- A passion for racial, social, and economic justice
- An ability to communicate with diverse groups of people
- An interest in and a general understanding of local and/or state level politics
- An ability to work independently and as part of a team
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