Working for 826michigan – Jobs and Internships

826michigan is always looking for positive, creative, and hard-working people to join our team.

We are committed to inspiring each of our 3,500 students to write confidently and skillfully with the help of adult volunteers in their communities. Please carefully explore the opportunities on this page; the person we are looking for could very well be you.

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Jobs – Current Openings

Full-time and part-time jobs will be listed here when available. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about new positions as they are posted!

We do not have any job opportunities at this time.


Internships

At 826michigan, interns are an integral part of the work we do. As a volunteer-driven organization, we are greatly indebted to our interns, who take on significant responsibilities each semester with skill and dedication. Internships are mutually beneficial experiences, and interns have the opportunity to engage in ongoing learning opportunities with regular, supported supervision and professional development sessions throughout the semester. 

We offer a variety of internships, and cater each one to an intern’s specific goals and interests. All internships require an average of twelve hours per week.

Internship Timelines

Fall Semester

Duration:
Mid-September to
Mid-December

Applications Due:
August 14

Winter Semester

Duration:
Early-January to
Mid-June

Applications Due:
November 18

Summer

Duration:
Early-May to
Mid-August

Applications Due:
March 15

Fall interns have the possibility to renew their internships for the Winter/Spring semester. University of Michigan students in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts can apply for scholarships to help fund their internships. More information on this can be found here.


Internship Types

Programming Internships

These internships have you facilitating or otherwise working directly with 826michigan programs and our students.

Click a role to learn more:

Non-programming Internships

These internships have you working on administrative and more ‘behind-the-scenes’ tasks related to managing 826michigan’s programs and operations.

Click a role to learn more:


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Detroit or Washtenaw Field Trips Internship

Wednesdays and Fridays 9am–12:30pm, flexible office hours
Fall and Winter Semesters

The Field Trips Intern supports our in-person field trip program. The ideal candidate is someone with a strong interest in creative writing, education, and working with youth of all ages. This internship will provide extensive hands-on experience working with primarily elementary and middle school students and coordinating adult volunteers. By the end of the internship, this intern will have gained skills in educational programming and navigating a professional setting, as well as insight into non-profit work environments.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Participate in two weekly morning field trips in-person and hold regular office hours supporting the work of this program remotely
  • Coordinate volunteer participation over email: send reminder and follow up emails
  • Welcome and serve as a resource for volunteer field trip facilitators with help from 826michigan staff 
  • Participate in weekly planning meetings 
  • Coordinate email reminders, consent forms, and evaluations with participating teachers
  • Assist with field trip publications by organizing and typing student work and printing and building publications

Ideal Qualities

  • Committed to ongoing self-reflection and collaborative learning
  • Outgoing individual who has experience working with diverse cultures
  • Interest in the field of creative writing and teaching

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Workshops Internship

Flexible schedule, ideally with some evening and possible weekend availability needed as well
Fall and Winter Semesters

The Workshops Intern supports our creative writing workshops program. The ideal candidate is someone with a strong interest in creative writing and working with youth of all ages. This internship will provide extensive hands-on experience working with students aged 6-18 and coordinating and training adult volunteers. By the end of the internship, this intern will have gained skills in both educational programming and navigating a professional setting, as well as insight into non-profit work environments.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Oversee workshops program, likely Wednesday evenings 6-7pm with some other regular timeslots as well, and hold office hours for registration management 
  • Serve as a liaison between volunteers and students, and between parents, volunteers, and staff
  • Track all student and volunteer registrations and coordinate volunteer participation over email and through our online registration system
  • Welcome and serve as a resource for volunteer workshop facilitators 
  • Participate in weekly planning meetings with supervising staffer
  • Help with a workshops publication each semester by organizing and typing student work, data entry, and consent form distribution and collection

Ideal Qualities

  • Outgoing individual who has experience working with diverse cultures
  • Love of writing and/or teaching
  • Interest in the field of creative writing and teaching

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Summer Programs Internship

Flexible schedule, dependent on programs
Summer semester

Summer Programs interns support all areas of our summer programming schedule. The ideal candidate is someone with a strong interest in working with youth of all ages, who is seeking experience in creative writing education within the non-profit setting. This internship runs from the beginning of May to the middle of August. By the end of the internship, this intern will have gained skills in both educational programming and navigating a professional setting, as well as insight into non-profit work environments.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Work with your fellow interns to plan and implement writing workshops both at 826michigan and at off-site partner locations, such as community centers and libraries
  • Provide general administrative support to programming staff
  • Assist in the coordination and execution of publishing projects, such as anthologies and chapbooks
  • Collect and processes evaluative program data
  • Participate in special events, festivals, and other outreach initiatives
  • Support other related projects of 826michigan on an as-needed basis

Ideal Qualities

  • Love of writing and/or teaching
  • Outgoing individual who has experience working with diverse cultures

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Editorial Internship

Flexible schedule
Fall, Winter and Summer Semesters

The Editorial Intern supports the publishing efforts of all of programs. The ideal candidate is someone with an interest in publishing, who is very detail-oriented and has strong initiative. This internship will provide hands-on experience with the entire process of creating books and other publications, from start to finish. Interns can expect to gain concrete, marketable skills in the fields of editing and publishing. By the end of the internship, this intern will have gained skills in both the editorial field and navigating a professional setting, as well as insight into non-profit work environments.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Assist with monitoring the publications calendar, including two major publications and over a dozen smaller zines and chapbooks
  • Coordinate with multiple parties—program staff, interns, designers, illustrators, etc.—to help maintain adherence to timelines 
  • Organize publication content, including student writing, front matter, and back matter
  • Type and copyedit student writing and maintain student publication consent spreadsheets
  • Manage the production, printing, and delivery of Field Trip publications
  • Recruit student submissions and help manage selection processes
  • Assist with organizing publication release parties and support marketing efforts

