INTERNSHIP: 2011 Summer Internship Program with Metropolis Strategies: apply by 4/8

2011 Summer Internship Program

Program Overview
Metropolis Strategies is successor to Chicago Metropolis 2020, an organization established by The Commercial Club of Chicago in 1999 to maintain and enhance the economic competitiveness of the Chicago region. On March 1, 2011, we became Metropolis Strategies, a supporting organization of The Chicago Community Trust. The move sustains the vital regional leadership of Chicago Metropolis 2020 and brings to bear the resources of both organizations to address the challenges of the seven-county region. In the summer of 2011, Metropolis Strategies will continue its annual program of hiring a small number of interns during the summer months to provide them with direct experience in public policy research and advocacy.
Each intern will conduct one individual policy research project in one of the following policy areas: Regional Economic Development, Sustainability and Justice and Violence. In addition to working with our staff on policy issues, interns will attend weekly staff meetings, approximately 20 “lunch with a leader sessions” featuring leaders from around the Chicago area in policy and the media, plan and attend special events and “field trips”.

The 2011 Program
The program is expected to run from June 20-Aug 12, 2011 (8 weeks). However, ultimate decisions on the overall length of individual internships will be based on the availability of the candidate and the overall needs of the organization.
Internships are paid, with rate of pay ranging from $10-$15/hr. depending on education level and pertinent experience. Interns are expected to work a full week (35 hours a week with one unpaid hour for lunch daily) during the program.

To Apply
Individuals interested in the 2011 Internship Program should submit a cover letter indicating dates available, a resume including any technical proficiencies, name and contact information for at least two references who are not family members and a short writing sample, to the contact indicated below. Only packages containing all of the items indicated here will be considered. Priority consideration will be given to applicants who submit all required materials by April 8, 2011.
Prospective interns will need to be available for a brief interview during the week of April 17, 2011 either in person (preferred), by telephone or via Skype©. Interns will be selected based on the quality of their submissions, educational background and interests and demonstrated interest in public policy and public service.
30 West Monroe Street, Suite 1300 Chicago, Illinois 60603 P: 312 332.2020 F: 312 332.2626 www.metropolisstrategies.org
A Supporting Organization of The Chicago Community Trust

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The successful applicant will:
- Be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a college or university, or have graduated the preceding semester or quarter.
- Have knowledge of research methods to collect and analyze relevant information.
- Be self-motivated and self-directed to identify the work that needs to be done and to complete it, seeking guidance as appropriate.
- Be willing to work in a loosely structured environment and create a cogent final product.
Metropolis Strategies is an equal opportunity employer. No person shall be discriminated against in employment because of such individual’s race, religion, color, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, ancestry, marital or parental status, military status, national origin, citizenship, veterans status, physical or mental handicap unrelated to ability, or any other legally protected status.
To apply or for additional information, please contact:
Tracey B. Fleming, Director of Operations
Metropolis Strategies
30 West Monroe Street, Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60603
312/332-8131 phone
312/332-2626 fax
tracey@metropolisstrategies.org e-mail
Common Questions (and answers):
1. How long does my writing sample need to be? Answer: There is no specific requirement on length. The point is to get some idea about how well you write.
2. Do I need to write something special for the writing sample? Answer: If you have something that you wrote for another purpose (recently) which you think exhibits to a fair degree your writing skill feel free to submit that.
3. Do I need to actually provide a recommendation? Answer: No. You should expect however that we will contact those people you list as references.
4. Is it better to send my application by mail or by e-mail? Answer: Either method is fine, however our preference is e-mail. If you mail your materials, as long as they are post marked by the application deadline reference above we will review them.
5. When will I know if I’ve gotten an internship? Answer: As soon as we have selected this year’s interns, we will contact everyone that contacted us about the internship program via e-mail.
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6. If I applied in past years, can I apply again? Answer: Absolutely. We have had dozens of excellent candidates each year and we have had to turn down very good, well-qualified candidates simply due to a lack of space and resources. If you don’t hold that against us, we won’t hold it against you.
7. What if I have questions that have not been answered here? Answer: Feel free to e-mail (preferred) or call the contact listed above.
What do Interns Do?
Interns hired by Metropolis Strategies play a significant role within the organization and provide invaluable assistance in addressing our public policy agenda. Specific projects for this summer’s interns will not be finalized prior to hire. However, input from prospective interns into specific areas of interest will be considered.

