Paid fellowships bring innovation to grassroots groups
![Students For Justice trains interns on innovative technology and apply it for nonprofit causes.](https://thedemlabs.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Students-For-Justice-trains-interns-on-innovative-technology-and-apply-it-for-nonprofit-causes-1.png)
How can grassroots groups learn about new ways to have a bigger impact with less money? How can college students find paid internships, learn new skills and support causes they care about? How can donors have the most impact?
Students for Justice (SFJ) has a win-win-win solution that benefits nonprofits, donors and future progressive organizers. SFJ offers paid internships for college students to learn about affordable technology apps, apply them to meet the needs of grassroots groups, and train their staff on how to use them. Donations help train the next generation of organizers and bring affordable innovation to grassroots groups and campaigns.
This blog also features two free apps for creating videos and targeting along with video lessons in Spanish and English.
The challenge
A lack of funding and staffing prevents many groups from trying new and better ways to do things for less money. How can organizations get help with their current projects and become trained on new approaches at the same time, so they can make a bigger impact with less money?
How can nonprofits and advocacy groups adopt new approaches without disrupting their current projects? How can grassroots staff and volunteers learn about new and better ways to reach, persuade and mobilize voters? How can this skill transfer be done in a scalable manner and in different languages?
Additionally, the pandemic has reduced the number of meaningful internships opportunities for college students. How can future progressive organizers get paid to learn new apps, apply them and make contacts while still in college?
How can donations be stretched to help advocacy groups with current projects, improve productivity with new apps and get trained at the same time while also training the next generation of progressive organizers?
![Students For Justice, The Democracy Labs train interns on apps to help nonprofits.](https://thedemlabs.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Students-For-Justice-offers-paid-internships.png)
Students For Justice
Students for Justice (SFJ) is a paid internship program that was developed in 2020 to engage college students in the struggle to fight systemic voter suppression in the United States and to get out the vote. While it was created in response to the twin challenges of a pandemic and a national election, SFJ has developed a model that continues to be powerfully relevant. SFJ brings young people, many of them first-generation college students, together from all around the country in a virtual program, offering them a meaningful, educational, paid work experience.
Most interns’ work focuses on expanding the electorate through voter outreach targeting communities of color in voter suppression states and youth 18-24 nationally, in part through intern-designed social media campaigns. In a pioneering collaboration with DemLabs, SFJ also places interns with grassroots nonprofit organizations engaged in voter empowerment to help them adopt efficient technological tools. SFJ benefited in 2020 from a substantial one-time grant from the Open Society Foundation, allowing it to involve over 200 interns in its first three internship sessions, and is now seeking funding sources to allow it to continue to offer these meaningful paid internships. SFJ is an initiative of the Center for Common Ground, a Virginia-based 501(c)(3).
Make the Road Nevada - Dignidad, Comunidad y Poder
Make the Road Nevada (MRNV) builds the power of Latinx and working-class communities of color to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, and transformative education. Their vision for Nevada begins with building a strong grassroots foundation in Las Vegas. It ends with elevating the power of working-class immigrant communities in every community around the state.
Tech empowerment for progressives
Make The Road Nevada (MTRN), like many other grassroots groups, needs to attract more supporters and donors. Melanie and Marcos, the two Students for Justice interns featured below, worked with MTRN to apply apps in order to target campaign efforts and created videos to share through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to expand MTRN's outreach. They used two free apps tested by DemLabs:
Statistical Atlas - Provides free detailed demographic data for all U.S. states specific to the county, district and tract level.
Lumen5 - Create videos with royalty-free, professionally made video clips and soundtracks.
Melanie and Marcos recorded training videos in both Spanish and English to show Make The Road Nevada how to quickly create make videos for free with just a laptop and improve their targeting efforts. These training videos are freely available as well.
![Marcos Montana, a Student For Justice intern created this online course for Make The Road Nevada, on how to target campaign efforts with the free Statistical Atlas app.](https://thedemlabs.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/How-to-use-Statistical-Atlas-in-Spanish-1.png)
Marcos Montana is a recent graduate of Grinnell College (IA) looking for ways to boost electoral participation. He created this course on how to target campaign efforts with the free Statistical Atlas app.
Training: Spanish / English
Building capacity to do more with less
![Students for Justice pays interns to help nonprofits do more withe better technology](https://thedemlabs.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Students-For-Justice-provides-paid-internships.png)
Takeaway: Triple the impact of your donation by supporting groups that train future progressive organizers, while also helping advocacy groups make a bigger impact with less money.
