Blog Description

The College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at UIC is the University of Illinois System's home for the study of public policy and contemporary urban challenges. We are CUPPA.

In the heart of Chicago, we offer degrees in fields of study that can change your life and change the world. CUPPA students and alumni are uniquely skilled to build and transform sustainable urban neighborhoods and communities and to address the challenges presented in the 21st century. Find our more about our Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees at cuppa.uic.edu.

Follow our student internships and student opportunities below. For post-graduation job postings head to the CUPPA Careers Blog or follow us at @CUPPACareers on Twitter.

Have a job or internship to post? Send an email with the title, location, job description, and contact information to cuppa@uic.edu.

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Hourly Graduate Assistant with Lawyer's Committee for Better Housing

Short Title: Hourly Graduate Assistant with Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing 

Reports to: Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing (LCBH) 

Job Summary: This is a temporary part-time position paid at the current hourly rate of $26.43 per  hour. The position is anticipated to begin on June 1, 2022. The position may continue for up to eighteen months, including during summers, depending on grant funding.  

The assistant will work under the direction of LCBH. The Assistant will help by provide additional  analytic support to the Chicago Evictions Data Portal. Work may include narrative coding, data  scraping, race and gender predictions, comparative analysis, and report writing. The work will  focus primarily around developing a deeper understanding of eviction as it relates to fair housing.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:  

Learn about the data we currently have available; 

Develop and implement methods for obtaining additional data needed for analysis; 

Perform initial analysis of the data to identify areas for deeper research; 

Provide various comparative analysis (over time, across geographies); 

Prepare reports on key findings; 

Perform other tasks that may be assigned as related to this project.  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:  

Excellent research, analysis skills; and 

Familiarity with basic programming concepts (Python knowledge preferred) and SQL  concepts; 

Advanced written and oral communication skills. 

Good interpersonal skills 

Strong organizational skills 

Commitment to housing and racial justice. 

Experience with people living on low incomes 

Job Qualifications: 

Assistant should be a current student at UIC. Preference will be given to students who are (1)  taking or who have participated in the fair housing clinic or its equivalent or who are familiar with  or worked on evictions or housing-related issues; (2) show a strong interest in social science and/or  data science and are interested in continuing with the position for more than one semester.  

Apply through jobs@lcbh.org with resume and short writing sample.


Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Planning and Projects Intern, Park District of Highland Park, Illinois

Planning and Projects Intern

Level: Entry

Job Location: West Ridge Center - Highland Park, IL

Position Type: Internship 

Salary Range: $13.00 - $15.00 Hourly 

Apply Here: Planning and Projects Intern (paycomonline.net)

Summary: Under the supervision of the Planning and Projects Manager, the Planning and Projects Intern will get first-hand experience working with GIS and asset management. The intern will lead the Park Districts initiative to create a centralized dynamic inventory system that is accessible to various users. The internship opportunity offers students the opportunity to create deliverables that assist in communicating asset information to internal and external audiences. Examples of possible deliverables include park asset maps, an online story map featuring the Park Districts parks, and an internal organizational online tool to search park information.

The intern will be offered opportunities to participate in other projects of interest, if desired and time allows. Other projects could include project management, sustainability planning, and bike/walk planning/design.

The internship program is designed to provide the intern with firsthand experience using GIS mapping tools alongside online database tools for organizational purposes. The deliverables produced by the intern are intended to be used Districtwide to enhance operations and communication. The student will have the opportunity to integrate and apply knowledge, theory, and understanding from the academic setting to the "real world" working environment. The summer internship is generally a 40 hour/week position and will typically run 8-10 weeks (June August). $13-$15/hour.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Update Park District GIS data files
  • Create an online dynamic inventory for staff using SmartSheets or other online tools.
  • Create individual park maps showing existing conditions using GIS
  • Create Story Map featuring Park District parks using ArcGIS online
  • Develop framework to train staff on how to use the tool(s) created
  • Develop framework to maintain and update information
  • Attends staff meetings and project related meetings as necessary and available.
  • Assists with other department tasks as needed.

Education/Experience: Junior/Senior level college student in Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, Natural Resource Planning, or other related field.

Computer Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office and ESRI GIS (preferred).

Language Skills: Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.  Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to efficiently present information one-on-one.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
 

The Park District of Highland Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Fellowship Oppurtunity, Children's Advocates for Change, Chicago

 2022 Helen R. Weigle Fellowship 

Children’s Advocates for Change

125 S. Clark Street, Chicago, IL, 60603

www.childrensadvocates.org 

Children’s Advocates for Change is an independent advocacy organization committed to the well-being of every Illinois child. We champion policies and investments to make families stronger and improve the lives of children so that they may grow up well-educated, safe, and healthy. Our goal is to see that every child is afforded every opportunity to  succeed in life regardless of that child’s race, ethnicity, or zip code.  

The Fellowship Programs honors Helen R. Weigle who worked tirelessly to address the  needs of children. Among her many accomplishments was serving on a presidential  advisory council addressing the welfare of children and families and co-founding an Illinois  children’s advocacy organization.  

Equity is at the forefront of Children’s Advocacy for Change’s efforts. The organization uses a racial, ethnic, and inclusion lens in all its policies, programs, employment practices  and operations. Disaggregating the data (whether from the Census Bureau, other federal  agencies, or state government agencies) by race and ethnicity helps us pinpoint the  barriers children may face and the solutions needed. It is through these efforts that we  develop the evidence-based policies to eliminate the racial and ethnic disparities faced by  our children. We also use this data to advocate for further state appropriations to programs  designed to improve the well-being of children and their parents.  

