Art of Writing provides UC Berkeley undergraduates with paid literary internship opportunities (writing, editing, social media, etc.) with partner organizations.
In Summer 2025, Babette Cafe joins us as a partner organization to host their first Art of Writing intern. This hybrid (remote and in-person) Summer 2025 internship comes with a $2,000 stipend provided by Art of Writing.
The hired intern must keep a monthly informal written log of activities and reflections, shared with Art of Writing, in order to receive their stipend. Art of Writing may also conduct an informal Zoom debrief of the experience at the end of the internship.
The application is now open, and closes on April 27, 2025.
About Babette Cafe
Babette is a family- owned restaurant and event space that opened in May of 2022 in Berkeley.
Chef/Owners, Joan Ellis and Patrick Hooker are a creative husband and wife team who have run a wholesale bakery in San Francisco, owned and operated the café’s inside of BAMPFA in both the Bancroft and Center St. locations and individually, have worked as private chef’s and run a home delivery catering business.
Social media has become the norm and restaurants need them to help bring in business.
We are looking for someone who will not only run our social media presence on Facebook and Instagram, but will take the time to get to know us personally, absorb our artistic aesthetic, get to know our history and what drives us to continue to feed people when the obstacles are great and payoff is at an all-time low. In understanding our values, you will be better able to create content that feels personal to Babette.
Art of Writing note: This is an excellent opportunity for someone who has run social media for an organization or business to take the lead on creative marketing and content creation.
Job Description
Social Media
- Take over current social media accounts and add new ones if applicable.
- Consider posting on Pinterest, Snapchat and Tik Tok. Post photos and write eye-catching content – a minimum of two posts a day.
- Increase brand awareness–post about our team, show favorite menu items, add posts about the restaurant’s story and values.
- Improve engagement with customers – use captions, add stories that require people to answer, organize contests with attractive prices – or likes and shares.
- Add posts that encourage customers to visit the website for an exclusive promotion.
Start a blog on the website – consider an ongoing conversation with posts on Instagram in regards to the decline of the restaurant industry and how habits and indifference are pathways to losing something we all cherish yet take for granted. Compare and contrast the cost of dining “out” to ordering “in.” Joan has a dormant Substack called Chef Notes, as well as rough draft of a memoir with recipes, and content from both could be repurposed for the blog.
Research local connections that Babette can promote in tandem to widen the scope of our outreach. Shoutouts to things happening at Cal or Kaiser, local elementary and middle schools, Berkeley Jazz – construction companies building affordable housing, etc.
Babette would like to attract social and political justice movements and perhaps hold a monthly Salon. Come up with a list of possible speakers and/or organizations and write invitations to those selected. How can we offer space without losing money and/or possibly make money?
Coordination and expectations will be set and you will be trusted to take the lead once it has been determined that we have a united vision. Joan will consult and advise as needed with weekly check-ins.
Work Schedule
8-10 hours/week, hybrid of remote and in person. We are flexible on the intern’s work schedule and are open to whatever days and times best fit with their coursework and other obligations. Mondays and Tuesdays are best for in person or phone meetings with Joan
Perks
We will feed you!
Application Process:
To apply, complete the application form linked here by midnight on April 27, 2025.
This internship is designed to support undergraduate students who may not otherwise have access to such opportunities. Thus, we are prioritizing students with financial need and early career candidates for this program. To demonstrate financial need, you must have an Estimated Family Contribution of equal to or less than $26,000. See your Financial Aid & Scholarships Profile under My Finances in Cal Central to check your EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) amount.
If you have any questions, please contact Jane Liaw at janeliaw@berkeley.edu.