Taking action post-Laramie
Folks –
For those undergraduate students who might be interested in taking a more direct role in securing and supporting LGBTQ rights here in North Carolina, Equality NC is looking for Fall 2011 interns for a whole host of jobs. It’s an absolutely critical time for Equality NC due in no small part to the threat posed by bills circulating in the NC legislature that are geared toward outlawing any recognition of gay and lesbian relationships (including protections and insurance coverage offered by private industries and various municipalities across the state).
These descriptions below are from their website:
Internships – Seeking Fall 2011 Interns
General Information
Equality NC is looking for outstanding students (and graduates who have a comparable amount of hours to devote to an internship) who are committed to winning equal rights and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender North Carolinians to serve as part-time interns for the upcoming semester. Specific intern positions are listed below.
Interns will gain valuable experience working for a nonprofit advocacy organization. Internship duties will depend on the skills, background, and interests of the intern. Many of our former interns have gone on to secure jobs in LGBT organizations and other political and non-profit groups.
While we don’t offer stipends at this time, we are glad to work with you to secure course credit.
How to Apply
Submit resume and cover letter via email to Rebecca Mann, Director of Community Organizing and Outreach, at rebecca@equalitync.org. Please submit applications for Fall internships by May 13th.
Intern Positions
Communities of Color Outreach Internship – Equality NC seeks a talented, motivated intern to help us strengthen our outreach and organizing in communities of color. Tasks include attending meetings and providing support to our People of Color Task Force, promoting Equality NC at events, working with staff to identify LGBT and allies of color to engage in our work, assessing the policy needs of LGBT people of color, and other outreach duties. Experience working in communities of color a plus. Updated 1/3/11
Story-Gathering Internship - Friendly, outgoing, compassionate “people-person” sought to lead story collection project for multiple issue campaigns. The ideal candidate will be a great listener with top-notch communication skills, flexible hours, basic film editing skills (YouTube-style), and a passion for helping people turn their negative experiences into positive legislative change. Updated 1/3/11
Community Organizing Internship - Energetic, organized, confident, hardworking, can-do students and community members with time to dedicate sought to rally North Carolinians in support of LGBT rights. As a Community Organizing Intern, you will work with individuals and organizations in your area to raise awareness of LGBT issues and empower community members to become activists through formation of local advocacy groups. Some understanding of the legislative process is a plus, and a passion for equal rights is a must. Fans of racism, sexism, classism, and the like need not apply. We are in need of Community Organizing Interns in areas across the state. Previous organizing experience a plus. Updated 1/3/11
Development/Fundraising Internship – The number one need within the state LGBT equality movement is for solid fundraising skills. Equality North Carolina’s director of development seeks a development intern to provide assistance with grant applications, leadership gifts, and special events including the annual Equality Conference & Gala.
You will need to have unbridled enthusiasm for our work, strong intuition, great people skills, and excellent writing and communication skills. You will also need to love working in a fast-paced environment with dedicated staff and other talented interns.
In return, we will teach you great skills that will help you move into a career in nonprofit fundraising/management, and we will make every effort to make your internship stimulating and rewarding. (Questions? Call Kay at 919.829.0343 x 112 or email her at kay@equalitync.org.) Updated 10/7/09
Communications Internship – This intern will assist with the organizations communications efforts, including development of online content and press releases, and managing an effort to collect personal stories of how laws and policies affect LGBT North Carolinians. Rising college senior, recent graduate, or graduate student with background in journalism, communications or public relations preferred. Please submit three writing samples with your cover letter. Updated 2/25/10
Volunteer Management/Outreach Internship - Equality NC seeks a qualified, highly motivated intern to perform volunteer management and outreach duties. Specific tasks include drafting and sending information about ENC’s events to community organizations and our list of supporters, coordinating volunteer events for ongoing projects, and new volunteer recruitment, amongst other duties. Good communication skills and a flexible schedule are imperative. Updated 2/25/10
Transgender Issues Internship – Equality North Carolina is looking for an intern with interest working on issues related to transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. This person would support our Transgender Policy Task Force and help us engage transgender people in our organization’s work. Updated 10/7/09
Leaving Laramie
This is Don’s last post, uploaded by Jules.
Some time has passed since we closed Laramie, but somehow I still don’t feel like I’ve let it go. I know all of my posts have been about how Laramie went completely against everything that I normally expect from a show, and I’m afraid that this post won’t be any different. Usually, in the weeks that follow a show, it starts to slip away from you. All the lines that you unintentionally memorized fade from consciousness, the number and order of cues becomes hazy, and you start to move on. Somehow that hasn’t happened yet.
Laramie is still very much in my head, and I’m not exactly sure why. I mean, the show had a huge emotional impact on me and was an absolute joy to work on, but that doesn’t really explain why every single technical detail is still sitting in my head, does it? I don’t know. “It’s weird, man.” (That line happens right after LX 164, if you’re curious). I’m ready for all of the Laramie tech to get out of my head.
What I’m not ready to lose, however, is the connection I still feel to the entire cast. Unlike with any other show I’ve done, I still feel hugely excited when I see any member of the cast walking around campus. I’ve always felt close to the casts that I’ve worked with, but never quite like this. It’s one of the many reasons that Laramie is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had with a show.
So, that’s where I am. Laramie is still very much stuck in my head. Part of me wants it to leave, part of me doesn’t. I’m still trying to figure out how to deal with that. But, as always, I know it will be an experience that I will always treasure.
Thanks,
Don
Documentary opera
Most Laramie participants were in performance during this event, so I wanted to share a clip from George Lam‘s documentary opera, The Persistence of Smoke, which ran April 15-16 in Durham, directed by Theater Studies’ own Jay O’Berski. George conducted the interviews from which John Justice wrote the libretto for this piece. George also composed and conducted the music as part of his dissertation in composition at Duke. George is the former director of the Duke New Music Ensemble. He served as musical director for Duke’s 2008 production of Sweeney Todd and is an all-around swell guy. He is now co-artistic director of his own company, Rhymes with Opera, currently headquartered in Boston, MA. I look forward to hearing (literally) more from him in the years to come. Enjoy …