New Brunswick Documenters - Internship ($100/week)
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with positions available Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
coLAB Arts (www.colab-arts.org), engaging artists, social advocates, and communities to create transformative new work, is seeking out Interns for its ongoing civic engagement project, New Brunswick Documenters, managed by a rapidly growing arts organization in New Brunswick, NJ, located in the traditional territory of the Leni-Lenape called “Lenapehoking.” coLAB Arts produces high-quality work across creative disciplines and in response to local social issues, advocacy organizations, and communities of the greater New Brunswick, NJ area. coLAB Arts’ vision is to create more livable, sustainable, and exciting environments through art.
New Brunswick Documenters is part of a national network dedicated to empowering residents to engage in civic journalism and hold local government accountable. Rooted in the belief that public meetings are essential workshops for democracy, New Brunswick Documenters trains and pays community members to attend, document, and translate public meetings across the city. This ensures that all residents, regardless of language, have access to vital information that impacts their lives. By making public meetings more transparent and accessible, New Brunswick Documenters not only increases local journalism capacity but also provides the tools necessary for anyone to participate in the civic process, driving meaningful change in their communities.
There are presently three distinct internship tracks available:
Arts and Culture
Science Communication
Public Policy and Planning
All three positions manage their own specializaed projects, as well as operate collaboratively to support overall Documenters initiatives. Please refer to the distinct responsibilities of each position below.
Interns are supervised by New Brunswick Documenters co-coordinators. These are part-time in-person positions, with designated office hours and field assignments. This internship is best suited for someone who is effective at managing their own work schedule, and is an excellent self-starter and communicator (both written and verbal). The successful candidate is driven to support community organizing and thrives in creating high-quality work with real community impact.
Physical Expectations:
Personal computer
Occasional early morning, evening, and weekend work hours
Arts and Culture Intern Responsibilities Include:
Attend arts-related public meetings and community convenings (e.g. New Brunswick Community Arts Council, Humanities Roundtable, community-based artist convenings).
Research and build a community-facing arts and culture calendar, with a focus on non-institutional, cross-cultural, and grassroots events.
Attend local arts and cultural events (e.g. music festivals, open mics, gallery shows), conduct light interviews with attendees or artists, and contribute short write-ups, photos, or video content.
Collaborate with coLAB Arts staff to curate and post relevant content on social media platforms.
Serve as a New Brunswick Documenters ambassador, representing coLAB Arts publicly and helping build relationships with the city’s creative community.
Science Communication Intern Responsibilities Include:
Attend science- and environment-related public meetings (e.g. Watershed Commissions, Sewage Authority, Climate Resilience Planning).
Track and summarize key topics discussed—such as water quality, green infrastructure, and environmental justice—and provide accessible notes for public audiences.
Connect policy discussions with local community impacts and share findings with coLAB Arts’ program team.
Optionally interview local experts, residents, or organizers working on environmental issues.
Help identify opportunities to engage artists with science and environmental themes (e.g. public art about water access or ecological sustainability).
Public Policy Intern Responsibilities Include:
Attend public meetings related to local governance (e.g. Planning Board, City Council, Board of Education, Zoning or Housing meetings).
Document and translate civic policy decisions and debates into community-accessible formats.
Identify and elevate resident concerns or community-driven policy initiatives.
Collaborate with coLAB Arts to explore how arts-based approaches can support civic engagement (e.g. performances, workshops, or visual storytelling tied to public issues).
Qualifications:
Enrolled in a 2- or 4-year undergraduate program, or graduate program
Strong GPA
Strong verbal communication skills
Strong technical and persuasive writer
Adept at using social media and light content creation
Experience using Canva
Detail-oriented with organization, project management, and time management skills
Ability to perform a substantial number of tasks independently
Ability to work cooperatively, foster team spirit, and maintain a positive demeanor
Ability to solve problems independently and negotiate solutions with challenging partners
Ability to clearly communicate needs and expectations to supervisor
Commitment to the vision and values of coLAB Arts
Please know that no one ever meets 100% of the preferred qualifications. If much of this describes you, we encourage you to apply
Compensation: $100 per week, with weekly opportunities to supplement base compensation.
coLAB Arts does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, disability, national origin, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship or authorized alien status, or veteran status.
Please use the following links for further information about our organization:
Our response to recent xenophobic and anti-Muslim vandalism of one of our murals
Full Land Acknowledgment, accessibility information, and location directions
Complete applications should include a cover letter, resume, and three references, and should be completed through our online form at https://www.colab-arts.org/jobs/documenters-intern. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. Positions are available Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. coLAB Arts is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. You can visit our website, www.colab-arts.org, and find us on Facebook and Instagram @colabarts.
Please use the following form to apply.