Chicago Metropolis 2020 is such an incredible organization! There was no better way for me to spend my summer than interning here. Entering this internship, I knew little about the world of public policy, nonprofits, or Illinois State government. Reflecting on my experience, I have gained an understanding about how policy gets made, the policy that needs to be made, and the best ways to affect that change. Even more important than the knowledge I’ve gained, is a deep appreciation for the role of the public in state and regional policy making—which I am henceforth determined to play a larger role in. The work being done at Metropolis is honorable, and I could not be more grateful to have spent eleven weeks absorbing the knowledge of all the brilliant, friendly, and altruistic staff members here!
One of the best parts about this internship is the exposure it gives you to many diverse issues facing the Chicago region—the politics of policy, the challenges of Chicago’s growing Latino population, the problem of urban sprawl, different aspects of community planning, the important role of public transit, etc. Metropolis staff and BBL speakers are enthusiastic about these issues and are always willing to share their insights with you. Each person I met during this internship (including the other interns) has opened my mind in different ways and changed my perspective on the possibilities for my
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own career. The community we as interns built was close-knit, trusting, and just plain fun! You have a great summer ahead of you—enjoy!
Sujata B. 2010 Intern
My primary focus this summer was on how the state deals with sex offenders both in and out of prison. I also did some work on education and employment opportunities for the formerly incarcerated, and a tiny bit on childhood trauma. I attended meetings, researched policies and legislation, produced summaries, an advocacy letter, a comparison of state policies, (am currently working on) a white paper, and things of that ilk. Most of my work was part of the Collaborative on Reentry, a set of nineteen workgroups convened at the behest of the Governor that will submit recommendations on justice reform to him come fall.
This internship was an ideal way to get acquainted with the workings of state government, the Chicago region, and the policy area I worked in. The brown bag lunches and the meetings I attended gave me a much clearer idea of how policy is made and what people in this field do. The environment in the office is nurturing but never stifling, and the people (both the staff and the other interns) are brilliant and willing to offer guidance as soon as they are asked. There are few things I can think to improve, but I would have liked to know more about my topic before I started, and there were some points where I would have welcomed more criticism. In general, I loved that the interns were given substantive projects and assignments that allowed them to engage in the subject matter and contribute towards the organization’s goals.
Tim Q. 2010 Intern
The Chicago Metropolis 2020 internship program is not your typical internship program. I arrived at CM2020 with the expectation of being relegated to photocopying and paper clip counting assignments – typical intern stuff. Boy was I wrong! Metropolis interns are treated as team members, participating in staff meetings and given intellectually challenging and professional-level project assignments.
The program staff at Metropolis is like a public policy dream team. As a newcomer to the region, my exposure to the numerous policy veterans on Metropolis’s staff was like a crash course on Chicago and Illinois governance and politics. And through the Brown Bag Lunch series, I was able to learn from some of the region’s top policy makers and thinkers.
Metropolis also does an awesome job of selecting talented interns. As a recently-awarded master’s degree holder, I was very impressed with the professionalism and contributions of all of the 2010 interns, regardless of grade level or school of origin.
I was assigned to the Regional Economy Initiative. I’m very thankful to be exposed to the theory and practice of economic development, as I was not able to pursue that subject in my graduate studies. Through this work I’ve learned a lot about a new policy domain, and I’ve even acquired some new methods of policy analysis. By all accounts, this is has been an extremely awarding experience and I won’t be convinced that a better internship program exists!
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Jeff R. 2009 Intern
The Chicago Metropolis 2020 internship program has been a terrific experience. The staff is friendly, and they give interns meaningful work which is important to the mission of Metropolis.
