Intern with (B)us!

As a young person, I think it was really important for me to see that so many people care about and devote so much time to making sure my voice and my peer’s voices are heard. And to have been given an outlet to continue that philosophy and inspire other young people to get involved and to realize that their opinions matter was an invaluable experience.” – Zoe Garbis, 2016 Intern

Washington Bus internships are paid, part-time, and flexible social justice and community organizing opportunities for young people. Interns across Washington State come together to advocate, educate, organize, and engage young folks around important issues. Each season has a different focus reflecting what is happening that time of the year.

We are now hiring for our 2024 winter internship!

Winter

January to March

Law making. Legislators. Lobbying. Olympia. Parliament.

Spring

April to June

Outreach. High School Presentations. Making new friends.

Fall

September to November

Campus organizing ahead of the general election. Phone banks, voter registration, direct organizing & victory parties.

Transform your community!

Our 2021 (W)Internship will focus on legislative advocacy. Interns will organize young communities to fight for meaningful change in the state legislature and will educate their peers on the policies and legislation that impacts young Washingtonians. Past interns have mobilized young voters in support critical issues such as marriage equality, increased funding for public transit, campaign finance reform, and mandatory criminal background checks on gun purchases. Interns leave the Bus able to champion issues they are passionate about with the knowledge and leadership experience to mobilize their communities and make real change.

Past interns

Our 2020 fall internship focused on college campus communities. Interns served as campus leaders and organizers spearheading our efforts to mobilize young voters ahead of the 2020 Election. Past interns have mobilized young voters in support critical issues such as marriage equality, increased funding for public transit, campaign finance reform, and mandatory criminal background checks on gun purchases. Interns leave the Bus able to champion issues they are passionate about with the knowledge and leadership experience to mobilize their communities and make real change.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time commitment?

Winter interns work 10-15 hours per week for 10 or 15 weeks (depending on the legislative session year.) High school interns and summer fellows have different hours. Much of the work will be completed independently and the schedule is very flexible. There will be occasional evening events as well as required check-in meetings with Bus Staff and other Bus Interns.

 

Can I take this class, have a job, etc. while being an intern?
Absolutely! The program is designed to be flexible around work, school, and life schedules.
Are Washington Bus internships paid?

Yes! Interns are paid at the current Seattle Minimum Wage rate. See here for the current rate. You can also receive your pay as an educational stipend.

What’s an average day like for a Washington Bus intern?

That really depends on the week and the internship! Winter interns focus on mobilizing folks to get involved in the 202X Legislative Session, summer fellows might spend a day making campaigns or learning about unions, and high school interns work on advocacy projects. Interns will organize their communities with a variety of virtual tactics including phone banks, testifying and educational events. Hear from our 2018 Fall interns about their experience.

When do I apply?

Applications are open in April-May for the Summer Fellowship, and November-December for the Winter Internship. Please check back on our site for during these months!

Questions? Concerns? Comments? Feedback?

Winter, spring, summer or fall… all you have to do is call, and we’ll be right there.

Looking for a more intensive training program?

Check out our sister organization, the Washington Bus Education Fund’s full-time paid summer Fellowship!