Undergraduate Summer Internship: Boston Equity & Inclusion Cabinet

The Boston University Initiative on Cities and the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground seek an outstanding undergraduate student for a summer internship with the City of Boston’s Equity and Inclusion Cabinet. The intern will work directly with the City of Boston Equity and Inclusion Cabinet on racial justice policy, research, and programming.

This internship is the successor to a longstanding partnership with what was formerly known as the Mayor’s Office of Resilience & Racial Equity (MORRE).

Read about the experience of the 2024 Boston Equity & Inclusion Cabinet intern here and other past interns and fellows here.

Summer 2025 Internship Information

Applications are due on Monday, March 10, 2025. (Plan Ahead! This is during BU Spring Break.).

We seek a highly motivated candidate interested in community research and assisting with the Cabinet’s racial justice initiatives. The candidate will contribute to efforts addressing racial equity policy priorities, foster community engagement, and support data-driven policy recommendations. This work will involve research, data gathering from the community, stakeholder engagement, and policy recommendation drafting. This internship provides a unique opportunity for someone looking to contribute to advancing equity and inclusion in Boston.

The Intern will be paid approximately $4,760 ($17/hour) for a full-time internship (35 hours per week), which will run for 8 weeks between June and August 2025. The Equity & Inclusion Cabinet will determine the exact start date with the Intern as the summer approaches.

In addition to pay, this Intern will be eligible to receive free BU housing during their internship, sponsored by the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground.

This internship is located in Boston, and requires the ability to regularly commute to Boston City Hall.

Qualifications

Strong work ethic, initiative, and attention to detail
Excellent written communication skills
Excellent oral communication skills, particularly for organizing and supporting public events, community meetings, and social media content
A demonstrated passion for issues of racial equity, justice, and inclusion, particularly in the context of Boston
Ability to take research, data, and numbers and tell compelling stories
Enthusiasm for public service and a commitment to learning about local government functions
Proficiency in the Google suite, with added value for familiarity with data analysis tools or public engagement platforms
Advanced social media skills, including strategy and content creation

How to Apply & Timeline

Applications due: Monday, March 10, 2025. Please note that applications are due during BU Spring Break, so we recommend applying early.

Application Materials: As part of the application process you will be asked to upload a single PDF. This document should contain the following materials in the same order as listed below:

Cover letter
Resume
Essay of 500 words or fewer about your perspective on racial equity and inclusion in Boston. How can moral imagination help us envision a more equitable city? What role should local government play in turning these aspirations into reality?
A 1-2 page recent writing sample of your choosing.
A list of two references, either academic or professional. Please include their title, organization, phone number, and email. No actual references are required.
Unofficial copy of your academic transcript, including your spring 2025 courses.
- Screenshots are ok as long as text is clear and legible.
- Your BU unofficial academic transcript can be obtained free of charge on student link. You may use the preview transcript page (print -> save as PDF) on the transcript ordering page on student link without completing your order of an official transcript. If you have questions regarding obtaining an unofficial BU transcript without ordering one, please contact the registrar or your academic advisor.

Naming your single PDF: Please note, you should name your document using the following format: [First and Last Name] Equity and Inclusion 2025 Application (for example: Jane Doe Equity and Inclusion 2025 Application).

How to apply: Apply online here. Please double-check all of the above information, including application materials and naming instructions for your PDF. Please also review the eligibility details below.

Timeline: As noted, applications are due on Monday, March 10, 2025. We expect to award the internship in early to mid April.

Apply Here

Eligibility Details

Only current Boston University undergraduate students who meet the following conditions are eligible:

Applicants must be in good standing at Boston University
Applicants must be enrolled in classes as part of a degree-seeking program at Boston University for the current semester. They must continue in either the same or a new degree-seeking program at Boston University in the 2025 fall semester or the 2025 summer 2 term.
- Graduating seniors are eligible if they are entering a graduate degree program at Boston University and meet the above requirements.
- Undergraduate students continuing at BU in fall 2025 or in the summer 2 terms are eligible. However, students working on an incomplete to finish a graduation requirement are not considered enrolled, according to the Student Employment Office, and are therefore ineligible.

Responsibilities/Terms of Award

The intern will work 35 hours per week for the entire eight weeks.
Intern must be responsive to the Initiative on Cities requests during the internship and may be asked to submit content for web and/or social media.
Interns must complete a reflection piece within two weeks of the completion of their internship, reflecting on their work in the office and the project(s) they worked on throughout the summer. This piece should emphasize the Intern’s core focus for the summer, their project’s impact, as well as lessons learned. They are encouraged to incorporate interactive elements, including video and photography. This reflection will be shared on the IOC website.
Interns may participate in a roundtable discussion or other related event held in fall 2025 to share their experience working in city government.

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact David Gross, MetroBridge Program Manager, at davgross@bu.edu.