Nonpartisan civic leadership org seeks interns to lead project management, event planning, social media outreach, and marketing efforts. Earn college credit. Practice real world skills. Gain new connections, rec letters, internship/award/scholarship, and professional development/travel opportunities.
Promote civic education and engagement, including educating local voters about the 2026 primary election to select candidates for U.S. House, state house, state senate, county sheriff, county prosecutor, and more . . .
JOIN IU SOUTH BEND’S AMERICAN DEMOCRACY PROJECT
* BECOME A DEMOCRACY FELLOW
* COMPLETE AN INTERNSHIP
* DEVELOP REAL-WORLD SKILLS
* EARN COLLEGE CREDIT
* DEVELOP YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS
* NETWORK WITH POLITICAL/COMMUNITY LEADERS
* OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS & FUNDED TRAVEL (Indy, DC, and more)
ALL ACTIVITIES ARE NON-PARTISAN. Students from diverse partisan/ideological backgrounds and majors are encouraged to enroll. All that is required is a belief in representative democracy and a desire to promote an informed and engaged electorate.
INTERESTED? CONTACT IUSBADP@IU.EDU. LEARN MORE BELOW.
What is the American Democracy Project? The American Democracy Project (ADP) equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences required to make a meaningful difference in their communities. The ADP leads campus efforts for register, educate, and mobilize student voters, and works to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences required to participate actively in the political process and make a meaningful difference in their communities. IU South Bend’s American Democracy Project partners with local media and civic groups to produce non-partisan candidates debates forums, and voter guides, while also hosting watch parties, issue forums, deliberative dialogues, and other events designed to boost civic knowledge and skills.
How much college credit can I earn? Students earn 1 credit for every 40 hours of ADP fieldwork. Hours include office hours and event/activity staffing. Hours are tracked in a weekly Canvas worklog and matched to task completion. Most students enroll in 2-3 credit hours. The internship may be repeated for up to 6 credits total.
Can I earn credit in my major? Yes, you may earn credit in a wide variety of majors, with approval by the department chair. You may earn political science credit by enrolling in POLS Y481: ADP Practicum. The course counts as an upper-level U.S. politics course toward the major, minor, and graduation requirements. Alternatively, you may enroll in a graphics design internship, photography internship, communications internship, or other course with the permission of your instructor of record and department chair. In this case Dr. Bennion will become your “site supervisor” and a faculty member in your home department will become your academic advisor and instructor of record for the internship class. Assignments will tailored to your major (though participation in all-hands-on-deck ADP events that require skills and efforts outside of your main duties are expected of all interns, subject to your schedule/availability).
How do I apply? Contact IUSB’s ADP Director, Elizabeth Bennion, at IUSBADP@iu.edu. Dr. Bennion can tell you more about how to earn COLLEGE CREDIT for an ADP internship during the SP26 and/or FA26 semester.