The Fellow will assist Children’s Advocates for Change in collecting data on child well being in the areas of health, education, and economic security with an emphasis on  existing disparities and inequities. The primary focus is on Illinois children with (depending  on available data) regional data profiles. The data collected will serve as the basis for  policy briefs, webinars, social media posts, and in-person presentations throughout the  year. Children’s Advocates for Change is also working to promote the Racial Impact Note  Act the state adopted in 2021 and encouraging other states to follow suit. The data  collected may be used to support these efforts as well.  

This Fellowship is designed for students studying or interested in pursuing academic work  regarding public policy/advocacy that strives to improve the well-being of children and their families. The Fellow could be an undergraduate senior, student enrolled in a relevant  master’s program or student enrolled in a relevant doctoral program. Children’s Advocates  for Change will also consider law school students. Fellows will assist in the collection and  analysis of data, writing policies papers and blog posts to convey the data to the general  public, and attending advocacy meetings. Other duties may be assigned by the President  and Vice-President for Policy of the organization. The Fellowship is designed to run for 20  weeks and would begin in the spring or summer depending on the student’s availability  and academic institution’s calendar.  

Qualifications 

  • Undergraduate senior or graduate student in public policy/administration, childhood  education, public health, economics, sociology, social work, pre-law, or other  discipline where the student can demonstrate the connection between his/her  academic studies and the work outlined in this document. Children’s Advocates for  Change will also consider law school students.  
  • Illinois resident during the Fellowship. 
  • Must demonstrate familiarity with or strong interest in children’s policy and  improving the well-being of children through such measures as increased access to  health care, reducing childhood poverty, and removing barriers to early childhood  education programs.  
  • Excellent written and oral skills including a background in research, data collection,  and analysis. 
  • Ability to work independently and as a member of a team. 
  • Strong computer skills including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with  Access or statistical program a plus. 
  • Ability to take the initiative and complete tasks on time. 

Terms of the Fellowship: 

  • Able to commit up to 20 hours a week for 20 weeks. 
  • Children’s Advocates for Change will pay Fellows a monthly stipend with the  amount varying depending on academic qualifications. (Total amount between  $6,400 and $7,000 for the entire Fellowship.) 

Upon successful completion of the Fellowship, Children’s Advocates for Change will invite  graduates of the program to become part of the Weigle Contributing Editors for policy  briefs and blog posts. Benefits will include complementary tickets to Children’s Advocates  for Change events.  

Children’s Advocates for Change is an equal opportunity employer that values qualified  applicants without regard to disability, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender  identity, national origin, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. 

Interested persons should forward a letter stating the applicant’s interest and availability and a resume to: 


Mitch Lifson 

Vice-President for Policy 

Children’s Advocates for Change 

mlifson@childrensadvocates.org 

No phone calls please.


Administrative Intern, Village of Lake Bluff, Illinois

Village of Lake Bluff

Administrative Intern

Posted April 1, 2022 – Open until filled.


The Village of Lake Bluff, IL (pop: 5,722), a Chicago suburban community where its small size, unpretentious charm, and easygoing spirit sets it apart from the rest of the North Shore, seeks an Administrative Intern to serve within the Village Administrator’s Office. The Administrative Intern is a responsible member of the Village’s executive staff and typically serves as staff liaison to two Village committees.

Job Duties: The Administrative Intern supports the activities of the Village Administrator’s office and performs research, analysis, and special projects throughout the operating departments of the Village with particular emphasis in administration, planning, and community development. Strong communication, flexibility, and customer service is essential to the position. The duties of the Intern will vary depending on the Intern’s strengths and interests and the day-to-day business needs of the Village. The incumbent Intern currently:

  • Administers the Village’s public information and outreach, including the Village website (lakebluff.org).

  • Acts as staff liaison to two Village advisory bodies: the Sustainability and Community Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee, and the Farmers Market committee. Supports the activities of advisory boards responsible for land use and historic preservation.

  • Supports the Board of Trustees legislative agenda, with an emphasis on proposal and review of Village programs and services. 

  • Administers the Farmers Market’s budget, vendor selection, sponsorships, etc.

  • Assists with the Village’s biennial budget process, strategic plan implementation, and other special projects.


Requirements: Full-time enrollment in a graduate program in public administration, public policy, urban planning, or a similar field is required. Pursuit of a career in local government is highly desired. The ideal candidate will serve in the position through the completion of their course work. The Village does not anticipate an appropriate opportunity for the Administrative Intern to remain as a full-time employee after obtaining a graduate degree.

Schedule: The Administrative Intern is expected to start work at the Village as soon as possible but no later than mid-August 2022. The Administrative Intern will work approximately 20 to 24 hours per week with the availability for additional hours during academic breaks. Scheduling is flexible and can adapt to the Intern’s academic requirements. Availability is preferred Wednesday evenings for advisory board meetings; the Intern will, from time to time, present before the Board of Trustees on the second and fourth Monday evening each month. 

Compensation: Salary for this part-time position is $15.00 to $20.00 per hour dependent upon experience and qualifications. Various outside professional development opportunities will be available, as well as Village paid membership with relevant professional associations such as ICMA, ILCMA, and IAMMA.


Applications:  Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume at once to the attention of Glen Cole, Assistant to the Village Administrator, via email to gcole@lakebluff.orgApplications will be reviewed and invitations to interview will be extended on a rolling basis.