About the role#
The AARP Oregon team is seeking a Community Engagement Intern for Spring 2027. This role focuses on grassroots organizing, volunteer engagement, and event planning to support initiatives like family caregiving, financial resilience, and livable communities. You will work on real-world projects that aim to improve lives as people age.
What you'll do#
- Assist with outreach and advocacy efforts for key AARP priorities.
- Collaborate with staff and volunteers to execute public meetings and community gatherings.
- Support communications strategies to build awareness and grow event audiences.
- Partner with volunteer leaders to build community presence and mobilize teams.
- Analyze data, draft reports, and create visual presentations to communicate findings.
- Participate in team meetings and strategy discussions.
- Provide logistical support for both remote and in-person events throughout Oregon.
What you'll need#
- Enrollment in a degree program as a rising undergraduate junior or senior, graduate student, or post-doctoral student at an accredited college or university. Alternatively, you may have graduated and be enrolled in a continuing education program.
- Pursuing a degree in public health, public administration, public policy, communications, political science, gerontology, or a related field.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs and Zoom.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and discern work priorities.
- Experience working with diverse populations across age, gender, race, and sexual orientation.
- Ability to work effectively in a home office environment.
- Experience in event planning, volunteer engagement, or organizing is preferred.
- Skills in video editing, Canva, or social media management are a plus.
- Regular and reliable job attendance is required.
Location & details#
- Location: Portland, Oregon.
- Modality: Hybrid.
- Term: Spring 2027.
- Compensation: $18 per hour for undergraduates, $21 per hour for graduate students, and $28 per hour for Ph.D. candidates.
- This is a paid, full-time position. AARP does not provide employment visa sponsorship for this role.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit organization founded in 1958 that focuses on social issues affecting people aged 50 and older. It operates with a staff of over 6,000 employees and maintains a presence in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization conducts advocacy work and provides information on topics including health security, financial resilience, and personal fulfillment. It also produces a large-circulation magazine.
How to get in at AARP
Securing an internship at AARP requires a proactive approach because roles often fill quickly. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, which helps you apply among the first before the candidate pool grows too large. Being an early applicant ensures your materials are reviewed before the pile becomes unmanageable. You can gain an edge by identifying the specific recruiters behind these roles through Intern Insider. Reaching out directly to ask about the position or to request a referral often improves your response rates compared to submitting an application into a general queue.


