“Without common ideas, there is no common action, and without common action men still exist, but a social body does not. Thus in order that there be society, and all the more, that this society prosper, it is necessary that all the minds of the citizens always be brought together and held together by some principle ideas.”
— Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America
Student Experience
Student interns are matched with towns across Vermont (in all 14 counties) to provide communications support to local governments to expand access, transparency, and accountability in local decision-making. The mission: Make information about public life and local governance accessible to all, more welcoming to historically excluded Vermonters and representative of our increasingly diverse state.
Internships will take place in a hybrid model. Students are expected to visit the towns they are working with at least three times throughout the semester.
Time commitment: Students are expected to complete at least 100 hours of work for their community partner project (which is around 8 hours per week) plus weekly class time and short, contextual assignments. This program is designed to match the amount of work required of a typical academic course.