Summer Intern, Immigration: State Inclusion and Integration

Overview

Emerson Collective (EC) is a company of investors, changemakers, creative thinkers, and problem solvers working to make a lasting mark on the world. 

Emerson Collective’s summer internship program places rising college sophomores, juniors, and seniors - and, for select opportunities, undergraduate students graduating in 2026 - in paid internship opportunities across Emerson Collective and our longstanding nonprofit partners XQ Institute, E Pluribus Unum, and Chicago CRED. 

We’re looking for college students who think big, embrace challenges, and thrive in collaboration.

The internship is onsite, 40 hours per week, from June 15 through August 7, 2026. A mandatory paid virtual onboarding and orientation will take place June 10–12. See below for more details.

Application Deadline: Friday, January 9, 2026, at 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted.

The Opportunity

The Immigration team’s state integration work seeks to advance inclusive state and local policies that expand opportunity for immigrant communities living across the United States. 

As the State Inclusion and Integration intern, you’ll execute critical research and writing projects that bolster program impact and support state-led efforts in policy areas such as access to representation, workforce development, and entrepreneurship. You’ll develop and refine professional skills by interfacing with state government leaders and become familiar with other issue sets in the field through broader exposure to the team’s multipronged approach to migration.

• Research best practices, innovative models in state and local immigration policy, including state-driven responses to federal enforcement, labor shortages, and changing policy landscapes in legal status and long-term integration. 
• Interview state government officials on best practices and drafting success stories that demonstrate program impact.
• Take notes on and summarize key points during stakeholder meetings.
• Provide regular (daily) news clips to keep team members abreast of the latest developments in integration policy on the state level.
• Provide organizational and administrative support as needed.

• Rising undergraduate senior, preferably pursuing a degree related to public policy, political science, labor and/or urban studies, migration studies, history, sociology, ethnic and/or American studies. 
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, accessible summaries and recommendations.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including comfort engaging with external partners such as state officials, nonprofit leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Deep curiosity about immigration, equity, and state and local policy innovation, and eagerness to create impact in these fields.
• Strong intuition and incredibly perceptive, curious, and open to learning new things.
• Dynamic, strategic systems thinker.

Internship Details

Compensation

- All interns are paid $25 per hour and can expect to work 40 hours per week from June 15 to August 7 (eight weeks).

- Interns will also be paid $25 per hour for onboarding and orientation sessions taking place June 10–12.

- All interns receive a lunch allowance and a commuter allowance, and may also receive travel and housing allowances as needed. 

Key Dates

- November 18 – January 9: Internship applications accepted; interviews begin on a rolling basis

Applications must be submitted by 2:00 PM PT/5:00 PM ET on Friday, January 9.

(Please note that not all applicants will be selected for interviews.)

- January 12 – March 7: Interviews continue and offers extended

- June 10–12: Mandatory virtual onboarding and orientation

- June 15: Internship program begins

- August 7: Internship program concludes