Belle Haven Action Round 2: Environmental and Climate Justice Advocacy in the Belle Haven Community of Menlo Park

Overview

Located west of Highway 101 along the San Francisco Bayfront, the Belle Haven neighborhood of Menlo Park has been systematically excluded from the rest of the city and the surrounding area. Following decades of redlining and other unjust housing practices, today, Belle Haven residents experience exclusion in many dimensions of their daily lives, including access to transportation, telecommunications, education, health care, food, open space, and more. In addition, a growing number of families living in Belle Haven - which hosts the headquarters of Meta - are at risk of displacement as gentrification progresses. Belle Haven residents also experience disproportionate exposure to environmental pollution, such as poor air quality and greater exposure to extreme heat due to a lack of tree cover. Climate change is exacerbating these and other impacts. Yet, Belle Haven has also found itself excluded from key state and local funding programs designed to address many of these risks.

Belle Haven Action (BHA), a non-profit organization in the Belle Haven neighborhood of Menlo Park, partners with residents to amplify the voices of community leaders. BHA advocates for equity, inclusion, and acknowledgement of the diversity that makes this neighborhood unique. BHA engages closely with residents in Belle Haven, responding to the needs they identify by organizing programming and advocating with the city and county. Past and current initiatives include organizing COVID vaccine and testing sites, assisting residents in accessing affordable housing, obtaining free air filtration units for residents, and advocacy with the City Council for greater investment and needed services.

About the Fellowship

The work of Belle Haven Action may be approached through multiple lenses - environmental and climate justice, transportation, health, housing, telecommunications and more. The focus can also be adapted to the fellow’s academic background and interests.

Current projects for the summer may include:

• Extreme heat kits - Given the lower tree canopy in Belle Haven as compared to the rest of Menlo Park, we aim to equip community members with materials and resources to combat high days this summer. 
  • Identify material procurement and funding sources
  • Research replacement parts for existing air filtration units that were distributed in previous summers
  • Support exploration of additional nonprofit partnerships and funding opportunities
• Farmers market - a new farmers market operation will be opening this summer in the Belle Haven community. 
  • Support logistics to get the existing space operational
  • Work with nonprofit Fresh Approach to replicate their market model used in East Palo Alto
• Voter Education
  • Work with Belle Haven Empowered to conduct outreach and animate community members
• Research
  • Review online documents available through the city, county, and state as well as non-governmental sources, including resources available through Stanford’s libraries;
  • Identify and analyze environmental and socio-economic data about Belle Haven and surrounding communities, including through tools such as the CalEnviroScreen 4.0; and
  • Conduct conversations with community members and other stakeholders to learn about and document community experiences of exclusion.

In addition, you will contribute to Belle Haven Action’s on-going operations. This may include assisting in organizing community events, attending City Council and commission meetings, and participating in meetings with residents as well as partner organizations. 

Preferred qualifications: 

BHA is a small, grassroots organization with opportunities to get involved in many aspects of our work. We’re looking for a summer fellow who is self-driven, takes initiative, and asks questions to advance projects. 

• Advanced undergraduates and MA/MS students in Urban Studies, Earth Systems, Earth System Science, Public Policy, the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity, Anthropology and related fields are particularly encouraged to apply. 
• A passion and commitment for environmental justice and community-based work.
• Excellent skills in research, writing and communication.
• Experience and sensitivity with regard to interacting and communicating with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Commitment to building and maintaining trusting relationships and maintaining confidentiality when necessary.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and an ability to work independently.
• Spanish language proficiency and access to a car are preferred, but not required.

Stipend

Undergraduate Cardinal Quarter Fellows receive a base stipend of $8,000 (which includes a $500 cost of living adjustment for the Bay Area) to support living expenses during the 10-week fellowship. Financial aid and supplemental funding ($1,000-$1,500 additional) may be available to students who qualify (learn more here). 

Students in a 2-year Masters program will receive a stipend of $9,500. Students who have begun their coterm programs (i.e. paying graduate tuition) will also receive a stipend of $9,500.