Student Internship Opportunities
Maryland Commission on Human Relations (MCHR)
Mediation Program
6 St. Paul Street, Suite 900 Baltimore, MD 21202
410-767-8600
The Maryland Commission on Human Relations (MCHR) is an independent state agency that serves individual, business, community, and government concerns throughout the State. The Commission’s mandate is to protect legally defined groups, develop bias-free selection, hiring, retention, and promotion procedures by employers; increase housing opportunities to all groups in Maryland; ensure equal access to public accommodations and services; increase knowledge and understanding of anti-discrimination laws and help to improve human relations within the State. The mission of the Commission is to ensure equal opportunity to all through enforcement of Maryland’s laws against discrimination in employment, public accommodations and housing; to provide educational and outreach services related to the provision of this law; and to promote and improve human relations in Maryland.
The Commission receives complaints directly from individuals who believe they are victims of unlawful discrimination and also processes complaints for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The majority of cases are employment related complaints filed by employees and potential employees in both the private and public sectors. Disputing parties are offered an opportunity to voluntarily choose to mediate their complaints before and/or during any investigative process.
The Agency’s Mediation Program is active across the State and trains and maintains a roster of over 130 volunteer mediators to mediate cases. The Mediation Unit staff are actively involved in several State alternative dispute resolution programs, committees and organizations and are often directly involved in collaborating with other programs, organizations and individuals in developing mediator standards, continuing educational opportunities, ethical guidelines, mentoring opportunities, diversity efforts and other mediator quality assistance efforts.
MCHR offers a unique opportunity for students to take their classroom learning and theory studies and practically apply that knowledge in a real conflict resolution program. Student interns have the opportunity to be involved in some or all of the following during their
internship:
• Conducting case intake and managing their own mediation case load
• Contacting parties to offer and explain mediation services
• Scheduling and setting up mediation sessions
• Observing and co-mediating cases
• Debriefing mediations and receiving feedback from Mediation Unit staff and other program mediators
• Working with legal and investigations staff on various cases
• Assisting with the development of and provision of mediator trainings/workshops/seminars as well as attending trainings provided by the Commission
• Attending ADR related committee or task group meetings including Maryland Shared Neutrals Program, Maryland Roster Managers Committee, Maryland Program for Mediator Excellence work groups, Bar Association functions or events, etc.
• Conducting program outreach to expand program services throughout Maryland, when applicable
• Conducting other outreach and public relations functions including but not limited to creating or contributing to quarterly unit newsletters, writing articles for newsletters, updating website, developing promotional and marketing materials and other assigned duties
• Providing mediator coaching and instruction during a 40-hour mediation training (summer/fall externships only), assisting with other mediator trainings and possibly providing coaching and feedback to new volunteer mediators, depending on intern’s experience level
• Working on other special projects assigned by program director such as analyzing and creating new program forms, compiling and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data from program evaluations, developing new roster maintenance projects, working on volunteer appreciation and/or recognition efforts, etc.
Intern applicants must be available to work in the Baltimore MCHR office for a minimum of 10 hours per week during regular business hours (8a – 6p) Monday – Fridays. Students who can devote more than 10 hours per week may be given preference and would allow for the student to be more involved in various aspects of the program. The hours are flexible and can be arranged with the Mediation Program Director, although it is preferred for the student to spread out their hours to be in the office at least 2 days per week.
*Completion of basic or beginning mediation training or class (including role play practice) is preferred but not required.
Intern applicants will be asked to submit a resume, copies of any mediation or ADR training certificates/course transcripts/letter of completion, and the name and phone number of a professional or academic reference person at the time of application. Phone and in-person interviews will be required.
MCHR internships are unpaid and the Commission does not provide parking.
Students who are interested can feel free to contact the Mediation Program Director, Tara Taylor, at 410-767-6459 or ttaylor@mail.mchr.state.md.us to discuss internship openings.
More information on the MCHR is available on our website at www.mchr.maryland.gov
