Opportunities

The Alice Paul Institute offers a wide range of ways for people to become involved and help us advance our mission of empowering the next generations of leaders in the fight for gender equality. See below for employment opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and internship information. We believe that our work must be intersectional to be effective and are always seeking opportunities to bring a diversity of perspectives and experiences into our organization.    

volunteer

Volunteer Opportunity Opening: Volunteer Docent

Hours: 4 Hours/ week or based on availability

Primary API Contact: Public Programs Manager

Alice Paul Institute (API) builds contemporary action and intergenerational movement for gender justice through the lens of history and of place. We envision a world in which people are allied in the pursuit of liberation and justice in the law, and in everyday practice.  

In 1984, a group of advocates for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) decided to ensure that the 1985 centennial of the birth of Alice Paul, the author of the ERA, would be appropriately commemorated. They founded the Alice Paul Centennial Foundation, then created a slate of leadership programs for girls and purchased an important collection of Paul’s papers and artifacts. Eventually, they were also offered the opportunity to acquire Paul’s childhood home, Paulsdale, saving the house and property from development. 

Today, API continues to educate and empower girls and women to view themselves as leaders, encourage civic engagement, preserve Paulsdale, and advocate for the passage of the ERA which, when enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, will give legal and lasting equal protections to people of all genders. 

SUMMARY: The Volunteer Docent is responsible for welcoming visitors to API and leading guided tours. The Docent may be given other responsibilities, such as helping with our gift shop, during periods when there are no visitors on the site.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Visitor Service: 

  • Welcome visitors when they arrive at API and introduce them to the site.
  • Answer basic questions related to the history of the site and the suffrage movement for visitors taking self-guided tours.
  • Represent API’s mission and values to visitors.
  • Assist visitors with purchases from our gift shop.
  • Handle transactions for tour fees.

Guided Tours: 

  • Provide an engaging and historically accurate tour of Paulsdale for visitors.
  • Engage visitors in conversations around equity and gender justice during their tour experience.
  • Answer visitors’ questions about the history of the site, the suffrage movement, and the Equal Rights Amendment.

The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job.

ATTRIBUTES 

  • Interest in and support for women’s rights, history, issues that impact women, and achieving legal equality for all
  • Effective communication and public speaking skills
  • Ability to maintain a professional decorum in working with the public
  • Proficiency with current Microsoft Office products
  • Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation

WORKING CONDITIONS 

This position requires the ability to respond to our community in a positive and professional manner. This position includes some periods of extending standing or walking while leading approximately 1-hour long tours. Please be advised that the second and third floors of the house are only accessible via stairs. Public tours are only of the first floor of the house.

To Apply

Please fill out the volunteer docent sign up form here. Please contact Olivia Errico at oerrico@alicepaul.org with any questions.

In the past year, the Alice Paul Institute has been reviewing volunteer opportunities. We are currently reworking our volunteer program to our adapting needs. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the form to to the right. Interested volunteers will receive updates on volunteer opportunities as they arise.

Questions? Contact Operations Manager Kyla Spencer at info@alicepaul.org.

Internships

The Alice Paul Institute invites interns to apply for a position in one of the topic areas outlined below. If you are interested in an internship, please provide a cover letter, resume, and writing sample using the form to the right. Internship periods fall in line with standard semester periods (spring/summer/fall). Learn more about our internship program below.

Questions? Contact Public Programs Manager Olivia Errico at oerrico@alicepaul.org.

(Please select your current level of education.)
Click or drag a file to this area to upload.
Click or drag a file to this area to upload.
Click or drag a file to this area to upload.

Internship Areas

Programs

API is dedicated to educating the public about Alice Paul and other figures in the women’s suffrage movement, the importance of civic engagement and access to voting, and the ways in which leaders in the movement for equality have had a positive impact on society. examining Alice Paul as a leader in history. Working with the Program Department, interns will learn about Alice Paul, the women’s suffrage movement, Paulsdale and its adaptive uses as an historic site, and leadership development for children and teens. Please review the presentations, tours, and other programs outlined elsewhere on this site for more information.

Past internship projects:

    • Support programming through curriculum development and evaluation.
    • Plan and conduct focus groups with area girls and teachers.
    • Prepare a summary report of current research on girls and leadership and suggest ways of implementing the findings into API’s leadership programs.
    • Serve as a Museum Assistant, welcoming visitors to Paulsdale and helping them to learn more about Alice Paul and the movement for gender equality.
    • Conduct historical research.
    • Scan photos and articles from the Barbara Haney Irvine Library.
    • Use the archives as source material for blog articles and social media online posts.

Marketing

Marketing & Public Relations Interns at the Alice Paul Institute have many opportunities to build and refine their skills as communications professionals.

Past internship projects:

  • Enriching API’s social media presence.
  • Assisting with social media campaigns.
  • Drafting copy for website development, blog posts, and press releases.
  • Drafting and designing publicity materials for digital, print, radio, and television media outlets.
  • Taking and editing photographs for publication.
  • Creating and editing video content on API’s website and social media. 

Development

Development interns can assist in API’s essential fundraising efforts while learning best practices in development work. Projects could include:

  • Conducting research on potential donors and supporters 
  • Doing data management work in API’s database
  • Drafting donor communications

Sign up for our newsletter