If you are applying, you should look at Metropolis’ focus areas and ensure that they sound interesting to you and relevant to your educational program or career goals. Remember that Metropolis is, at its heart, a business-related organization which evaluates projects in terms of their economic impacts, along with other measures. Although the experience you gain at Metropolis will be valuable anywhere, the specific knowledge you learn through your project (about the laws, programs, policies, and important people in Illinois) will be most useful if you hope to do work in this state in the future.
If you have been accepted into the program, congratulations! You can get the most out of your internship if you read background materials on your project and get up to speed over the first couple days, then plunge into the work. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or to request more things to do if you are running low. Enjoy the brown bag lunch speakers and the field trips. And, lastly, have fun!
Danielle M. 2009 Intern
To Future Applicants: Congratulations! You have a wonderful summer to look forward to with many wonderful people. My advice to you would be to always get business cards because you never know when they might come in handy. When you find a topic that interests you stick with it and ask questions. Someone in the office is sure to know a lot or know someone who knows a lot about it and is willing to help you out. The one thing I regret about this summer is that I didn't ask all the questions I wanted. Finally just be creative and use your strengths. At first I felt that I couldn't contribute in any significant way to this organization because I was surrounded by so many brilliant people who seemed to have it all together, including the interns. I figured I would just sit back and observe and do the little stuff. However, I soon realized that that is not what is expected of interns at Metropolis. I was fully engaged in many of the processes and I found that my input could be very valuable at times. I gave all that I could to this internship and in turn I ended up learning so many things, meeting so many people and loving every minute of it, especially the Brownbag Lunches. So once again congratulations and I hope you get as much out of this experience as I did.
Justine J. 2009 Intern
Chicago Metropolis 2020’s summer internship program has been one of the best experiences I have ever had. I was exposed to policy, planning, and legal research that gave me a great understanding of the complexities of public issues and future policy. My area of focus was housing where I learned about regional approaches in providing affordable housing and ways the federal government’s stimulus plan functions in relation to housing needs throughout the country. I was given a research assignment where I reviewed Illinois state laws and protections granted to renters in foreclosed properties. The internship program also has the unique aspect of inviting guest speakers from areas such as: non-profit organizations, state or local government, media, public policy advocacy groups and a variety of other fields to inform the interns of their field of work and their contributions to the State of Illinois.
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The atmosphere at Chicago Metropolis 2020 is one like no other. The staff is knowledgeable about areas such as: housing, transportation, justice and violence, state policy, and regional learning. Questions are encouraged, but most importantly, intern’s ideas and opinions are highly supported in actual projects. The summer was filled with many meetings within the office, as well as, away from the office that served as a great learning tool to participate in discussions of present and forward thinking objectives for Illinois.
I really enjoyed my summer with Chicago Metropolis 2020 and my fellow interns were great to work with. I highly recommend this internship to any individual who is interested in a forward thinking approach about planning regions that are well integrated for the well being of the present and future generation.
Claire M. 2009 Intern
The internship at CM2020 is a unique experience to see many different areas of policy and work with people from a broad spectrum of backgrounds. This summer I conducted research on redistricting practices in Illinois and other states around the country. I compiled a memo on redistricting history and current issues as background materials for members of CHANGE! Illinois, a reform advocacy group affiliated with CM2020. I attended meetings with the steering committee as well as the first hearing of the Senate Redistricting Committee, which was recently created to address the issue of redistricting reform in Illinois.
Although my own research was on a specific topic, I got to attend meetings on transportation, justice/violence, and housing issues. The staff was extremely welcoming and inclusive, and I learned a lot about each program area at meetings in and out of the office, field trips, and brown bag lunches. The great variety and quality of the work that goes on at CM2020 along with the open atmosphere made my summer internship a wonderful learning experience and gave me the opportunity to contribute to some important public policy work.