SkunkWorks began as a bold idea inside San Quentin <em>what if incarceration could become a launchpad for change?</em> Founded by <strong>incarcerated people</strong> and built in partnership with outside professionals, we’ve grown into a <strong>nationally recognized innovation lab</strong> inside prison walls.<br><br>Our goal is simple but radical <strong>transform the justice system</strong> by centering the leadership of the people most impacted by it. We design and test solutions inside—and then work to <strong>scale them beyond the walls.<br><br></strong>Our programs put incarcerated leadership into practice. We <strong>reclaim prison spaces with murals</strong> that restore dignity, run <strong>intensive leadership trainings</strong> that prepare incarcerated people to guide reform, and host <strong>monthly gaming events</strong> 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.<br><br>We’ve been featured in <em>CalMatters, </em>the front page of the <em>LA Times,</em> and are backed by CDCR. But our biggest achievement? <strong>Building a movement where incarcerated people lead—and the world listens.<br><br></strong>,<br><br>Join the <strong>incarcerated-led innovation lab </strong>partnering with the Governor’s Office, eL Seed, FaithXLVII, UC researchers, and other leaders across art, policy, and systems change.<br><br>We’re looking for a <strong>senior copywriter</strong> who can translate on-the-ground innovation into sharp, memorable writing that lands with national audiences without flattening the nuance.<br><br><strong>What You’ll Do (choose a Primary Track)<br><br></strong>This role is project-based. You’ll plug into one primary track to start, with the option to expand once we’ve built momentum.<br><br>Track A Thought Leadership + Op-Eds<br><br><ul><li>Co-develop op-eds and longform pieces with incarcerated writers, senior communications advisors, and our brand agency</li><li>Shape drafts from interviews/transcripts into publishable narrative</li><li>Build repeatable workflows for voice, review, approvals, and fact-checking<br><br></li></ul>Track B Website + Brand Copy<br><br><ul><li>Write and refine website copy in partnership with design, UX, and branding teams</li><li>Create reusable messaging blocks (About, initiatives, FAQs, calls to action, partner language)</li><li>Build a compact voice guide and phrase bank to keep writing consistent across the organization<br><br></li></ul>Track C Campaigns + Collateral<br><br><ul><li>Write crisp copy for campaigns, one-pagers, decks, and digital assets</li><li>Support the graphic design team with headlines, microcopy, and narrative structure</li><li>Turn complex work (policy, programs, research) into clear public-facing language<br><br></li></ul>How collaboration works<br><br>You’ll work closely with incarcerated leaders at San Quentin and a small outside communications team. Most collaboration is asynchronous and structured clear briefs, defined review cycles, deadlines, and a shared system for versioning and approvals. You’ll receive source material, interviews/transcripts, and direct access to partners as needed.<br><br>Who you’ll collaborate with<br><br><ul><li>Incarcerated leaders at San Quentin who are driving the work from the inside</li><li>Senior communications professionals advising on narrative strategy</li><li>Our brand communications agency (design + messaging alignment)</li><li>The SkunkWorks graphic design team (visual storytelling + campaigns)</li><li>Policy and legal partners supporting legislative and reform initiatives</li><li>Cross-functional partners across media, art, research, tech, and culture<br><br></li></ul>What we’re looking for<br><br><ul><li>This role is for someone with a strong track record, not someone starting out.</li><li>5+ years in copywriting, editorial, communications, journalism, or brand writing</li><li>A portfolio that shows range, clarity, and strategic writing</li><li>Strong collaboration instincts with designers and comms teams</li><li>Ability to translate complex or sensitive material into accessible, powerful language</li><li>Comfort working asynchronously and meeting deadlines</li><li>Familiarity with Monday.com (or willingness to learn quickly)</li><li>Experience with op-eds, campaigns, nonprofit communications, or journalism is a plus<br><br></li></ul><strong>Time commitment<br><br></strong>This is a project-based volunteer role. Most of our senior writers contribute around 4–6 hours per week, with flexibility built around the rhythm of the project you join.<br><br>You can support a specific initiative — op-eds, the website redesign, a campaign — or continue long-term.