Research and Policy Intern - Thriving and Economic Stability

The Agency You’ll Join:

The Commission on Racial Equity is an independent 15-member commission responsible for engaging diverse communities to hold NYC government accountable to advancing racial equity in government operations and increase community voice in government decision making. CORE provides accountability for New Yorkers, regularly evaluating the City’s progress on its racial equity plan, requirements, and goals. CORE will be composed of diverse New Yorkers with equity expertise and/or relevant lived experience, serving as a conduit to bring historically excluded communities and voices into government decision-making.

The Team You’ll Work With:

CORE is an independent commission composed of 15 commissioners, including one Chair & Executive Director, jointly appointed by the Mayor and New York City Council Speaker. Other CORE commissioners appointed by the Mayor, City Council Speaker, City Comptroller, and Public Advocate. City officials appointing commissioners to CORE are required to consider individuals that represent or have advocated for historically excluded voices, including people with lived experience of marginalization and individuals who have never served on a government board or commission before.

The NYC Commission on Racial Equity staff are responsible for executing the day-to-day mission and establishing its path to success. They will take the vision of the Chair & Executive Director and the Commissioners and translate it into action strategies and plans that implement accountability for racial equity in the city. Like the Commission itself, the Commission’s staff aims to be representative of New Yorkers from all communities and walks of life. Staff will bring an accountability mindset into their work, ensuring that they are collaborating with city agencies and voicing public concerns.

The Problems You’ll Solve

The Commission on Racial Equity seeks a Graduate Research and Policy Intern, Thriving and Economic Stability reporting to the Director of Research and Policy. As a member of the team, you will provide support that enables the Commission to successfully carry out the research and policy work and larger transformational change for the racial justice ballot measures approved by NYC voters.

The Intern, for Thriving and Economic Stability will work on research projects that span government policymaking, and center lived experiences of communities harmed by racism and social injustice with a focus on transformative change towards CORE’s fundamental value: Our government ensures the condition of thriving for every person. Research projects will cover areas including but not limited to New York City’s true cost of living, access to safe and stable housing, food, health, trauma, mental health care, transportation, education, childcare supports and resources necessary to prosper economically and close the racial wealth gap.

The intern will focus on conducting, gathering, and analyzing data to examine government operations, programs, and policies that contribute to inequities affecting the economic stability of New Yorkers--specifically communities harmed by racism and social injustice.

The Intern will support the Research and Policy Team with data collection and management, analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, and research administration support as needed as the team tracks the city’s progress on structural change to advance racial equity in government operations and increase community voice in government decision making.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Collect, review, and analyze news, research and policy updates related to New York City government operations, programs, and policies about access and resources New Yorkers need to thrive and live well to conduct comprehensive literature, policy and practice reviews.

Support with developing, tracking, and monitoring data requests and data collection protocols for city agencies, community-based service providers, and other relevant organizations.

Supports the Community Organizing and Engagement team, attending community events to collect data and document stories and lived experiences.

Conducting descriptive quantitative and qualitative analysis and supporting higher-level multivariate analyses that highlights structural racism and disparities in access to safe and stable housing, food, health, trauma, and mental health care, transportation, education, childcare supports

Synthesizing and interpreting research findings and developing codebooks, coding schemes, file specifications, and other resource documents.

Drafting proposals for interviews, focus groups, and/or survey questionnaires; assisting in the facilitation of interviews and focus groups; drafting and/or helping administer surveys; cleaning, coding, merging and preparing administrative data files for analysis.

Create and design reports, 1-pagers, and data visualizations such as graphs, infographics, PowerPoint presentations, data profiles and dashboards for diverse audiences, elected officials and community members including young people ensuring accessibility and clarity.

About You

Commitment to racial equity, social justice, accessibility justice, and changing whole systems in government.

An understanding of power, privilege, and oppression and how that shapes data, policy and legislation.

Some experience in various research methods including but not limited to ethnography, focus groups, interviews, community-based research or participatory action research whether in academic or applied settings.

At least 2 years of data and research for policy experience in academic or applied settings with a focus on disparities in access to safe and stable housing, food, health, mental health, education, child-care support and resources necessary for economic stability.

Other formal education that is relevant can be helpful, such as in public administration, business administration, public policy, public health, ethnic studies, political economy, etc.

Experience in collecting and working with data from government agencies.

Excellent time management skills and experience working in a deadline-driven environment.

Experience in community engagement, community organizing and serving in an accountability or oversight body is a plus.

Background of living in, working within, or growing up as a member of communities facing historical oppression will contribute to your ability to guide the planning process.

Demonstrated commitment, competency and strong familiarity with issues affecting Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Middle Eastern, or Pacific Islander communities in New York City, or other marginalized groups.

Technical skills or project management skills are a plus.

Experience preparing written reports, infographics, presentations, literature reviews and research summaries for diverse audiences.

Must be currently enrolled in a graduate degree program.

Salary and program information:

The Commission on Racial Equity’s internships offer a compensation range of $19-21.00 per hour. Final offers will be determined based on the candidate’s experience and expertise.

Program Duration: 14 Weeks beginning on June 2nd, 2025
Civil Service Title: Summer Graduate Intern
Hourly Rate: $19.00-$21.00
Shift: Interns must complete a minimum of 25 hours per week
Application Deadline: April 16th, 2025

Equal Opportunity | Diversity Equity & Inclusion Statement

The Commission on Racial Equity is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

The Commission upholds diversity in backgrounds and in experiences that is reflective of the city it serves. We strongly encourage formerly incarcerated individuals, directly impacted individuals, people of color, members of the disabled community, gender-variant and non-binary individuals, and other members of the LGBTQIA+ community to apply

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a veteran with a disability, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability.

How to Apply

Send a copy of your resume, and a cover letter to Candidate Application.

New York City residency is required within 90 days of appointment.

SUMMER GRADUATE INTERN - 10232

Candidates must be currently enrolled in a graduate degree program in an accredited college, university or law school.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.