Critical Resistance's Oakland Chapter Call-out for Interns!

Critical Resistance (CR) is a national grassroots organization that does
local organizing against policing, surveillance, imprisonment, and other
kinds of social control.
CR works for the abolition of the prison industrial complex (PIC). We
believe that basic necessities such as food, shelter, and self-determination
are what make safe communities, not policing and imprisonment.

Critical Resistance is a volunteer member-led and member-run organization.
CR-Oakland is non-hierarchical, operates on a consensus-based model, and
organizes through workgroups. CR members come from a variety of positions of
race, class, gender, age, and ability. We believe that working across these
differences makes CR stronger. We believe our work is strongest when it is
directed by those most directly impacted by the PIC.

Interns with CR would commit to at least 5-10 hours a week for 6 months in
one of our three local workgroups, our monthly Prisoner radio show, the
newspaper; The Abolitionist, and the Operation Impact workgroup that focuses
on police practices in East Oakland. School-based interns would be able to
work with us for credit. This internship is unpaid, although a small stipend
is available for those who qualify.

CR Radio is looking for people willing to make at least a 6 month
commitment. Volunteers produce the entire show, so there are lots of ways
to get involved and learn skills. Estimated time commitment per month is at
least 10 hours. If you have journalism skills and/or previous radio
experience, that's great, but if not, we'll train! You just need time and
the willingness to learn. Possible Responsibilities Include: researching and
writing for the show, producing a CD compilation, distributing the show to
indy radio stations and others across California, doing interviews for the
show, setting up live interviews, and coordinating planning meetings.

The Operation Impact workgroup focuses on stopping the use of Operation
Impact in Oakland. Operation Impact is an extreme and sustained form of
police occupation in poor communities of color in Oakland where local police
departments join forces with CHP and county deputies to target and
criminalize all residents in a “high crime” community over a period of days
or weeks. Possible Responsibilities Include: copwatching, research, database
maintenance, community outreach and organizing, legal assistance.

The Abolitionist is written mostly by prisoners, former prisoners, and
community advocates. Possible Responsibilities Include: translating,
editing, and designing the paper and/or finding folks who can translate,
edit and design, answering prisoner mail, encouraging submissions, copy
editing, and doing outreach to community organizations to distribute the
paper.

Our Coalition Work involves three different coalitions with other grassroots
organizations, unions, non-profits, educators, and more. It is aimed at
reducing the number of people in prison as well as diverting prison spending
to other areas that actually improve community safety. Possible
Responsibilities Include: research, organizing, writing, media support, a
lot of working one on one with our national director, attending and
representing Critical Resistance at meetings.

Prisoner Letters are large part of the work we do as well. Interning here
would involve coming into the office for at least 3-5 hours a week to answer
information requests, send out books, newsletters and other material, and
maintain general correspondence. But, if you're interested in helping and
can't make that big a commitment we can work something else out!

Other Possible Responsibilities Include:
Working on our Katrina Support Workgroup
Fundraising assistance
Assorted office administrative tasks

Qualifications:
At least a 6 month commitment, 5-10 hours a week
Interest in and/or dedication to prison industrial complex abolition Willingness to take direction and work with a collective Ability (and inclination) to do office work Basic computer skills (word processing, comfortable with doing internet
research)
Ability to work independently
Detail-oriented
Spanish-speakers desired!

Former prisoners, family members of prisoners and people of color are
especially encouraged to apply.

To apply, call Nat at 510 444-0484 or email at nat [at] criticalresistance.org.