Deepak
DemLabs
Image credit: Noun Project
DemLabs applies innovative technology and storytelling tools in service of democratic values. It lowers the barrier of funding for worthy candidates and non-profits by applying existing free/affordable solutions.
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Horse racing over COVID relief? Thank Mitch and Citizens United.
Horse racing is important to some. American lives matter to even more people. Why would a politician prioritize horses over people? Money, judges and voter suppression....
Redistricting: What to know now
Redistricting has been hijacked. Partisanship has increased. Political districts are supposed to be revised to to reflect population changes but instead they're being manipulated. Politicians in...
Relational organizing in action
"Relational organizing focuses on the most important tools at our disposal: our relationships and our ability to talk with one another about things that matter." -...
Voting early or using a drop box to vote in Georgia? Find your closest location with just two clicks.
You're about to vote early. Where's the closest location in your county? When is it open? How do you get there? Vote Georgia makes it easy...
See Something, Say Something. Georgia.
Voter suppression has evolved. The systems used to track and respond to it need to keep pace. How can voters be empowered to report incidents of...
GOTV Concerts organizes virtual concerts featuring Georgia musicians to get out the vote
Music can move people to action, but with COVID raging, online performances have replaced large concerts. Virtual events are tailored to local audiences. Turnout increases as...
How YouTube spreads COVID Disinformation
290,000 Americans have already died from COVID-19, yet people protest wearing masks and are skeptical of vaccinations. How does disinformation manipulate people into risky behavior? Who...
How BLUE FUTURE uses textbots to mobilize young voters in Georgia
Young voters are a key Georgia voting group with many voting for the first time! They prefer texting over calling. This demands frugal innovation so organizing...
Zoom performance anxiety? Follow these expert tips.
Perform better on Zoom with these expert tips. - How to prepare your script- Body Language- Using a teleprompter- Directing your attendees to take an action-...
How to spot BS being used to manipulate public opinion
Disinformation often comes as Bullshit (BS) packaged to trick readers with impressive language, graphics and bogus logic. Spot and push back with tips from Calling Bullshit. How...
Create online training with free, easy-to-use apps
Remote learning is urgently needed but creating training courses the traditional way is slow and expensive. How does a group with little money and few technical...
How to design smart route plans for canvassing, campaigns and non-profits.
How do you stretch limited time, money and workers to reach the most people? The problem comes in different forms: canvassing, delivering campaign supplies or giving...
How relational organizing helps Georgia voters learn about acceptable forms of voter ID
Voter ID laws prevent or intimidate millions of eligible Americans from casting their ballot. Obtaining an ID that fulfills voting requirements is costly and confusing. It...
Fundraising through ZOOM events made easy
ZOOM makes it easy to connect, but how do you get supporters to take the next step and donate? How can they do this while still...
Hit the road to mobilize rural Black voters in Georgia
Rural voters decide many elections. Organizers have to deal with remote communities, poor roads and sparse internet coverage to organize and mobilize them to vote. Reclaim...
Keep ’em honest. Photograph publicly displayed poll tapes of the vote count.
"Photograph poll tapes at the polling place on election night and check the vote totals against the official vote totals to catch erroneous election results." - Scrutineers...
Don’t even think about intimidating voters. State laws and penalties.
Federal law prohibits voter intimidation. The right of each voter to cast his or her ballot free from intimidation or coercion is the foundation of a...
Combat voter suppression. Data by the people, for the people to react quickly.
Spot and combat voter suppression. Get the facts quickly to the public, journalists, influencers, lawyers and voting rights groups. Information that has been screened, provided with...
Lincoln Project: See Something, Say Something!
With just under three weeks left until the November 3rd election and early voting well underway in many states, The Lincoln Project is today beginning to...
Searching for voter suppression incidents as they happen? Use these Twitter expert tips.
Analyzing tweets it is like drinking from a fire hydrant. New apps make it easier to analyze tweets to spot instances of voter suppression as they...
Take a bite out of vote counting crime: Track the poll tapes!
Image credit: DFS "POLL TAPES are printed vote results from voting machines that are transferred to a central tabulator. This process can be used to manipulate...
Train protesters to better ‘frame’ issues to cut through the lies and control the narrative.
