Interns

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CALL FOR INTERNS!

Free-market think tank seeks student interns

2017-18 INTERNSHIP Opportunities: Virtual positions available (contact the Center for more details)

THE RI CENTER FOR FREEDOM & PROSPERITY, Rhode Island’s premier public policy education and research center, seeks ambitious students who would like to sharpen their writing, debating, researching, media and event-organizing skills and learn more about state and local government. If you have a strong interest in political science, public policy, economics, business, history, English, journalism or communications, we encourage you to apply for a RI CENTER FOR FREEDOM internship today.

The ideal intern has above-average writing and/or editing skills and a basic understanding of current events; knowledge of contemporary RI and American history is helpful. A valued quality is an appreciation for – and understanding of – individual liberty, the free market, property rights, and limited government. Intern responsibilities may include: writing for publication, light public policy research, administrative tasks, editing RI CENTER FOR FREEDOM publications, and event planning.

Internship hours are flexible; they can be tailored to fit school, athletic and work schedules. Internships are unpaid positions; however, the RI CENTER FOR FREEDOM will, to the best of its ability, work with those students who wish to receive academic credit for their internship. Additionally, the CENTER FOR FREEDOM offers its assistance in obtaining internships with market-oriented organizations in Washington, DC and around the country. Further, the CENTER will provide information about seminars and scholarship opportunities open to students interested in the principles of liberty.

To apply for a ‘virtual office’ internship, please complete the following steps:

  1. Prepare and send to rifreedom.org a minimum 400 word cover letter describing why it is personally and professionally important for you to work with an organization like ours that seeks to advance individual, economic, and educational liberty.
  2. Send your updated resume to the same email
  3. In addition to your cover letter, suggest specific initiatives of the Center, or issues that are of particular interest to you, that you might wish to work on during your internship, and why you believe your are a good fit for that task.

For more information about the internship and THE RI CENTER FOR FREEDOM & PROSPERITY, please contact the CENTER at info@rifreedom.org .

 

Media Event: Report Cards passed out today at Statehouse

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MEDIA EVENT

WHAT:    State Report Cards Handed Out
WHEN:    Thursday, February 16, 3pm-4pm
WHERE:  RI Statehouse Rotunda

Providence, RI — Legislators, staffers, and passers-by will have their competitiveness report cards handed out to them this afternoon at the Statehouse, but it is doubtful that many will want to take them home, as the Ocean State has graded 28 Fs, 11 Ds, 9 Cs, and just 1 A.

The Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity, which released the Report Card on Rhode Island Competitiveness on Tuesday, will be at the Capitol from 3pm-4pm this afternoon (Thursday) handing out hard-copies. The media is invited to attend to talk to citizens as they receive their report cards, or to ask questions of the Center’s CEO, Mike Stenhouse. The public is also welcome to attend and receive a copy.

 “This dismal report card represents a general failure, both on behalf of legislators who have allowed our tax and regulatory structure to become so utterly non-competitive with our neighboring states, and on behalf of voters who have been asleep at the switch”, said Stenhouse. “There has been a very strong response to the report card from citizens, advocacy groups, and even from the RI-GOP, which chose to include our report card at their recent press conference as evidence of the decrepit state our economy. I think it will be interesting to see how some of our citizens react.”

The complete report card, with data sources and notes, can be downloaded from the Center’s website at http://www.rifreedom.org/2012/02/rhody-fails-report-card/  .

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The Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity is the state’s leading free-enterprise public policy think tank. Non-partisan, yet firm in its belief that freedom is indispensable to citizens’ well-being and prosperity, the Center for Freedom’s mission is to restore competitiveness to Rhode Island through the advancement of market-based reform solutions.

The Report Card was reviewed and edited by nationally renowned economist, Scott Moody, who will not be on hand at today’s event.

 

Student Essay Contest

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In honor of Milton Friedman, an American icon for economic and educational freedom, the RI Center for Freedom and Prosperity invites high school students to submit an essay portraying their views about how freedom can enhance their lives.

Topic:  HOW IS FREEDOM INDISPENSABLE TO YOUR FUTURE WELL-BEING AND PROSPERITY? 

Successful essays will discuss generally how federal, state, or local public policy may serve to enhance or detract from your capacity to live the American dream and to pursue a free and prosperous life.

Essays should also comment on a specific public policy that restricts your freedom to prosper and should also discuss how changes to that public policy would enhance your personal freedoms in a positive way. References should also be made to the corresponding philosophies of Dr. Friedman.

Be sure to personalize your essay so that your individual aspirations or concerns are considered. Cite original sources when referring to specific legislation, reports, or political philosophies.

 

SUBMIT YOUR ESSAY

TO ENTER * Submit your essay before December 15, 2011 to:info@rifreedom.org . Your entire essay, citations, and personal information must be ‘pasted’ into the main body of your email for submission. Entries with file attachments will not be accepted or opened and will be automatically disqualified.

Also provide the following personal information: full name, email address, city of residence, high school and grade.

You may also enter by mailing your essay prior to December 15, 2011, with the above personal information to: RI Center for Freedom and Prosperity, PO BOX 10069, Cranston, RI 02910.

ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS * The contest is open to any student enrolled in grades 9-12 in a public or private high school, or home school, in Rhode Island during the 2011-2012 academic year. Employees of the RI Center for Freedom, its PR agency, participating sponsors and promotional partners including television or radio stations, and the members of their immediate families (and/or households) are not eligible to participate or win.

CONDITIONS * By participating in the contest, winners agree to have their essay content used in any material relating to this contest. Where legal, parents will be asked to sign a publicity release permitting release of the student’s name prior to acceptance of any prize. * Prior to awarding any prize, the Center for Freedom in its sole discretion may require contest winner to sign a liability release, agreeing to hold the RI Center for Freedom and Prosperity and its directors, employees, agents and representatives of each of them harmless against any and all claims or liability arising directly or indirectly from the prize or participation in the contest. * The RI Center for Freedom reserves the right to disqualify any person tampering with the entry process. It further reserves the right to cancel, terminate or modify the contest if it is not capable of completion as planned.

PILLAR OF FREEDOM AWARD

Up to 10 essays will be selected as finalists and reviewed in greater detail. In order to be considered for one of the top 3 winning spots, all finalists will be required to submit proof of school enrollment as well as to have parents sign a release form that authorizes the RI Center for Freedom and Prosperity to utilize content from the student’s essay.

First, second, and third place winners will be announced during January of 2012. Winners will receive a “Pillar of Freedom” award and a brand new I-Pad. This prestigious award recognizes contributions by citizens who have advanced the concept of personal freedom for Rhode Islanders.

Winners will also be invited to read their essays, live on the Helen Glover radio show on WHJJ 920 AM; and will have their essays published on the RI Center for Freedom and Prosperity website.

Donated products or cash scholarship prizes may also be awarded.

Essays will be judged by a special committee of RI Center for Freedom staff and volunteers.

NOTIFICATION OF WINNERS: Winners will be announced on the RI Center for Freedom and Propserity Facebook page and on the Helen Glover radio show in January 2012. You do not have to be listening to win.

All qualified entrants who submitted their essays via email will receive an email notification upon announcement of the winners.