Swing Semester will guide you to where the action is this fall. We educate you on your job options and support you in getting a paid position with a group doing get-out-the-vote work. Then when you’re there, we make sure you have the context, resources, and community to make this fall unforgettable.

Swing Semester 2008 is for anyone, 18-26, whether or not you have prior experience in organizing. Our Denver community began at the beginning of September, and our Cincinnati program opened up a few weeks later.

Work for Something you Believe In. Our participants are currently doing important progressive work through NARAL, Working America, Sierra Club, ACORN, as well as candidate campaigns. Swing Semester will not GIVE you a job, but we do HELP you get one, and do so quickly.

Stay with a Friendly Host Family. In addition to housing you for free, your progressive host family can bring you up to speed on the local issues, culture, and flavor.

Build a Community. In addition to Swing Semester 2008 events, we’ll keep you informed of trainings, service opportunities, concerts, and other happenings around town.

Learn Something Neat. Engage with some of the hottest ideas in progressive politics through a series of reading groups with your fellow participants and hosts.

Create Projects and Events in your City. We provide guidance and mini-grants for you to create a project or event that furthers the progressive education and activity of your swing state community. Host a film screening or get a busload of people to register voters at a rock concert – all on our dime.

Earn Academic Credit. If you’re currently taking time off from school (or still thinking about it), we can help you navigate your school’s system and gain academic credit, usually 3 to 9 credits.

Build Networks for the Future. You’ll be building long-term relationships while working, learning, and celebrating with other young people, host families, and leaders in your community.

PROGRAM FEE
As a Swing Semester 2008 participant, you agree to pay (or raise) a program fee.  This fee covers job counseling and help securing a paying job, housing in a private room with a host family, community events and reading groups, on-the-ground support, and funds for organizing civic education projects.

Swing Semester charges a program fee of $50.

Don’t let the program fee keep you out of the game. We also offer NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS and a PERSONALIZED DONATE PAGE to support you in raising the money from your networks. Plus, we may be able to help get you to your program city for free.

JOIN US
Swing Semester 2008 will be a collaborative and unforgettable experience. But don’t take OUR word for it…read what the 2004 participants had to say.

Read our full Program Details and Participant Requirements.

THIS SOUNDS GREAT!
Fantastic. Fill out the form on the next page and let us know a little about you.

Participate

I’M INTERESTED! …but have some questions.
No problem. If you’d like to hear from us, give us your preferred form of contact.

Participate

Want to make it to a swing state but think you can’t? We love a challenge! Email us at participate [at] swingsemester [dot] org for collaboration and creative troubleshooting.