Responsibilities

• The Communications Associate internship is structured as a learning and training opportunity and is not intended to replace, supplement, or perform work assigned to bargaining-unit employees covered by the IBT Local 243 collective bargaining agreement. Responsibilities are limited to educational, observational, research, and administrative support activities performed under close supervision.
• Graphic Design Support
• - Work under the direction of the Graphic Designer to develop compelling, timely visual content supporting the Michigan AFL-CIO and its federated divisions across earned, owned and paid media.
• - Assist with the development of draft graphics for social media, websites, email, presentations, events, campaigns and other communications projects for review and finalization by supervisory staff.
• - Learn to translate communications goals, messaging and creative briefs into effective visual concepts while maintaining organizational brand standards.
• - Create supervised design concepts, mockups and variations for projects such as social media graphics, flyers, digital advertisements, event materials, reports and other collateral.
• - Assist with adapting approved creative materials into different sizes, formats and platform specifications for digital, social, web and print applications.
• - Participate in brainstorming and concept-development sessions and contribute ideas for visual storytelling, campaigns and creative projects.
• - Gain hands-on experience with Adobe Creative Cloud and other design tools while learning professional workflows for layout, typography, color, image selection and production.
• - Assist with identifying, organizing and preparing photography, illustrations, logos and other visual assets for communications projects.

Requirements

• College students (undergraduate or masters) with minimum undergraduate sophomore standing.
• Strong writing and editing skills with the ability to produce clear, persuasive, and compelling content per learning objectives.
• Willingness to learn and grow communications, digital media, public affairs, political campaigns, journalism and related skill sets.
• Ability to manage multiple administrative tasks.
• Commitment to strengthen Michigan’s labor movement.
• Familiarity with social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X/Twitter, LinkedIn) and digital publishing tools.

Preferred

• Experience using digital organizing tools (Action Network, Mobilize, email CRMs, etc.)
• Basic graphic design or video editing experience (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, CapCut, etc.).
• Knowledge of Michigan politics, labor unions, or advocacy spaces.