Research & Civic Action Intern

SAAPRI Research & Civic Action Intern | Democracy & Civic Action Program 

Summer 2025 | 10 Weeks | 30 Hours/Week

About SAAPRI

The South Asian American Policy & Research Institute (SAAPRI) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization based in Chicago, Illinois. Through community-based research and partnerships, SAAPRI drives impactful policy changes at the local, regional, and national level. We are dedicated to empowering and advocating for the South Asian American community by advancing data equity and ensuring representation that truly reflects their diverse experiences. SAAPRI researches emerging and longstanding issues critical to our communities. Using key findings, we develop data-driven policy recommendations to foster justice for a community that has historically been underserved and underrepresented.

To learn more about us, visit our website: www.saapri.org

Position Overview

SAAPRI is seeking a motivated and community-driven Intern for a 10-week, 30-hour-per-week summer internship. The role will focus on voter engagement research and outreach under our Democracy and Civic Action program, with a strong emphasis on fieldwork, data collection and analysis, and community engagement.

The ideal candidate is passionate about civic engagement, enjoys working directly with communities, and has an interest in research, policy, or data analysis.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with SAAPRI’s voter engagement research project, particularly Case Study research, including survey distribution, focus group facilitation, and community outreach.
• Conduct on-the-ground outreach efforts at events, community spaces, and other locations to engage South Asian communities.
• Support qualitative and quantitative research efforts, including survey design, data collection, and analysis.
• Contribute to GIS mapping, data visualization, or coding-based research (if the candidate has relevant experience).
• Support SAAPRI events, voter education efforts, and other civic engagement initiatives.
• Assist with administrative tasks related to research and outreach as needed.
• Work on a separate project for the funder, details to be provided by the funding partner.
• Provide support for various program-related activities and tasks as needed, ensuring smooth execution and alignment with organizational goals.
• Collaborate effectively with SAAPRI’s staff and team members to support the project and the program’s overall success.

Qualifications & Preferred Skills

• Current junior, senior, or recent graduate pursuing a degree in political science, public policy, sociology, data science, or a related field. We welcome applicants from all academic backgrounds who have a strong interest in the research project and the Democracy and Civic Action program.
• Deep interest in civic engagement, democracy, and social justice, with a particular focus on South Asian communities.
• Comfortable with fieldwork—engaging directly with community members, attending events, and collecting survey responses.
• Familiarity with Chicago’s communities and civic landscape is a plus.
• Experience or interest in research methods, data collection, and analysis (both qualitative and quantitative).
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, especially in community-facing roles.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a nonprofit setting. 
• (Preferred) Experience with GIS mapping, data analytics, or coding (Python, R, or other data-related tools), or a strong willingness to learn basic spatial mapping and data analysis.
• (Strongly Preferred) Knowledge of South Asian community issues and/or proficiency in a South Asian language.

Internship Details

• Duration: 10 weeks (Summer 2025)
• Hours: 30 hours per week (20 hours with SAAPRI, 10 hours with a funding partner on a separate project)
• Location: Hybrid (Chicago-based work, some in-person fieldwork required)
• Compensation: Paid internship ($24/hr)
  

Interested applicants should submit the following form using the link or QR code provided below.

Application Form: https://forms.gle/fvAhEkftGn9fSstf9

Application Deadline: APRIL 10, 2025 

Send inquiries or questions to saapri@saapri.org