"While this literal battle rages—with tear gassing militias on one side and kneeling protestors on the other—the rhetorical one does as well." - Race Class Narrative...
Save money. Do good. Crowdsource texting campaigns to low income American workers.
Campaigns save money with crowdsourced texting and help low-income American workers at the same time. A win-win solution. What is crowdsourcing? Crowdsourcing matches online workers with...
David vs Goliath in Kalamazoo
Necessity is the mother of invention. A team of Kalamazoo candidates innovate to overcome their lack of resources. BackgroundThe candidates have little funding and few technical...
Scan this to recruit volunteers
How to recruit supporters during a pandemic: Recruiting supporters at an event is hard. Lot's of people, activity and little time. How can it be done...
Three Free Safety Apps For Protestors
Police violence and digital surveillance shouldn't be used to intimidate peaceful protestors. These free apps protect protestors exercising their First Amendment right to "assemble peaceably and...
NAACP Volunteers Use ‘Smart’ Texts To Reduce Lines At Georgia Voting Centers
Voters braving a pandemic, shouldn't have to struggle to find their closest polling location. It's easy for Georgia voters to get confused, and many end up not...
Organize Workers Forced To Re-Enter COVID-19 Infected Facilities
Workers pressured back to work in dangerous conditions have a tough choice: their paycheck or their lives? How can they organize for safe working conditions and fair wages in such a...
Who Lives? Who Dies?
Why do some black counties in Georgia have 20 times as many deaths as nearby white counties? What impact does voter suppression have on the healthcare provide to African...
Organize Gig Workers Digitally In A Pandemic
The pandemic has devastated gig workers. No unemployment insurance. No health insurance. Unsafe working conditions. How can gig workers organize to demand their rights when they...
Statewide Michigan Indivisible Rapid Response To GOP Demand That Jeopardizes Lawmaker’s Lives
Michigan Republicans insist legislators vote in-person in the middle of a pandemic! "The vote will come a day after it was announced that State Rep. Karen...
Coronavirus Guide. Mobile Training Delivered By Voice And Text.
Coronavirus safety training now available freely by phone. How can safety recommendations be shared with hard-to-contact groups in the middle of a pandemic? Technology designed to...
Podcast Training Retreat For Women Changemakers
[caption id="" align="aligncenter"] Photo by CoWomen on Unsplash[/caption] Millions listen to podcasts but not enough are hosted and produced by women. How can we fix this?...
Five Free Online Training Platforms To Training Volunteers And Organizers.
How do you train volunteers and staff the skills to be better activists and organizers? Especially when a range of skills have to be taught from...
Online Training For Activists On How To Frame Issues To Build Support.
How do you get someone with very different beliefs to support your cause? Frame the discussion to align with their existing beliefs. Framing is an effective...
New Artificial Intelligence (AI) Powered App, Coaches You To Become A Better Public Speaker.
A very few of us are naturally, gifted public speakers. The rest of us need to practice. Technology can now coach activists, organizers and candidates to become better...
Personal Data: Political Persuasion. How Consumer Data Is Sold To Campaigns To Better Target Voters.
Collecting and selling personal data to businesses is a big industry. Political campaigns are increasingly using the same data. Campaigns rely heavily on voter files for targeting. Many are...
Group Mounts Social Media Video Campaign To Block Redevelopment Of African-American Community.
Make the Road Nevada is fighting in solidarity with Windsor Park residents as the City of North Las Vegas is proposing to sell 80% of the land of...
Mobilizing Citizens To Prevent Cuts To The Food Stamp Program. Technology For A Rapid Response.
The Trump administration is planning to cut the Food Stamp program. This would eliminate SNAP benefits for 3.1 million individuals and take free school meals away from the children in...
Recording a video to shine a light on injustice? Do it right for maximum impact with these expert tips.
[caption id="attachment_1345" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Photo of Leisha Evans taken by Jonathan Bachman for Reuters from Wikipedia[/caption] A powerful image can tell a full story without a single word. Organizers, however, often...
Virginia Candidates Create Issue-Specific Campaign Videos With Free, Innovative App.
"There is an 80% increase in the time spent on watching videos ... 45% of the people surveyed in North America said they expect to watch even more videos on...
Up your game with this library of free campaigning and organizing ‘how to’ guides.
Grassroots organizing changes constantly with new tactics and apps. How can the lessons learned on one campaign be quickly shared with other progressive groups? Blueprints for Change converts know-how from campaign organiziners into free...
