External Affairs Intern (Fall 2026)

FWD.us•Los Angeles, WA

2d•$21•Hybrid

About The Position

FWD.us is a policy organization dedicated to advancing better and more politically resilient solutions on criminal justice and immigration. We are seeking a creative and detail-oriented External Affairs Intern to support both our immigration and criminal justice initiatives. This full-time internship involves assisting with external affairs, including earned media, communications, and digital strategies. The ideal candidate possesses strong communication skills, a passion for social justice, and an interest in digital strategy and communications. The internship requires full-time availability, Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, for a minimum of 4 months. Interns will be compensated at $21/hr, plus benefits. The role requires on-site work in the Los Angeles or Washington DC office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, with remote work on Wednesdays and Fridays. The anticipated start date is mid-August or early September 2026. Applicants are encouraged to apply by August 1st for priority consideration.

Requirements

Interest in immigration and criminal justice reform.
Organized and detail-oriented.
Basic knowledge of social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Threads, Bluesky, Youtube).
Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in creating digital content for a variety of social media platforms.
Knowledge in Canva, video editing, and/or other design platforms.
Background or interest in digital strategy, social justice, and/or communications.

Responsibilities

Perform daily monitoring of FWD.us mentions in earned media and social media, as well as coverage of criminal justice and immigration in national media and online.
Assist with monthly analytics reports.
Support weekly tracking of media coverage.
Assist with sending out press releases and statements, including copyediting and proofreading.
Support FWD staff in monitoring social media accounts and executing strategies to grow audience and engagement.
Assist with monitoring and responding to incoming messages on social media.
Draft social posts and post on social media platforms.
Support the office's day-to-day operations.
Provide support for visual content creation, including resizing assets, creating simple assets in Canva or other design platforms, or editing short videos for social media.
Research digital trends, reporters, and audience insights.
Other tasks as assigned.