Political Action
With the Republican National Convention coming to Charlotte in August 2020, there are a host of unique opportunities available for UNC Charlotte students. From being on the convention floor to hosting community gatherings, here are three ways to join in the action.
Civic Saturday Fellowships
Citizen University was founded in 2005 as a national platform for fostering responsible and empowered citizenship through activation, communication and education. It believes in the promise of a nation where people are dedicated to building a culture of powerful and responsible citizens.
One of its most popular programs is Civic Saturdays—gatherings that bring communities together to cultivate a sense of shared civic purpose and moral clarity. Founded in Seattle, Washington, it has spread to more than 30 cities across the country.
The Civic Saturday Fellowship prepares motivated local leaders to start Civic Saturday gatherings in their home communities. The nine-month program begins with the Civic Seminary, a three-day training in Seattle that fellows attend with a cohort of other community leaders from across the country. In subsequent months, fellows will plan and hold three Civic Saturdays in their own communities.
Applications are now open and the deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 20.
The Washington Center – Convention Scholarships
Through an exclusive partnership with The Washington Center (TWC), UNC Charlotte will host hundreds of students from across the country for an extraordinary two-week educational program from Aug. 16-28, 2020. TWC, a respected nonpartisan, not-for-profit educational organization, partners with universities, government agencies and public and private organizations to introduce college-age students with an interest in government, media and related careers to an intensive, behind-the-scenes look into the political process during the national convention.
TWC will provide a range of courses, forums and volunteer opportunities for UNC Charlotte students and those visiting from other campuses. Attendees who participate in the convention seminar will spend the first week of the program on UNC Charlotte’s campus learning the history of political campaigns, convention planning and procedures and the role of the media. The second half of the program will be spent at the convention, participating in fieldwork and internship assignments and attending convention receptions and events.
Through the partnership with TWC, interested UNC Charlotte students will have the opportunity to apply for one of 10 scholarships allotted to the University (valued at $4,300 each) for the two-week program. Scholarship postings can be found through Hire-A-Niner (search for either “The Washington Center – Scholarship Program” or Job ID#48685).
Applications for the scholarship are currently open and are due Wednesday, Feb. 19.
Additional Internships
Beyond the opportunities mentioned above, potential exists for additional internships from a variety of organizations seeking talent from all backgrounds. The University Career Center is students’ central location to learn about internships as they are posted and how to submit applications. Students should log in to their Hire-A-Niner account to add their resumes to the “49er Democracy Experience Resume Book.” This will enable the career team to contact individuals directly with opportunities as well as provide resumes to organizations requesting talent from UNC Charlotte.
Students who want to make sure their resumes are top-notch should drop by the Career Center in Atkins Library, Room 150, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday-Friday, for a review. Help is available through Hire-A-Niner, too.
To learn more and discover additional ways to engage in civic life, be sure to visit the 49er Democracy Experience, a dynamic, nonpartisan platform for the University community.