Ideal Qualities

  • Excellent copyediting skills
  • Knowledge of Google apps
  • Familiarity with the basic tenets of design
  • Some experience with Adobe InDesign a plus

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Research and Evaluation Internship

Flexible schedule 
Fall, Winter and Summer Semesters

The research and evaluation intern is someone with a strong interest in discovering and telling the story of 826michigan’s impact. This is a role that will enable 826michigan to ensure that we sustain and create programming that is beneficial to our students. Additionally, certainty of programmatic impact increases 826michigan’s external funding opportunities and enhances our ability to change programs that demonstrate a need for improvement. This intern works with the Education Director on all aspects of data and evaluation, by helping to streamline current data-collection practices, review information collected through a variety of tools including surveys, hands-on activities, interviews, program observation and writing assessments. The intern also supports 826michigan staff and other stakeholders in creating presentations and reports to making the best use of the findings. By the end of the internship, this intern will have gained skills in educational research and program evaluation and navigating a professional setting, as well as insight into non-profit work environments.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Assist with data collection and evaluation processes (including survey distribution, survey analysis, program observation, preparing materials for focus groups, data entry and summaries, and report writing)
  • Provide support in completing the 826michigan end-of-year chapter report of data (survey responses, student attendance, and program statistics)
  • Help implement new research and evaluation tools
  • Research and plan new initiatives for program evaluation
  • Generate content for 826michigan’s volunteer and parent audiences around data evaluation and programmatic impact
  • Draft blog posts and other social media postings regarding data and evaluation and 826michigan’s programmatic impact
  • Support other 826michigan projects on an as-needed basis
  • Provide general administrative support to the Education Director

Ideal Qualities

  • Ability to work with details and deadlines
  • Outgoing individual who has experience working with diverse cultures
  • Experience with Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets 
  • Grant writing and administrative experience a plus
  • Highly self-motivated and able to work independently
  • Willing to ask questions at any point of uncertainty

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Volunteer and Outreach Internship

Flexible schedule
Fall, Winter and Summer Semesters

The Volunteer & Outreach intern supports the Volunteer Coordinator. The ideal volunteer and outreach intern is someone with a strong interest in being a liaison for 826michigan in the southeastern Michigan community, as well as helping orchestrate a team of hundreds of active volunteers and welcoming new members to the organization. By the end of the internship, this intern will have gained skills in volunteer recruitment and retention and navigating a professional setting, as well as insight into non-profit work environments.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Help manage volunteer training, communication, appreciation, and staffing
  • Assist in the management and organization of outreach, engagement, and volunteer data
  • Assist with special events both at 826michigan and in the community
  • Provide general administrative support to volunteer and outreach staff
  • Work with volunteer 826 staff and volunteers to plan, develop, and implement events, social activities, and appreciation parties for our volunteers
  • Help manage volunteer committees, organization, and communications as related to events
  • Help manage outreach activities through the preparation of volunteer recruitment materials, support the development of new volunteer recruitment methods
  • Serve as an ambassador to 826michigan at outreach events across southeastern Michigan

Ideal Qualities

  • Outgoing individual who has experience working with diverse cultures

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Retail / Store Internship

Flexible schedule 
Fall and Winter semesters

The retail intern helps out with the Robot Supply Co. shops in Ann Arbor and Detroit. The ideal candidate has retail and/or design experience, is highly motivated, and is able to work independently. This intern is responsible for maintaining inventory, creating displays, stocking shelves, running reports, creating new products and signage, monitoring and shipping online sales, and more. By the end of the internship, this intern will have gained skills in retail and navigating a professional setting, as well as insight into non-profit work environments.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Work with staff to keep all shifts filled
  • Train new clerks, keep all training materials updated
  • Work with staff to develop new products and product lines
  • Aid in the creation of new window displays and interactive elements to the store
  • Unpack shipments, enter inventory into computer system, restock shelves

Ideal Qualities

  • Extremely outgoing individual who has experience working with diverse cultures
  • Love of robots, science fiction, and/or puns
  • Affection for the US Postal Service
  • Competence in working with spreadsheets

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Development and Communications Intern

Flexible schedule
Fall and Winter semesters

The ideal Development & Communications Intern is someone with strong writing skills, looking to apply these in support of 826michigan’s mission. The Development & Communications Intern will work with 826michigan’s development staff, particularly the Development & Communications Coordinator, to share the story of 826michigan with diverse audiences via our social media channels, blog, and other outlets. 

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Provide general administrative support to 826michigan’s development staff
  • Assist with content creation and production for the 826michigan blog and social media channels
  • Design promotional materials for 826michigan programs
  • Organize and manage digital archive of photos and press
  • Research innovative ways to promote the 826 mission to wider audiences, particularly via social media channels and the press
  • Assist with grant proposal research and writing
  • Support other 826michigan projects on an as-needed basis

Ideal Qualities

  • Highly self-motivated and able to work independently
  • A passion for writing and strong writing skills 
  • Ability to follow written instructions carefully
  • Willing to ask questions at any point of uncertainty
  • Detail oriented and organized
  • A sense of humor and flexibility
  • Affinity for and connection to 826michigan’s work
  • Graphic design experience preferred

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How To Apply

Please complete this simple form and attach a cover letter and a resume. In your cover letter, please indicate why you’re interested in interning at 826michigan, when you hope to start, and something about yourself we couldn’t learn from your resume. Please also indicate which internship(s) you are most interested in.

  • Resume
  • Cover Letter
  • Note: Please put your name in the title of the files.

Deadline reminder:

Fall Semester

Applications Due:
August 14

Winter Semester

Applications Due:
November 18

Summer

Applications Due:
March 15

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