Summer Intern, Chicago CRED: Program
Overview
Emerson Collective (EC) is a company of investors, changemakers, creative thinkers, and problem solvers working to make a lasting mark on the world.
For our summer internship, we’re looking for college students who think big, are eager to take on challenges, and are ready to collaborate with their teams and with one another.
Emerson Collective’s summer internship program places rising college sophomores, juniors, and seniors - and, for select opportunities, recent college graduates - in paid internship opportunities across Emerson Collective and our longstanding nonprofit partners XQ Institute, E Pluribus Unum, and Chicago CRED.
Candidates may apply to a maximum of three positions. Any additional submissions will not be considered.
The Opportunity
At Chicago CRED we take a multifaceted approach to reducing gun violence and creating lasting change. The Program team contributes to this mission by providing direct services, addressing and alleviating barriers to participant success, and supporting program development and continuous improvement.
As the Program intern, you’ll support strategic initiatives that strengthen programming for youth and adults, workforce development, and staff wellness. You’ll gain hands-on experience in program research, evaluation, and design—helping to improve services that advance opportunity and healing for individuals affected by violence. This role is ideal for someone who’s passionate about equity, data-informed program improvement, and community impact.
Role and Responsibilities
- Conduct research on national and state workforce development programs serving justice-involved or high-risk populations.
- Analyze retention and outcome benchmarks across comparable workforce and reentry programs.
- Develop summaries and reference briefs comparing CRED’s participant outcomes to other Community Violence Intervention (CVI) and reentry workforce models.
- Review state-level workforce initiatives and funding sources such as WIOA, reentry grants, and apprenticeships.
- Support the preparation of internal reports, presentations, and data visualizations to inform program improvements.
- Assist in planning and documenting staff wellness and professional development activities.
- Create and share tools that promote trauma-informed supervision and staff reflection.
- Provide administrative and coordination support for meetings, events, and end-of-summer reporting.
Qualifications, Skills, and Requirements
- Rising undergraduate sophomore, junior, senior, or recent 2026 college graduate, preferably with an interest in public policy, education, social work, psychology, sociology, or a related field.
- Demonstrated interest in community violence intervention (CVI) work, reentry, workforce development, or staff wellness.
- Strong analytical and writing skills, with attention to detail and data accuracy.
- Experience with Excel, Google Sheets, or other data tracking tools preferred.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and work collaboratively with diverse teams.
- Commitment to confidentiality, cultural humility, and trauma-informed approaches.
Application Questions:
- Chicago CRED works with individuals impacted by trauma, justice involvement, and systemic inequities. How do you think workforce development and policy research can contribute to more equitable opportunities for these communities? (Please answer in 250 words or less)
- What skills or perspectives are you hoping to develop through this experience, and how do you see this internship helping you grow as a professional or changemaker? (Please answer in 250 words or less)
Internship Details
The internship is onsite, 40 hours per week from June 15 through August 7, 2026. A mandatory paid virtual onboarding and orientation will take place June 10 - 12.
Compensation
- All interns are paid $25 per hour and can expect to work 40 hours per week from June 15 to August 7 (eight weeks).
- Interns will also be paid $25 per hour for onboarding and orientation sessions taking place June 10–12.
- All interns receive a lunch allowance and a commuter allowance, and may also receive travel and housing allowances as needed.
Key Dates
- November 18 - January 9: Internship applications accepted, and interviews commence on a rolling basis (Please note that not all applicants will be selected for interviews.)
- January 12 - March 7: Interviews continue, and offers are extended
- June 10-12: Mandatory virtual onboarding and orientation
- June 15: Internship program begins
- August 7: Internship program concludes