Social Equity Research & Storytelling Intern Associate

Position at Ashoka

About Ashoka

Ashoka invests in people who see the world not as it is, but as it could be; who seek to change a broken system instead of letting it continue. We call them social entrepreneurs, and over the past 35 years, we have supported more than 3,800 Ashoka Fellows as leading social entrepreneurs in 70 countries. Our work is based on a fundamental insight: Behind every social innovation, there are human beings. Supporting the best of them, and connecting them with a network of peers, is the most effective way to bring about social change.  Our vision is a world where everyone is a changemaker – a world where everyone has the skill and confidence to drive social change and is committed to the good of all.

Diversity is a core value at Ashoka and in the [team]. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working and learning environment for all Ashoka staff. We believe every member of our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions.

About Ashoka Changemakers

Ashoka Changemakers is building a global movement where anyone, anywhere, can take action to solve a social problem in in their community. We work to build this movement by supporting social entrepreneurs, innovators, business leaders, policy makers, and activists who are changemaking, by delivering ground-breaking analysis, by accelerating intrepreneurship, and creating strong partnerships that will drive the movement forward.

Our Theory of Change

Much like what we did with the field of social entrepreneurship, we are seeking to drive a mindset shift in society by helping people see differently. To do this, we are taking collective action with powerful players in education, government, and media who are equally dedicated to our Everyone a Changemaker vision. We cannot reach every child ourselves, but by activating a carefully selected cross-cutting network of collaborators, we can set in motion an irreversible shift towards a future where everyone understands that empathy and changemaking are essential to a child’s success in growing up.

Why is Social Equity Important?

Equity is imperative for a just and fair society as it ensures that everyone has equal access to opportunities and resources.

When there is equity, everyone can reach their full potential and contribute to society, leading to greater stability, economic prosperity, and well-being for all.

What is Emerging Social Equity Work?

We are a group within Ashoka exploring the possibility of a new organizational “purpose” focused on social equity. We will begin our journey with a global focus on social equity in the context of race, ethnicity, and caste. We aim to create community and to identify principles and patterns that embody the power of equity and co-create strategies to contribute to the field.

We will begin with interviews with Ashoka Staff, Fellows, Young Changemakers, and community partners whose work drive equity, impacting economics, health, education, faith, and democracy.

We will identify and share patterns of solutions and innovations that intersect with gender, class, migration, climate, and democracy through the Social Equity Roundtable Discussion series connecting our network and thought leaders in our fields of discovery.

The work will culminate with two Social Equity workshops to apply our learnings to co-create new frame-change principles and develop prototypes to identify and support groundbreaking innovations that foster EACH to generate a pipeline of solutions that disrupt systems and foster equity.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a researcher with a passion for equity that aligns with our vision of a world where everyone is valued, powerful, & empowered to contribute to the common good, a concept we call EACH, short for an Everyone a Changemaker world.

The Social Equity Research & Storytelling Associate (Intern) will research the topic of social equity, identify leaders in the field, and support the knowledge development work through storytelling.

This work will provide the opportunity to connect with Ashoka’s global network of innovators tackling complex societal issues and driving systemic change including Ashoka Fellows, Ashoka Young Changemakers, and other leading entrepreneurs, funders, media influences, academics, and government officials working to address social and structural inequality.

As the Social Equity Research Associate, you will:

• Compile a database of Ashoka Fellows working on issues related to equity.
• Support the organization of and management of interviews and the drafting of interview scripts.
• Support the synthesis of research findings and the distillation of key insights through storytelling.
• Support the development of the roundtables by identifying qualified speakers.
• The main deliverables will include:
• Identify 50 Ashoka Fellows working in the field of equity
• Draft the scripts for 10 interviews
• Distill insights from 15 stakeholder interviews in storytelling format
• Identify 10 speakers for each roundtable

Time Commitment:

• Estimated hours of commitment per week: 20
• Time period March 2023 – August 2023

Experience:

We are looking for a curious mind with a passion for discovery on the topics demonstrated by research experience. The ideal candidate is also an analytical ninja with a talent for turning data into insights and experience developing high-quality research papers/reports on issues related to this work. We are also looking for an emerging storyteller who can bring this research to life through compelling narratives, knowing how to turn research into real-world impact by articulating complex information into actionable insights. In short, we are looking for someone willing to do the mundane work of research for the opportunity to practice their storytelling skills for social impact and community building.

Benefits:

Although this Is an unpaid position, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to support innovative social justice work while making valuable connections in the field. Prospects will gain skills and knowledge by working with influential global leaders in social enterprise, philanthropy, government, and advocacy.

For those looking for employment in this space, the role provides the chance to test drive your career path, giving you the confidence to pursue your passions by working on an initiative that will make a real impact.

Considering the quality of your work, we can support your career advancement by providing references, connections, and the opportunity to build a portfolio of work and invaluable experience to stand out from your peers in a crowded job market.    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

We are committed to ensuring a team culture of respect, wellbeing, and empathy with special attention and care to create a space where all are valued and included, understanding the value of diversity and how it is crucial to innovation and a world where everyone contributes to changemaking.

Our Team

Diversity is a core value at Ashoka and in the [team]. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working and learning environment for all Ashoka staff. We believe every member of our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions.

Other Values:

• Creators of solutions

• Work with integrity and transparency

• Lead with empathy

• We are playful and have fun

• An eye for discovery, wonder, and innovation

• Own our leadership