Overview

The 2026 Ellis Calvin Memorial Internship supports the New York and Housing & Neighborhood Planning teams on projects to address the region’s affordability crisis. A few topics may include, but are not limited to:

  • Research on how NYC can maximize the impact of the recent zoning changes and City Charter revisions

  • Comparative analysis of housing development trends and cost drivers in other cities regionally, nationally, and potentially internationally to better understand and identify strategies applicable in the NY market

Intern responsibilities may include:

  • Assisting with the development of policy reports, RPA Lab blog posts, digital communications assets, and presentations on the issue of housing, zoning, and affordability in New York

  • Conducting outreach and organizing meetings and interviews with private, public, and civic stakeholders and experts

  • Supporting external communications and coalition building initiatives, including the New York Neighbors coalition among others

  • Conducting in-depth data and systems analysis

  • Generating geospatial maps and other explanatory graphics

Qualifications

  • Recent graduate or current student in a Master’s program in a relevant field, such as urban planning, public policy, public health, economics, geography, political science, or environmental science

  • Strong writing and presentation skills

  • Ability to work well under deadlines

  • Demonstrated interest in urban planning and civics

  • Familiarity with Microsoft Excel, Adobe Creative Suite, GIS, or R is a plus

  • Experience with public outreach and engagement is a plus

The Ellis Calvin Memorial Internship honors and celebrates Ellis Calvin, RPA’s late Data Research Manager, whose passion for and dedication to rigorous analysis and equitable urban planning continues to inspire our work.

This 2026 position was made possible with generous support from Stephen Beckwith.

Commitment and Compensation

This is a paid, full-time internship. Summer internships are a minimum of 10 weeks between May and August, though start and end dates are flexible.

Depending on education level, interns are offered between $18-$22.50/hr. RPA also offers the opportunity for interns to participate in a wide variety of events with thought leaders from around the city and the globe. Unless otherwise specified, these positions are based at RPA’s New York Office at 1 Whitehall St, and a minimum of two days per week in the office is expected.

How to Apply

Please submit your cover letter, resume, and work sample as a single attachment. We encourage people from backgrounds and life experiences often underrepresented in the urban planning field to apply, including but not limited to individuals from working class communities, BIPOC communities, and the LGBTQIA+ community. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Because of the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to reply to every applicant. We kindly request no phone calls or email

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