National Grassroots Civic Leadership & Mental Health Internship Voice Up Publishing, Inc. Format: Remote (with optional local engagement) Schedule: Flexible Compensation: Academic Credit or Volunteer Contact: About Voice Up Voice Up Publishing, Inc. is a purpose-driven public health startup and grassroots movement focused on connecting people to purpose one conversation at a time. Grounded in doctoral research, Voice Up uses a human-centered approach to help individuals strengthen mental well-being and step into leadership within their communities. In just over a year, Voice Up has built a global network, reached communities across 250+ institutions, and documented measurable improvements in mental health outcomes. Internship Overview This internship supports a new national model for local elections helping everyday people in any city run for office and lead with purpose. Interns will work on real-world efforts to build grassroots campaigns that are simple, scalable, and rooted in community relationships. The model focuses on: Small core teams (3 5 people) Expanded community networks (10 20 people) Consistent, coordinated action Authentic, trust-based messaging At its core: Strong communities are built by people who show up. Key Responsibilities 1. Local Campaign Activation Support local candidates or emerging leaders Help build and grow small, engaged teams Assist with simple, repeatable campaign actions 2. Messaging & Storytelling Translate real conversations into clear, relatable messaging Support themes like leadership, responsibility, and community Help create authentic content for public engagement 3. Digital Engagement & Coordination Assist with social media and outreach strategies Help organize weekly actions and content schedules Support consistent communication across teams 4. Mental & Behavioral Health Integration Connect campaign efforts to real community well-being needs Support leaders focused on youth, families, and mental health Align messaging with public health principles 5. Research & Documentation Track what works across communities Gather feedback and insights Help build a scalable national model Learning Outcomes Interns will gain: Experience in local civic engagement and grassroots organizing Skills in communication, leadership, and strategy Understanding of mental health’s role in community leadership Experience applying research in real-world settings Ability to turn ideas into action in their own city Eligibility Open to students, professionals, and community members from any background. Relevant fields include: Public Health, Social Work, Psychology, Political Science, Communications, Education, Business, and Community Development. No prior political experience required. Ways to Participate Academic Credit: Coordinate with your institution Volunteer: Flexible, purpose-driven contribution Voice Up University: Structured learning + applied experience Structure 5 15 hours per week Weekly virtual check-ins Deliverables: Campaign support plan + community engagement summary Why This Matters Many communities need leaders who understand mental health and show up locally but potential leaders often lack support and structure. This internship provides a simple, scalable way for anyone, in any city, to help build campaigns and strengthen their community. How to Apply Email with: Name and background Participation track 2 3 sentence statement of interest Final Note This is a national movement with local impact built one conversation, one team, and one city at a time. This is not incidental. Financial stress has become one of the most consistent predictors of mental health strain in the United States and globally. Yet financial behavior is notoriously resistant to change. People avoid conversations about money, delay planning, and disengage from systems that feel overwhelming or opaque. Researchers have increasingly identified this as a behavioral paradox: the areas of life that most require consistent action health, finances, relationships are the very areas where avoidance is most likely. And avoidance, left unaddressed, becomes pattern. Seven Small Movements The first document introduces what might, at first glance, appear deceptively simple: a set of daily practices breathing, gratitude, nature, relationships, financial awareness, balance, belonging .