Bay Area Climate Justice Fellowships 2022: Building Resilience and Community Engagement in North Fair Oaks
About the organization
NFOCA is a grassroots community organization established by community leaders in North Fair Oaks (NFO), an unincorporated community surrounded by the cities of Menlo Park, Atherton, and Redwood City. NFOCA seeks to increase civic engagement and representation, build community and promote equity in NFO. The founders of NFOCA are long-time residents of North Fair Oaks who bring diverse, professional backgrounds as well as a combined 50+ years of community work and activism. NFOCA’s current projects address issues of health, environment, education, safety and preparedness.
Climate change has created new challenges, particularly for marginalized communities and people of color. Much of NFOCA’s work relates to mitigating, planning, and preparing for climate change-related events, including more frequent heat waves, wildfire smoke impacts, and flooding. Accomplishing this requires building a strong base of community participation and engagement in community activities and in decision-making processes that affect North Fair Oaks. As one of its projects, NFOCA seeks to create a Block Action Team Program to support community preparedness and emergency response. This Block Action Team Program will also provide a strong foundation for community involvement in other NFOCA programs, including a current effort to plant trees in order to reduce heat impacts and improve overall community well-being.
The founders of NFOCA have been working with Stanford faculty and students for a few years on understanding and building resilience to climate risks in the community. Much of this collaboration has focused on mapping vulnerabilities and data analysis to inform implementation of programs such as tree-planting efforts, to reduce heat impacts and provide other environmental benefits.
About the opportunity
The intern would play a key role in establishing key organizational functions, outreach, and communications, as well as contribute to critical projects. Activities may include:
Assistance with the organization’s operation:
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Help identify potential funding sources and assist with grant writing and innovative nonprofit organizational sustainability options
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Compile information about NFOCA’s work to date and incorporate it into NFOCA's website for public display/access.
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Create essential documentation/tools for future onboarding interns, including a basic description, history, list of useful websites, contacts' info, etc.
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Assist in launching the NFO Emergency Block Action Team (BAT) Program to prepare for climate change events, including outreach & recruitment needs.
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Assist with identifying funding sources and proposal preparation/submission for additional emergency kits that can be donated to BAT participants
Improving outreach and communication with the community:
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Assist in creating and implementing an effective social media outreach plan
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Develop and test strategies to determine best ways to engage and inform residents, particularly during climate-related events, but also for civic engagement and community participation.
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Logistics of mailing materials community-wide and assist with NFOCA’s newsletter.
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Assist with production of training materials that include handouts, videos, social media posts and webinars.
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Help advance the Tree Planting project in North Fair Oaks by testing and evaluating the most successful ways to reach community members, then getting the word out to the community about the free trees program in collaboration with Canopy.
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Assist with dissemination of information of DIY air filters, which includes community outreach and training including social media and webinars.
Preferred qualifications:
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A passion to advance equity and environmental justice and a commitment to working with people of color and marginalized communities to improve the environment and overall health of the community
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Experience working with community-based organizations, and an interest in being part of launching new, grassroots programs
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Experience and interest in communications and community outreach
Stipend
Each Haas Center Cardinal Quarter Fellow receives a base stipend of $5,500 to support living expenses during the fellowship. Financial aid and supplemental funding may be available to students who qualify.
This is a full-time, 9-week opportunity during Summer 2022, starting no later than July 5, 2022. Undergraduate and co-term students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to students who have completed fewer than two previous Cardinal Quarter opportunities. Graduating students are welcome to apply, but may receive lower priority.
Please review our program policies for complete eligibility requirements.
Additional Fellowship Requirements
This opportunity is associated with Partnerships for Climate Justice in the Bay Area (PCJ in the Bay), an initiative to build equitable climate change solutions by supporting partnerships between Stanford students, faculty and Bay Area community leaders. Fellows are expected to participate in cohort activities with other PCJ in the Bay Fellows.
Additional requirements include:
Spring 2022:
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Complete an online program orientation.
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Complete Engaging in Ethical and Effective Service workshop or worksheet.
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Design a personal learning plan and share the learning plan with site supervisor and academic mentor.
During the Summer 2022 fellowship:
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Submit a brief preliminary report.
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Submit a final report, complete a program evaluation, and correspond with fellowship donor(s) as requested by fellowships program staff.
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Attend one or more PCJ in the Bay Fellows cohort sessions (more information will be shared about these events in spring quarter)
Fall 2022:
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Participate in outreach activities to share the experience and help publicize the program
