TRU Intern Positions

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TRU Intern Positions for Summer 2008

Interested in an exciting internship helping solve the hottest issue facing greater Detroit?

TRU has summer intern positions available:

Market New Rapid Transit Investments
Develop the marketing messages that will ensure broad public support for regional rapid transit investments

Survey target audiences around greater Detroit to learn what they know and think about public transit; then develop and test messages that will be most effective at building support for public investment in public transit
20-40 hours per week
Marketing and surveying experience needed

Improve Existing Transportation Alternatives
Help improve Detroit’s bus service by providing the bus agencies with a better understanding of what bus riders want and need.

Survey bus riders and potential bus riders; research other cities’ transit improvements; develop and test bus improvements and promotions that will most increase ridership and improve the bus riding experience
15-40 hours per week
Experienced and new interns needed

Media Intern
Help TRU get positive messages about public transit into the media

Activities will include writing letters to the editor and op-eds, developing a team of volunteer letter to the editor writers, developing a contact list for regional media outlets and reporters, helping to plan meetings with editors and reporters, helping put on events for the media, and tracking media coverage of transit
10-20 hours per week
Requires excellent communications skills, no media experience required

Grassroots Organizer / Volunteer Coordinator
Help build public support for transit and develop a broad grassroots movement advocating for rapid transit investment

Mobilize and coordinate a team of 20-30 volunteers, match volunteers to needed positions, arrange community outreach events at regional fairs and festivals, organize presentations to community groups, and recruit new transit supporters
10-30 hours per week, mostly evenings and weekends
Must be outgoing an have some volunteer management experience

New Media / Web Organizer
Use online resources to build public awareness of and support for rapid transit and TRU

Update and enhance TRU’s website and Facebook pages; help launch, manage and promote our new online discussion forum; identify and influence relevant blogs, forums and other new media; and use other creative online tools to promote transit
10-20 hours per week, flexible schedule
Must be very web savvy

Research Transit Funding Needs and Options
Help figure out the most critical transit challenge – funding mechanisms

Research how Michigan and other states and cities fund transportation and develop short reports explaining Michigan transit funding, comparing local and state transit funding to other cities and states, and outlining Michigan’s future funding needs and options
10-20 hours per week
Must be good understanding and explaining numbers, knowledge of taxes a plus

Details:

Internships are generally unpaid. Course credit may be available.

After an introduction, training and project planning, most intern work is done independently. Work schedules and locations are generally flexible. All interns meet weekly with TRU’s Executive Director, Megan Owens, to report progress, discuss next steps, and work through problems.

To apply, send a current resume and a cover letter explaining what internship you are interested in and why you want to work to improve public transit, to Megan Owens.