CEEP Research offer Scholars the opportunity to work closely with leaders in both academia and the professional world on the mentor’s specific research project.  This research relationship often leads to publication as co-authors, published acknowledgements, presentations at international symposia, and even employment opportunities.  Interns have been acknowledged in The Edge of Disaster by Stephen Flynn, Sr. Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations and Former Director of Global Issues, National Security Council Staff, Clinton Administration.  Scholars have also been named as co-authors in the published works of Dr. Ernest Drucker (Epidemiologist and CUSP Board Member) on both HIV/AIDS and the Rockefeller Drug Laws.

• Citizens Crime Commission of NYC Research Internship on Juvenile Justice
• “Leading the Way: A Tribute to Women of the 20th Century” The Mireille Miller Internship
• The Aspen Institute Research Internship

CITIZENS CRIME COMMISSION OF NYC RESEARCH INTERNSHIP ON JUVENILE JUSTICE

The Citizens Crime Commission is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization working to reduce crime and to improve the criminal justice system and the safety of New York City. In the last two decades, the commission has been a leading advocate on key issues such as: sentencing reform, reducing jail overcrowding, creating alternatives to incarceration, creating community courts, judicial reform, improving police management, and developing more effective police tactics. During the high-crime years of the 1980s and early 1990s, the commission urged lawmakers to reform the criminal justice and legal systems so that they could better respond to the escalating levels of violence and disorder. Most recently, the commission has successfully supported the greater use of DNA evidence in crime fighting, brought attention to the dangers inherent in the rise of juvenile crime, developed interventions against gun violence and highlighted the changing nature of the threat of terrorism. Currently, the commission is particularly interested in the New York City’s juvenile justice system, in light of recent increases in crime among the juvenile population both locally and nationwide. This is in part because increased juvenile crime can be viewed as a harbinger of crime increases in the general population, as was seen during the most recent national crime wave. Specifically, the commission seeks to address the question of how government, law-enforcement, criminal justice, and community-based measures can work more effectively to prevent juveniles from committing crimes. More information on the commission is available online at www.nycrimecommission.org.

Research interns play a major role in the research, analysis and writing of a report on the current state of New York City’s juvenile justice system and recommendations for its improvement. The report that will be published by the commission will be circulated to governmental leaders, policy makers, the press and posted online The goal is to report on the current state of juvenile justice, identify deficiencies, if any, develop a reform agenda and then actively seek to convert the reform agenda into actual policy.

The internship provides the opportunity to learn about the criminal justice system in New York City, with a focus on the juvenile justice process, while also offering direct insight and participation in the policy-making process.  It is the current intention of the commission to immediately seek implementation of the reform agenda upon completion of the report. Any interns who successfully complete the research and writing process will be strongly considered for involvement in the reform implementation phase, should the intern so desire.  As such it would be especially suitable for students considering work in the legal, government, public policy or similar fields. Students in any current field of study will be considered for this position.

“LEADING THE WAY: A TRIBUTE TO WOMEN OF THE 20TH CENTURY” THE MIREILLE MILLER INTERNSHIP

“Leading the Way: A Tribute to Women of the 20th Century is my most important project to date.  It is a story that aims to instruct, to inspire and to increase awareness of women’s essential contribution to our societies past and present.  In illuminating this cast of historical characters, some known, some obscure, I plan to lend support to Women’s Issues, Human Rights and to further cultural exchange.”-Mireille Miller

Any student interested in art, sociology, anthropology, history, political science, human rights, women’s studies, gender theory, literature, and creative writing will find working closely with an internationally recognized artist and contributing to this creative project extremely exciting and fulfilling.

In March 2006, Mireille Miller’s 18ft oil painting triptych, Leading the Way: A Tribute to Women of the 20th Century was chosen by the United Nations to commemorate the 50th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.  Exhibited in the ante-chamber of the General Assembly, Miller’s large-scale group portrait includes 160 extraordinary women of the 20th century and is comprised of three panels, each 65 inches by 72 inches. Most of the women depicted in her work of art transcended a barrier, sometimes many barriers, to give back and enrich the lives of all humanity.  The painting reconfigures and compresses history, bringing together a wealth of female genius and talent that has never been conceptualized on canvas.  It offers a fresh perspective on the collective history of the world which to date has largely been told through the triumphs and defeats of men. In July 2006, the Division for the Advancement of Women invited Mireille to take the exhibition of Leading the Way: A Tribute to Women of the 20th Century to the United Nations in Geneva’s Palais des Nations on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Commission on the Status of Women. 

Interns participate in the creation of a book that will travel alongside the exhibit and serve both as a companion piece for the triptych and a stand alone reference book and gift item.  Although essential biographical data will be included, this unique book’s main feature will be the selection of one quote from each woman that encapsulates her essence and defines her, thus serving as a caption to the full color reproduction of her individual portrait as painted in the triptych.  The book is estimated to be 125 pages in length and will present all 160 featured women.  A foreword will be written by a renowned figure of the 20th century.  With the expectation of taking the exhibit on tour internationally, the book is expected to be translated into several languages including French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish.   Interns conduct extensive research, including personal interviews where possible, on the lives and chosen fields of work of these remarkable women in order to find the single quote that best defines each woman.  Interns are responsible for presenting a few quote options and then defending their choices based on each woman’s biographical, cultural, political, and socio-economic background.  In order to justify their final selections, interns must research and cross reference materials extensively and carefully.  
Students meet with Mireille Miller in her studio on a regular basis - both individually and as a group to discuss their results and how they can all be woven into the exhibit’s companion book.

THE ASPEN INSTITUTE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP

The Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership and open-minded dialogue. The Initiative on Financial Security (IFS) is one of over a dozen Aspen Institute policy programs that seek to improve public and private sector policy decision-making by providing a neutral venue for leaders to engage in informed inquiry on complex, important issues of our time.  Savings policy has moved to the forefront of public discourse as the U.S. personal savings rate has dropped to zero and domestic policy attention is focused on issues such as pension reform, Social Security and the cost of health care. The mission of IFS is to examine solutions to this savings crisis so that more Americans can own homes, finance college, start businesses and prepare for a secure retirement. Members of IFS’ Advisory Board include CEOs and senior executives from The Capital Group, Goldman Sachs, ING Financial Services, Bank of America, H&R Block, Shorebank, and the Urban Institute, among others.  The intern is exposed to the various activities of a think tank (research, events and publications) and develops organizational, research, and communications skills. S/he will also learn about the development of roundtable events both in terms of content and logistics, as well as major issues in American savings policy.