Duration

• 5/11/26-8/21/26.

The Position

The American Heart Association’s California Tobacco Endgame Center for Organizing & Engagement is seeking a motivated, community-centered Summer Intern to support grassroots organizing and local tobacco policy efforts across California. This internship is ideal for students who are passionate about community power-building, and policy change.

Responsibilities

• Attend and participate in the annual Capitol Information & Education Days event in Sacramento, May 11-12, 2026, including preparation and on-site engagement.

• Attend community coalition meetings and public forums with California Tobacco Prevention Program Funded projects working on local tobacco policy campaigns.

• Assist with and help facilitate Tobacco Endgame Center–sponsored trainings on topics such as community organizing, spokesperson development, and decision-maker engagement.

• Support the development of training materials, slide decks, and resources for local and statewide trainings and monthly Affinity Calls.

• Help monitor local tobacco policy campaigns across California to provide assistance, training, and resources to these efforts.

Requirements

• Candidates who are seniors or graduate students pursuing a masters degree in political science, public policy, communications, public health, or related fields.
• Experience in grassroots community organizing, community engagement, public policy, and/or an interest in non-profit advocacy is required.
• Experience building or supporting relationships with community-based organizations, coalition building, tobacco prevention, decision-maker engagement, or community stakeholders is strongly preferred.

• Intermediate to excellent level of proficiency with software, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Strong written, verbal, and public speaking skills, with the ability to engage professionally in virtual and in-person settings.

Benefits

• Compensation and Performance – Attracting talented, committed interns means offering competitive compensation, ongoing professional development and training, and an environment in which to work and grow. And we do.

• Professional Development – You can join one of our many Employee Resource Groups (ERG) or be a mentor/mentee in our professional mentoring program. Heart U is the Association’s national online university, with more than 100,000 resources designed to meet your needs and busy schedule.

• Healthcare Benefits – You will have the opportunity to participate in our Teladoc General Medical and Behavioral Health programs. We also provide access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at no cost as a confidential program designed to assist employees and family members with personal issues that affect their relationships at home or at work.

Company

Since our founding in 1924, we've cut cardiovascular disease deaths in half, but there is still so much more to do. To overcome today’s biggest health challenges and accelerate this progress, we need passionate individuals like you. Join our movement, be part of the progress, and help ensure a healthier future for all. You matter, and so does the impact you can make with us.