Writing Intern

Cartwheel • Cambridge, MA

3d • $500 - $2,000 • Remote

About The Position

Cartwheel is seeking a Writing Intern to help articulate the value of their mental health services for K-12 schools to key stakeholders like governors, legislators, and agency leaders. This role focuses on storytelling and persuasion, transforming complex data, policy, and clinical outcomes into compelling narratives that drive action. The intern will craft various written materials, including proposals, briefing documents, and case studies, tailored for audiences such as state legislators and cabinet secretaries. The ideal candidate is a strong writer with experience in journalism, freelance writing, or persuasive communication, capable of making complex ideas clear and engaging for a non-expert audience. A genuine interest in youth mental health, education, or public policy is essential.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in a strong journalism or writing program, or equivalent independent experience.
• Demonstrated strong writing talent through a portfolio of published writing (student newspaper, campus publication, journalism coursework, internship clips, or independent writing) showing clear, narrative-driven storytelling for a general audience.
• Experience writing for or communicating with busy, skeptical audiences who are not experts in the subject matter.
• Sharp editorial instincts: ability to identify missing elements, excessive text, and buried information in writing.
• Ability to tailor written content to specific audiences and political or institutional contexts.
• Coachable and eager to learn quickly in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with multiple concurrent deliverables.
• Genuine interest in youth mental health, education, or public policy.
• Open to flexible work arrangements, including hourly, project-based, or fellowship-style.

Nice To Haves

• Experience writing government-facing content such as RFP responses, grant proposals, legislative briefings, or policy documents.
• Familiarity with K-12 education, school-based mental health, or pediatric behavioral health.
• Familiarity with state-level Medicaid, RHTP, or education funding mechanisms.
• Experience supporting government affairs, public affairs, or policy teams in a growth-stage company.
• Experience building or managing a content or asset library for a sales or partnerships team.
• Prior work in healthcare technology, edtech, or mission-driven organizations.

Responsibilities

• Draft sections of statewide RFP responses or sole-source justification packages, including case studies, outcomes narratives, and program descriptions.
• Transform raw data summaries or implementation stories into clear, compelling prose.
• Draft short briefings, leave-behinds, or one-pagers for specific legislators, agencies, or governor's offices.
• Convert family stories or school results into concise, honest narratives for leave-behind materials.
• Edit existing drafts to improve clarity, conciseness, and impact.
• Contribute to building a reusable content library with case studies, proof points, and model descriptions.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed