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Summer 2018 Communications and Advocacy Intern

Want to make a difference? Fahe is on a mission to eliminate persistent poverty in Appalachia. Our unique collaborative model connects a Network of local, regional, and national leaders, working together to overcome the economic insecurity grasping at our communities and get them working again. Since 1980, Fahe has reached over 450,000 people with over $700 million in direct investment. The impact achieved by our Network of local leadership combined with our record of influencing legislation and boots-on-the-ground program design expertise gives us a nationally-recognized perspective on turning back the grinding job losses and community struggles throughout Appalachia and the country. In our vision, our communities and economies work---with jobs, choices, and a good life for each of us, in our region and in this great country. Join us to make it happen.

Our ability to achieve this vision depends upon us being able to hire amazing people. You will work with the Communications and Advocacy Departments to research, support, and to the extent possible lead initiatives to tell stories that will build support for the investments needed in this region. You will work with smart, dedicated, big-thinking colleagues on making a difference in poverty and economic development in this country, receiving meaningful feedback and mentorship. You will have a view from a leading national voice located at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains that is effective in the Washington, DC environment (for example, our President, who you would also work with, is Board Chair of the Opportunity Finance Network, the leading national organization of community development financial institutions).

Goal of Project: Responsible for researching and executing policy initiatives with our Communications and Advocacy teams designed to get our communities and economies working again. The intern will work very closely with the Director of Advocacy and various members of the communications team to manage the delivery of written stories and videos. The intern will think critically about how to tell emotionally-compelling narratives in various forms, and tie them into policy or program work.

Envisioned Responsibilities:

· Participate in strategy sessions to learn the space and the economic development communications and policy landscape.

· Participate in outreach to key partners working on this issue nationwide.

· Participate in the communications department including learning about our area, the challenges and triumphs, and reporting on those changes from our home base and potentially around the region. This may involve occasional travel, and will involve using video interviewing, editing, and good writing to create compelling stories.

· Develop written content that can be used to build Fahe’s thought leadership on the topic of pushing back against economic insecurity. These materials will relfect how various aspects of Fahe’s five charges: Leadership, Economic Opportunity, Housing, Health and Well-Being, and Education, interact with the work needing to be done in the region.

· Serve as a member of the Advocacy and Communications teams to develop community engagement strategies and tactics to advance advocacy priorities as part of campaigns.

· Identify communications stories around the link between recovery from opioid addition with jobs – both top issues of concern in Appalachia.

Focus Area(s)

Primary: Communications

Secondary: Advocacy

Department: Advocacy and Communications

Supervisor: Alex Dadok, Director of Advocacy and a member of the Communications team

Qualifications: Undergraduate rising junior, senior, or current senior who desires to work with strategic communication or advocacy. We desire 3.0 GPA or higher. We are seeking very good writing experience, as well as experience with video shooting, editing, and interviewing. Interest in advocacy, economic development, and social enterprise also desired.

Note on Geography. Lexington, your prospective home should all things work out with a longer term relationship, is a college city (University of Kentucky) offering concerts, breweries, festivals, local bookstores, and beautiful outdoor recreation. It is growing and attracting young professionals, with the 13^th highest concentration of people with bachelors and graduate degrees in the country. As someone who has lived in metro Washington, DC for years, I can tell you Lexington is a place where you can make a difference, when compared to the ocean of DC.

Fahe seeks applicants who can bring diverse viewpoints, experience, talents, and culture to promote our mission to eliminate persistent poverty in Appalachia.