Midwest Academy Online strategic campaign training for Organizers.
The Midwest Academy has trained over 25,000 grassroots activists. Heather Booth founded the Academy in 1973 to train leaders fighting for social, economic and racial justice. It has played a...
Enough of old, male and pale. Let’s train more campaign staff of color.
[caption id="attachment_1113" align="aligncenter" width="394"] Genny Castillo & Ashley Robinson - Co-founders, The BLUE Institute.[/caption] “Lack of minority staffers threatens to hobble 2020 Democrats. If you don't...
8 Highly Effective Training Resources for Organizers
[caption id="attachment_1086" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Photo by Miguel Henriques on Unsplash[/caption] "Change requires more than righteous anger. It requires a program and organizing, which is the only way to...
See something. Say something. Especially at polling centers.
"See something - Say something". We see this at airports and on public transportation. So why not do the same while we are trying to vote?...
Micro Target Your Canvassers
Uber does it. Lyft does it. Send drivers to where there's known demand - rather than going to the same old locations as many cabs do. It's...
Is your Voter ID acceptable?
11% of voting-age U.S. citizens don't have a current government-issued photo ID. That's roughly 25 million voters in 34 states who don't have an acceptable Voter...
It All Starts With Training
Training new campaign volunteers is hard. They're often remote, pressed for time and difficult to schedule. Online learning platforms are affordable and offer training on demand. Campaigns struggle to train volunteers as in-person training can't...
Knock. Knock. Who’s there?
FedEx does it. Uber does it - optimize delivery routes with better software.How can campaigns up their game so canvassers spend less time walking and more time talking with people? The...
Is Open Source the Transformative Solution for Activism?
Organizing public rallies really is rocket science. A successful launch needs careful planning and good software. Especially when highly vocal users are involved! How well does...
Resisting? Running for office? Get trained online, you will.
Darkness is in the air. The Rebel Alliance is hopelessly outmatched. The Empire terrorizes the galaxy. The rebels train to fight back. The ‘force’ is with...
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised – It’ll be Computerized
Imagine that you have millions of supporters eager to help your cause. You only have a few weeks to get organized and hardly any existing systems...
Zoom Teleprompter for all professions, from performers to prayer leaders
All events have one thing in common these days, they take place online. Virtual meetings are the new normal, no matter the profession, and our free...
Don’t talk to strangers
Don't talk to strangers. Especially if they're sending you phishing emails. Hackers trick you into opening phishing emails by pretending to be from a trusted source. This often starts with them...
Where is it hardest to vote? Check these maps for answers.
Every American has an equal right to vote. Some are just more equal than others to paraphrase George Orwell. What's in common between communities where it...
Lawyers volunteer to do good
We The Action matches volunteer lawyers with nonprofit groups that need their skills. Lawyers have a unique ability to defend our nation’s values, protect our democracy,...
How Republicans persecute women
Recent headlines highlight Republican policies persecuting women Denying women control over their own bodies. The Republican packed Supreme Court will hear a case that threatens Roe v. Wade....
Who is streaming Russian propaganda into American military bases ask vets?
https://mobile.twitter.com/GenMhayden/status/1502729295680184320
SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING about voting problems
Why is it easier and faster to report a traffic jam while driving than to report harassment while trying to vote? Groups making it harder for...
GOP-packed Supreme Court attacks native citizens’ rights on tribal lands
As part of its recent precedent-breaking spree, the U.S. Supreme Court turned federal Indian law on its head this week on Wednesday, June 29. In the...
Republican use Goebbels’ Principles of Propaganda
Propaganda must label events and people with distinctive phrases or slogans.They must be utilized again and again, but only in appropriate situations. falsehoods were repeated often...
Gen-Z fights for change with creative online tactics
"Abortion rights activists are too fat and ugly to get pregnant", said Matt Gaetz (R-FL). Gen-Z activist have used his comments to raise thousands of dollars...
Cash Bail jails the poor but frees the rich.
Illinois Supreme Court puts end of cash bail on hold until further notice SAFE-T Act ends cash bail The Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act, or...
Guide to digital politics: Podcast
"How to Use the Internet to Change the World - and Win Elections" is a book by Colin Delany, a veteran political consultant. Colin has worked...
Maps are a campaign planner’s best friend
Image Credit: Unsplash