Interested in interning for the Communities Conference?
Objective of the internship
To support the logistics coordination and organizing of three major conferences held at Twin Oaks: the Queer Gathering, the Women’s Gathering, and of course the Communities Conference. Depending on when the intern arrives, their preferences, and the needs of conferences, they may work on 1, 2, or all 3 of these events. In addition the intern will participate in the diverse tasks of running the community—including (but not limited to) gardening, woodworking, cooking, child care, weaving hammocks, business management, making tofu, building buildings, conference organizing.
Job/Task Description and Responsibilities
Corresponding with conference attendees, Pre- and On-site Registration, doing PR mailings to the people in our database, setting up workshop schedule with presenters, organizing activities during the conferences, contacting like-minded organizations and communities, preparing food for 200+ attendees, preparing rustic conference site for conference and more! Interns can work on all or some of the above tasks. Work for the conferences will be increased steadily as a fraction of the total work week (42 hours), the rest of the work week will be spent in other community work areas (domestic and/or income producing).
What will the intern learn during the internship?
Logistics coordination for large events, including cooperative decision-making, public relations skills, coordinating activities, managing detailed administrative work, interpersonal skills, large-group food preparation, etc. There is a wide range of other things which an intern might learn (there are over 200 tasks scheduled weekly in the community) from bee keeping to software development, from cheese making to retail sales and lots in between.
What Does An Intern Do?
Both Members and Interns work 42 hours a week in a variety of work areas in the community–this could include jobs like making tofu or hammocks, gardening, milking cows, office work, etc. The main difference between an Intern and a Member is that the Intern has a specific work area in which they spend 5-20 hours a week ie an Intern will spend up to half of their work hours focused in their area of Internship.
Once a person becomes an Intern, all basic living costs on site are covered (food, housing, work clothing, etc). Interns have full access to Twin Oaks facilities, and to social and cultural events. Minimal health care is provided by the community; interns with regular health insurance should hold on to it. Interns receive the same monthly cash stipend as members, currently about $100 as of spring 2025.
Applicant requirements
- self-motivated and self-starting
- willingness to work cooperatively
- good communicator
- good-natured flexibility
- creative thinking
- problem-solving skills
- calm under pressure
- computer/social networking/media
- practical hands-on skills(can handle a hammer, drill, etc., experience in kitchens or art/design)
- project management skills
- experienced in organizing events
- interest in radical politics—feminism, alternative culture, community living
- comfortable in a rustic outdoor setting
- comfortable working with people of diverse ages, races, and sexualities
- for Women’s Gathering interns—comfortable in a diverse women’s/feminist culture
Other details
Each intern will have a private bedroom in one of our residential buildings. The intern will complete a three-week visitor period during which time they will learn the basics and most important aspects of our systems and culture alongside beginning their usual work.
Following this visitor period, the community will accept the intern for the agreed-upon period of the internship provided that the intern has demonstrated an ability and willingness to live and work within the norms and expectations of the community.
All interns have access to internet; learning about our decision making; access to community resources and facilities such as our wood shop; recreation including yoga, pond activities, canoes, dances, parties, films, and more.
To Apply
Fill out the Intern Info Form here LINK. We encourage and welcome applicants of any race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, class, religion, ability, or ideology to apply for this position. We actively seek applicants who identify as BIPOC, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and persons with disabilities.
If you have questions about the application process, you can email us at to.communities.conference@gmail.com