Michigan Suburns Alliance    Michigan Suburbs Alliance

About Us

Career Opportunities

Suburbs Alliance Internships

Suburbs Alliance Positions

 

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.

 
INTERNSHIPS
Position: Millennial Mayors Congress Public Relations Intern
Employment Type: Part time, 15 hours per week, January-May 2012
Salary: Unpaid
Location: Michigan Suburbs Alliance
22757 Woodward Avenue, Suite 250
Ferndale, MI 48220
How To Apply: All applicants must submit a cover letter, resume and two writing samples by September 2, 2011.
Contact: Email application materials to Valerie Bieberich at internships@suburbsalliance.org.
Website: www.michigansuburbsalliance.org

Millennial Mayors Congress Public Relations Intern

The Millennial Mayors Congress public relations intern will help to publicize the Congress’s Millennial-driven vision for the metro Detroit region. Over the course of the winter semester, this intern will contribute to the Michigan Suburbs Alliance communications team by drafting and executing a media outreach strategy around the release of the Congress’s regional vision. The intern will also work with the communications team to research trends and best practices in digital and web-based public relations, contributing to the Suburbs Alliance’s long-term goal of enacting effective and innovative communications.
 
The Suburbs Alliance provides a fun and flexible work environment and offers professional experience in the world of nonprofits and local governments. The public relations intern will learn about regional policymaking in metro Detroit and will spearhead an effort to learn more about web-based media. He or she will have the opportunity to bring together a variety of stakeholders around the Congress’s regional vision for a more vibrant, sustainable metro Detroit. 
 
Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of Valerie Bieberich, Millennial Mayors Congress coordinator, the public relation intern’s primary responsibility is to enhance the public profile of the Millennial Mayors Congress and its regional vision. Among other duties, the intern will: 
  • Develop a public relations campaign around the Congress’s vision and activities;
  • Draft and edit supportive materials including press releases, pitch letters and media lists;
  • Monitor coverage and archive clips;
  • Conduct press outreach and follow up; and
  • Work with Suburbs Alliance public relations intern to research and develop best practices for digital press releases.
Applicant Qualifications
  • At least one year of post-secondary education; preference will be given to undergraduates with more than two years of post-secondary education or to graduate students;
  • Excellent writing skills; 
  • Creative and thorough research skills;
  • Comfort with a variety of social media outlets;
  • Working knowledge of basic PR pieces such as press kits and releases;
  • Experience in public relations and marketing; and
  • Available to work January-May 2012.

Application Procedure
Interested individuals should send a brief statement of interest, resume and two writing samples electronically in PDF format to internships@suburbsalliance.org. You may link to an online portfolio rather than including your writing samples as attachments. In the statement of interest, concisely describe your interest in the program and in our organizational mission, and explain why you are the best fit for this position. Resumes must show relevant experience. Writing samples should be approximately one to two pages and can include class papers (or excerpts), articles and short stories, though we prefer at least one press release, pitch letter or similar document. We will not review incomplete submissions.

Please download the full description for this position here.




Position: Media Relations Intern
Employment Type: Part time, 15 hours per week, January-May 2012
Salary: Unpaid
Location: Michigan Suburbs Alliance
22757 Woodward Avenue, Suite 250
Ferndale, MI 48220
How To Apply: All applicants must submit a cover letter, resume and two writing samples by September 2, 2011.
Contact: Email application materials to Hayley Roberts at internships@suburbsalliance.org.
Website: www.michigansuburbsalliance.org

Media Relations Intern
By working with the Michigan Suburbs Alliance, the media relations intern will enhance the media presence of the Suburbs Alliance, as well as its programs and impacts. Over the course of the winter semester, this intern will contribute to the communications team by drafting and editing press materials, conducting press outreach, and helping to develop the Suburbs Alliance approach to digital media relations. Ultimately, the intern will help the Suburbs Alliance achieve its mission of elevating the public dialogue about our region.
 
The Suburbs Alliance provides a fun and flexible work environment and offers professional experience in the world of nonprofits and local governments. The media relations intern will learn about a variety of issues in metro Detroit, will have the opportunity to apply their skills in every stage of the media relations process, and will spearhead an effort to learn more about web-based media relations for nonprofits. 
 
Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the communications director, the intern’s primary responsibility is to enhance the media presence of the Suburbs Alliance. Among other duties, the intern will: 
  • Create press kits for the Suburbs Alliance and signature programs;
  • Draft and edit supportive materials including press releases, pitch letters and media lists;
  • Monitor coverage and archive clips; and
  • Collaborate on report summarizing best practices in digital PR and providing recommendations for Suburbs Alliance practices. 
 
Applicant Qualifications
  • Superior writing skills with the ability to produce error-free copy on a deadline;
  • Working knowledge of basic PR pieces such as press kits and releases;
  • Creative and thorough research skills;
  • Ability to learn about a variety of issue areas;
  • Passion for metro Detroit and an interest in improving the region;
  • Organized and adept at time management; 
  • Able to stay on task and work with a team in a mobile office environment;
  • At least one year of post-secondary education; 
  • Experience working in digital media; and
  • Available to work January -- May 2012.

Application Procedure
Interested individuals should send a brief statement of interest, a resume and two writing samples electronically in PDF format to internships@suburbsalliance.org. You may link to an online portfolio rather than including your writing samples as attachments. In the statement of interest, concisely describe your interest in our organizational mission, and explain why you are the best fit for this position. Resumes should show relevant coursework or experience. Writing samples should be approximately one to two pages and can include class papers (or excerpts), articles and short stories, though we prefer at least one press release, pitch letter or similar document. We will not review incomplete submissions.
 
Please download the full description for this position here.

VOLUNTEERS

 
Position: Volunteer
Employment Type: Voluntary (go figure!)
Salary: Unpaid
Location: Michigan Suburbs Alliance
22757 Woodward Avenue
Suite 250
Ferndale, MI 48220
How To Apply: Contact us, telling us your interests and scheduling needs
Contact:

Email Monique Tucker at Monique@suburbsalliance.org
Website: www.michigansuburbsalliance.org

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.

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