Bay Area Climate Justice Fellowships 2022: Launching a Youth Climate Collective
About the organization
In the Bay Area, as throughout the world, under-resourced communities are disproportionately vulnerable to climate change impacts. Since 2016, Climate Resilient Communities (CRC) has been on the ground, learning the specific needs of residents in diverse, under-resourced communities in East Palo Alto, North Fair Oaks, and Belle Haven (Menlo Park). CRC’s outreach cultivates environmental awareness while giving local residents a voice in proactive resilience planning and adaptation. By building stronger alliances between residents, schools, local government programs and community-based organizations, this work creates resilience against climate-related stresses such as sea-level rise and economic instability.
CRC began as a program of the nonprofit Acterra, an organization with a 50-year history of building community-oriented solutions to environmental problems. In 2020, CRC branched off as its own organization, dedicated to working hand in hand with the Peninsula’s underrepresented communities. This transition allows CRC to expand its offerings and help provide community-based solutions that create material changes in the lives of residents.
CRC’s work is guided by residents and community leaders through their Climate Change Community Teams. CRC partners with other community based organizations, faith-based organizations, and residents to generate and meet community-identified needs, through programs like youth education and leadership development, assisting local residents in accessing home energy audits, weatherization, and subsidized solar panels, as well as other projects.
Through this internship, you will be part of an exciting and growing organization, and have the unique opportunity to meet and learn from experienced community leaders. You will directly contribute to building climate resilience in a way that empowers low-income residents and brings the material changes a just world requires.
About the Internship
CRC is seeking an intern to further develop an initiative aiming to amplify youth voices and experiences. Called the “Youth Climate Collective,” CRC plans to launch and pilot a six-month fellowship program for 15-20 youth from East Palo Alto, North Fair Oaks, and Belle Haven to provide a forum for the youth to engage in meaningful conversations on environmental justice issues in their communities. We anticipate that the group will meet once a month and participate in interactive field trips, advocacy workshops, student presentations, and discussions, as well as connection to mentorship and internship opportunities. With support from CRC staff, the intern will lead the planning and implementation of the first few events, including but not limited to identifying speakers, workshop topics, and field trip sites, creating materials for social media, and coordinating event logistics.
Qualifications
A passion and commitment for environmental justice and community-based work
- Excellent organizational skills, ideally including past experience in planning events
- Strong writing and communication skills
- Demonstrated experience in communicating with diverse audiences
- Prior experience interacting with middle and high school students is preferred
- Experience with social media and digital media is a plus, but not required
Stipend
Undergraduate and coterm Cardinal Quarter Fellows receive 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 (learn more here).
Eligibility and Requirements:
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:
- Complete an online program orientation.
- Complete Engaging in Ethical and Effective Service workshop or worksheet.
- Design a personal learning plan and share the learning plan with site supervisor and academic mentor.
During the Summer 2022 fellowship:
- Submit a brief preliminary report.
- Submit a final report, complete a program evaluation, and correspond with fellowship donor(s) as requested by fellowships program staff.
- Attend one or more PCJ in the Bay Fellows cohort sessions (more information will be shared about these events in spring quarter)
Fall 2022:
- Participate in outreach activities to share the experience and help publicize the program
