The ACLU of Wisconsin is the state affiliate of the national ACLU and is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, private organization with more than 14,000 members, dedicated to defending the civil rights and liberties of all Wisconsinites. The ACLU of Wisconsin offers internship programs for both law students and undergraduates. The ACLU uses public education, informal advocacy, and targeted litigation to help maintain and advance civil liberties, including freedoms of association, press, religion, and speech, as well as core civil rights, including voting rights, due process, and privacy rights, and the right to equal protection, for all people in Wisconsin.
Athan Theoharis, born to immigrant parents in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the 1930s, went on to become a leading historian who documented the FBI’s violations of privacy and abuses of power, particularly during J. Edgar Hoover’s decades as FBI director. Dr. Theoharis taught history at a number of universities during his career, ultimately retiring from Marquette University, in his home town of Milwaukee. In addition to his scholarship and teaching, Athan was a committed champion of civil rights and civil liberties. He served on the ACLU of Wisconsin’s board of directors for many years and often spoke on behalf of the organization on issues of surveillance and privacy.
When Athan passed away in 2021, his children established a fund to support internships at the ACLU of Wisconsin for college students who would otherwise be financially unable to take an unpaid internship at a non-profit organization. Each year, one college student with an interest in civil rights and civil liberties will be selected to receive a $5,000 stipend to work for 10 weeks over the summer.
Job Context
This position is a part-time, limited term non-exempt position. The Theoharis Intern is a part of both the Community Engagement and Legal Departments. The position is based in the Milwaukee area in a hybrid work environment (in-person and remote as necessary), the position responsibilities will require limited travel at the expense of the organization. Work may include some nights and weekends.
Interested applicants should email a single document of the requested documents to hr@aclu-wi.org, please use ‘[YOUR NAME]-Theoharis Intern’ in the subject line of the email. Please submit a cover letter and a resume. The letter should describe the student’s interest in civil rights and civil liberties and any personal experiences that shaped that interest, as well as an explanation of how the stipend would make it possible to do an internship that would otherwise be financially difficult.
Priority Deadline: April 15, 2024
This job announcement provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU of Wisconsin reserves the right to change the description and/or posting at any time without advance notice.
The ACLU of Wisconsin is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages people of color, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and formerly incarcerated people to apply. The ACLU of Wisconsin undertakes affirmative action strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to assure that persons with disabilities have full opportunities for employment in all positions. We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodations in the application process to contact us at jobs@aclu-wi.org.
The ACLU of Wisconsin is comprised of two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin and the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin Foundation. Both are organizations with the same overall mission; they share office space and employees.