Summer in the City
A Crash Course in Community Organizing
Who: Empower Our Neighborhoods/Tent State
What: A citywide campaign to challenge the corrupt, corporate, two-party electoral system and build direct democracy at the neighborhood level.
When: Any length of time between June 1st to August 31st. Schedule can be flexible.
Where: New Brunswick, New Jersey (home of Rutgers University).
Why: Because if we can build and win democracy at the local level in New Brunswick, then so can people anwhere else in the US.
Let the summer begin...
We are looking for committed progressive organizers ready to put in 40 solid hours per week experimenting with ground-breaking new strategy and tactics for building democratic people power at the local level. We will provide:
- Free housing from June 1st through August 31
- Free food (special accommodations can easily be made)
- Parties every weekend
- $250 a month for extras (comic books or whatever else...)
- Job recommendations and college application references
- Access to the movement office and library (we even have Netflix!)
Want to get involved with Summer In the City? Click Here!
"Waking up every morning you'll find yourself reporting for the morning project planning, preparing to hit the streets and draw more people like you into a movement to dramatically redefine society."
- Nick Kreitman, University of Chicago, SITC Intern, 2008
What will you be doing?
This summer, SITC interns will be:
- Reaching the community door-to-door for the ward campaign
- Working with residents to create neighborhood assemblies in New Brunswick
- Developing and running a mentorship program for urban high school students in New Brunswick
- Developing and running a summer retreat for Rutgers University Student Union leaders
- ... and more!
Want to get involved with Summer In the City? Click Here!
What is the ward campaign for democracy?
It is a strategy to combine a referendum for neighborhood (ward) based city council elections, with a radical plan for directly democratic neighborhood assemblies. By making the election of neighborhood leaders possible, we can break the stranglehold that the corrupt political machine has exercised on New Brunswick for the last 40 years!
Summer in the City Alumni
"Summer in the City program is sort of a training camp for those who want to learn about making change on a local level. I hope that as more local movements grow, we can learn from each other and give the left a new face that will help insiper and change America into a truly more democratic society."
-Chloe Briede, George Mason University, SITC Intern
"This is a place where you can step up to obstacles and get through as true leaders. The program will let you live, sleep, and breathe true organizing."
- Steve Perez, Rutgers University, SITC Intern
"I saw how very integral relaxing and genuine friendships are to upholding basic campaign work - without this mindset EON could never be so successful. The most important lesson Summer in the City taught me was the importance of these strong friendships right along with the fight."
- Erin Armi, Cornell University, SITC Intern