Media & Communications Fellow (Remote / Bay Area Preferred)

SkunkWorks began as a bold idea inside San Quentin what if incarceration could become a launchpad for change? Founded by incarcerated people and built in partnership with outside professionals, we’ve grown into a nationally recognized innovation lab inside prison walls. Our goal is simple but radical transform the justice system by centering the leadership of the people most impacted by it. We design and test solutions inside—and then work to scale them beyond the walls. Our programs put incarcerated leadership into practice. We reclaim prison spaces with murals that restore dignity, run intensive leadership trainings that prepare incarcerated people to guide reform, and host monthly gaming events that bring more than 150 people together across divides. Each project is a live experiment in building a justice system that works better for everyone. We’ve been featured in CalMatters, the front page of the LA Times, and are backed by CDCR. But our biggest achievement? Building a movement where incarcerated people lead—and the world listens. , Help shape the story of criminal justice reform from inside California’s most famous prison. San Quentin SkunkWorks—an incarcerated-led innovation lab—is seeking Media & Communications Fellows to join a statewide storytelling campaign supporting the rollout of the California Model. Work alongside communications leader Natalia Wodecki and global artists eL Seed, FaithXLVII, and Zio Ziegler to influence how the nation understands incarceration, art, and policy change. Our work has been featured in CalMatters, The LA Times, Chess.com, and syndicated across half a dozen other outlets this year. Few opportunities give you the chance to shape how a state reimagines incarceration — this is one of them. You’ll help coordinate stories and press campaigns involving global artists eL Seed, FaithXLVII, Zio Ziegler and others, in partnership with the Governor’s Office, the Mayor of San Francisco, UC Irvine’s Dr. Constance Steinkuehler, and other cultural and policy leaders What You’ll Do

• Support media outreach research journalists, track coverage, prepare media/influencer lists.
• Draft and refine press materials media alerts, briefing docs, tailored media pitches, fact sheets, and follow-ups.
• Assist with spokesperson prep and media training.
• Help coordinate interviews and press logistics with artists and policymakers.
• Shape stories and marketing communications for newsletters, website, and social media.
• Collaborate with the inside team to align message and mission.

What You’ll Gain

• You’ll gain real experience in policy communications and social-impact strategy, building a portfolio that demonstrates your ability to move public narratives at a systems level.
• Mentorship from a global comms leader.
• Hands-on experience managing earned & paid media campaigns with a variety of media including tier one outlets.
• Exposure to cross-sector storytelling (art, justice reform, research).
• A powerful portfolio with real public impact.