Meta Peace Team's Internship Program
Interns with Meta Peace Team will have the opportunity to learn about and participate in the work of a grassroots, nonprofit international peace organization that is connected to a global network of peace organizations. A member of Nonviolent Peaceforce and the Shanti Sena Network, MPT is both nationally and internationally recognized and utilized. MPT has a board of directors (our "Core Community"), three staff members, as well as a large number of volunteers. Interns’ skills and interests are matched with responsibilities and needs of MPT.
Committee Experience
Interns work primarily with MPT staff to carry out work in various committees:
Domestic Peace Team Committee
Training Committee
Development & Fundraising Committee
International Peace Team's Committee
Endorsement Committee
Nonviolence Resources
Interns will also have access to a library of resources on the work and theory of nonviolent peacemaking:
books
newsletters
audiotapes
videotapes
Tasks May Include
Assisting with newsletter development, including researching and presenting articles for publication
Meeting with and participating in committee meetings; may occasionally take and disseminate minutes
Attending/participating in a nonviolence training
Attending an MPT presentation(s)
Improving organizational packets and information dissemination
Assisting with website ideas, blogs, social networking sites, upkeep, etc.
Assisting in scheduling trainings
Compiling and generating listserve announcements and Team updates
General office tasks/activities
Research and publishing to our blog
Help with organizing sponsored events, presentations, and fundraisers.
Optional Opportunities for Interns include
Participate in our Nonviolent Skills Training. Fees are waived for interns.
Participate in our Bystander Intervention Training. Fees are waved for interns.
Observe MPT associates as they act as local peace teams
Attend demonstrations, protests, or marches
Attend workshops/lectures
Take part in a Domestic Peace Team placement
About working with us
Meta Peace Team (originally Michigan Peace Team) was founded in 1993. Its offices are located in Michigan's state capital, Lansing, within easy commuting distance of Michigan State University and Lansing Community College, and as of 2013, also in the heart of inner-city Detroit. To ensure a quality educational experience, MPT has a “cap” of three interns per semester. Interns receive daily supervision and ongoing mentoring. Their schedules can be flexible, although most work is done during normal office hours (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.). However, since nonviolence trainings, events, and presentations often happen on weekends and evenings, schedules can vary.
Meta Peace Team networks with organizations that use Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) such as Nonviolent Peaceforce, Christian Peacemaker Teams, Peace Brigades International, International Women’s Peace Service, the International Solidarity Movement, Rabbis for Human Rights, Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Women in Black and others.
What we look for in our interns
We are looking for students that are as excited about effective nonviolent conflict resolution and transformation as we are. The students' individual time commitments vary and are flexible. We support that school and work schedules have to come first. If the internship is being done for academic credit, then we rely on the academic adviser to identify how many hours the student needs to complete to receive full credit. We have no particular minimum/maximum time requirements: we only ask that the student adhere to the schedule they have developed, or call us and let us know if there's a schedule change.
Most students choose to work with us 10-16 hours/week (although we have had students do as much as 40 hours/week to qualify for specific university requirements or to meet requirements for the particular scholarships they've acquired on their own). Normal office hours run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and we ask that most of the internship hours be completed during office hours to facilitate supervision.
Join our Team
It is our hope that interns will gain valuable knowledge and hands-on skills at the completion of their internship in various areas: nonviolent peacemaking; organizational skills; familiarity with working in nonprofit grassroots organizations; and a better understanding of third-party nonviolent intervention, the larger peace community, and the work being done worldwide for peace. Interns may also find resources for post-graduation work opportunities or service opportunities in the international peace community.
To apply for the MPT internship, download and complete the packet.
To send electronically:
Email Mary L. Hanna, M.Ed. at: MaryHanna.MPT@gmail.com Include the subject line Internship
To send hardcopy:
Meta Peace Team
Attn: Mary L. Hanna
201 W. Miller Rd.
Lansing, MI 48911