Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA) has launched an internship program. Doing so serves joint purposes of cultivating the talent of young Richmonders around short term, action-oriented projects and also increasing visibility of RPA among Richmond youth. We are simultaneously creating opportunities for youth to work on emerging issues in a progressive political environment while also expanding RPA’s capacity. This small employment opportunity will enhance the local workforce and re-circulate money back into our own community through the hiring of Richmond youth.

Interns will develop leadership skills as they work alongside current RPA members. We know that intergenerational collaboration offers deep opportunities for reciprocal learning. As young people build skills and sharpen knowledge through exposure to the experiences of elder members, young people can bring welcome enthusiasm and tangible skills to our organization.

Benefits of this program are many, and hopefully will be mutually beneficial to the RPA, participating interns, and the broader community. 

We are proud to announce that we have hired Aleta Alston Toure’ (RPA Steering Committee Member) as Internship Coordinator, and are in the process of welcoming six interns for our first internship program ever.

Aleta Alston-Toure brings deep experience with activist groups such as (Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGM), California4Mumia, Reimagine Richmond, Vision Crew Youth Leadership Program, Grassroots Global Justice (GGJ), MIT Black DUSP Alumni Group, National Black Liberation Movement Network, National Lawyer’s Guild, Housing Now!, Black Alliance for Peace (BAP), African Healing Wisdom, It Is Our Duty! Broadcast, N’Cobra (Reparations), Climate Justice Alliance(CJA), EBDSA, Poor People’s Campaign, Ubuntu= Freedom, Red, Black and Green New Deal, National Jericho Movement, Liberated Minds Institute, It Takes Roots, Uhuru Movement, National People's Strike!, Parable of the Sower Intentional Community Cooperative, AfrocSoc (a component of Democratic Socialists of America), Black Lives Matter, New Jim Crow Movement, Southern Workers Assembly, Critical Resistance, New Economy Coalition, BIPOC Intentional Community Council, CA. Working Family Party, East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperation, Poor People’s Campaign, Western Movement Assembly and Southern Movement Assembly. 

She/they comes from a family of organizers, educators and politicians and identifies as "an organizer, strategist and mother". Aleta's progressive lens draws on Black Radical Tradition and global perspectives of grassroots liberation. Specific organizing efforts Aleta has been involved in include mobilizing at United Nations Hearings for Stand Your Ground legislation, speaking for the the group she co-lead Free Marissa Now, state capital legislation in Florida around the domestic violence victim, Marissa Alexander's freedom as well as legislation in Georgia around the case Trayvon Martin, where she started “I Am Troy Davis Movement.”  Aleta has done People’s Movement Assemblies (PMA)’s with several cities including Vallejo for Juneteenth local city hall legislation. Aleta hopes her/their interest in organizing BIPOC (black, indigenous and people of color) young people, distressed mothers and children, isolated elderly, unhoused/homeless and the working class coincides with RPA's interest in building the leadership of those who are most displaced.

If you are interested in learning more about the internship program, contact Aleta at [email protected]