About Us
Career Opportunities
Suburbs Alliance Jobs
No postings are open at this time.Suburbs Alliance Internships
Michigan Suburbs Alliance Mission
The Michigan Suburbs Alliance unites and strengthens metropolitan Detroit’s mature suburbs by elevating regional cooperation, reforming public policies and innovating redevelopment strategies.
Equal Opportunity Employment Policy
The Michigan Suburbs Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The organization is committed to maintaining a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. We recruit, hire, train and promote individuals in all positions without regard to race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, sexual orientation, national origin, age, sex, physical or mental disability, being a disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other eligible veteran. At the Suburbs Alliance, we are committed to a fair and equitable workplace where everyone is a respected and valued member of the team.
Organizational Background
The Michigan Suburbs Alliance, a nonprofit registered in the State of Michigan, was established by a group of mayors and city managers from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. These leaders gathered in 2002 and agreed to explore how they could work together to educate themselves and the public about the root causes of problems facing older, established suburbs. That year, representatives from fourteen metro Detroit suburban cities unanimously agreed to form the Michigan Suburbs Alliance.
Today, the Suburbs Alliance serves 1,400,000 citizens in 37 municipalities, including its 29 charter member cities. Its primary initiatives include the Millennial Mayors Congress, the Southeast Michigan Regional Energy Office, Redevelopment Ready Communities and UniverCities Connection.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Position: | Redevelopment Communications Internship |
| Employment Type: | Part-time, flexible schedule, min. 16 hrs/wk |
| Salary: | Unpaid |
| Location: |
Michigan Suburbs Alliance 300 East 9 Mile Road Ferndale, MI 48220 |
| How To Apply: | All applicants must submit a writing sample no longer than one page. Writing samples should express journalistic skill. Examples may include clips from a university paper, an electronic newsletter or blog, website or similar source. Email all materials to Melanie Piana at Melanie@suburbsalliance.org |
| Contact: |
Email Melanie Piana at Melanie@suburbsalliance.org or call the office at 248-546-2380 |
Internship Description
The Michigan Suburbs Alliance is seeking a motivated, detail-oriented individual to serve as a RRC Communications Intern. This individual should possess strong writing and editing skills, a desire to learn about city planning and an eagerness to offer thoughtful suggestions and critical analysis. The RRC Communications Intern works directly with the Suburbs Alliance’s Redevelopment Ready Communities® program with guidance from the MSA Communications Coordinator and RRC Program Director. The internship is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in forming a better understanding of how local governments work and enhancing their writer’s portfolio.
The successful candidate is well-organized, proactive, committed to regional issues and an experienced journalist. She or he should be able to balance organizational responsibilities with independent project management.
Anticipated Assignments
• Research city marketing, business retention and attraction strategies
• Write articles and press releases about redevelopment projects and changes in cities
• Interview city staff, developers and partners in preparing articles and news pieces
• Support RRC website management activities
• Help create RRC blog and write articles for blog
• Develop media contacts for outlets that will reach RRC’s primary audiences
• Update database with RRC and media contacts
• Attend meetings with project partners.
Qualifications
• Experience in writing for public audiences, via journalism, public relations or communications work
• Ability to balance multiple assignments and meet deadlines
• Positive attitude
• Independence tempered by the ability to follow direction and abide by a work plan
• Ability to interact professionally and communicate well with staff and associates
• Strong organizational skills evidencing attention to detail
• An excellent sense of humor (or at least the potential for one to develop)
Benefits to the Student
• Ability to develop your clips and publication credits
• Opportunities to network with a wide variety of stakeholders in the region
• Learn about redevelopment and how it relates to southeast Michigan and inner-ring suburbs
• Learn to create and implement solutions to key municipal challenges
• Fun and flexible work environment!
Hours
Hours will be flexible and determined based on the student’s schedule and availability. The position demands a minimum of 15 hours per week, some of which may be completed off-site.
Timeline
Positions are filled on a rolling basis.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Position: | Volunteer |
| Employment Type: | Voluntary (go figure!) |
| Salary: | Unpaid |
| Location: |
Michigan Suburbs Alliance 300 East 9 Mile Road Ferndale, MI 48220 |
| How To Apply: | Contact us, telling us your interests and scheduling needs |
| Contact: |
Email Monique Tucker at Monique@suburbsalliance.org or call the office at 248-546-2380 |
Interested in the work we are doing? Want to get involved? Great, we need you!
We are always seeking help, so if you want to experience first-hand the inner workings of the Suburbs Alliance, give us a holler! We have various tasks to dish out, so you're sure to find something that fits your fancy. Volunteering at the Suburbs Alliance is a convenient, enjoyable way to help us improve southeast Michigan's mature communities.
