Developing Climate Resilience within South San Francisco Communities
Overview
Creating local transformation, from the community, with the community and for the community!
Rise South City is a community-based organization in South San Francisco, committed to promoting community and climate resilience, environmental justice, and economic equity. We create dialogues with our frontline communities about climate change and social equity issues to learn about the different intersectional systems that underpin it and help develop local solutions for transformational reform. We promote community resilience, economic equity, and climate stability.
Rise South City is focused on healthy air quality, clean community energy, efficient, affordable, and lasting housing, public transportation, and ecosystem restoration solutions. Shared leadership fosters community well-being and results in the most innovative solutions to our climate and social crisis. Frontline communities must be at the forefront of shaping new economies and a new climate adaptive society rooted in fairness, equity, and ecological values.
About the Fellowship
The summer fellow will play a vital role in establishing key organizational functions, outreach and communications, as well as contribute to critical projects. Areas of focus will be adjusted based on a student’s interests/background. We are looking for someone who has experience in and is passionate about: engaging with social justice and equity; having a critical and intersectional lens to view sustainability issues and solutions; the ability to compile and disseminate information in an engaging and meaningful way; a broad understanding of environmentalism and sustainability topics; and is familiar with volunteer coordination strategies.
Project tasks may include:
Assistance with the organization’s operation (logistics, short and long-term planning):
- Help identify potential funding sources and assist in strengthening partnerships with relevant organizations
- Create essential documentation/tools for future onboarding interns, including a basic description, history, list of useful websites, contacts' info, etc.
- Help update the website's information to current and active projects and areas RISE is working on.
- Help to maintain a volunteer database for tree planting and restoration volunteer events
- Help to schedule and track outreach for events relating to our Promotores Program
Improving outreach and communication with the community:
- Assist in creating and implementing an effective social media outreach plan.
- Develop strategies to help residents to stay connected and well communicated, particularly during climate-related events, but also for civic engagement and participation.
- Assist in the development of newsletters
- Compile relevant media for website, newsletter, and social media platforms
Contribute to current projects (depending upon current needs and student background/interests):
Current priorities:
- Assist with our Air Quality Monitoring Workshops in South San Francisco (SSF).
- Create educational materials related to air quality and health (create infographics)
- Support with Colma Creek Restoration and Adaptation efforts
- Coordinate with the volunteer groups, the City, and community members to facilitate the planting of free trees
- Assist in the planning of community field trips, research locations, create flyers, outreach and support during the event.
Future Projects (where a fellow might contribute if interested):
- Promoting the electrification of homes in SSF.
- Create a long-term regional vision rooted in communities, bay habitats, and the economy.
- Improve how communities and public agencies learn from each other and work together.
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Broaden public understanding of climate change science and impact through scientific communication
- Sea level rise, air quality, tree canopy coverage, and public health
- Outreach support and community education for the Colma Creek and San Bruno Creek Adaptation projects.
- Development of Promotores curriculum (conduct research to update and modify existing curriculum)
- Develop a fundraising portfolio ( research strong potential private and philanthropy funders)
Through this summer fellowship, students will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced staff in a grassroots, community-focused organization bringing attention to the needs of South San Francisco residents. Students will build meaningful relationships, interact with diverse communities, develop their oral and written communication skills, and understand what climate-focused community education looks like on the ground. We are open to working with students to develop a set of projects that suit their interests and skill sets. Students will also have the opportunity to work hands-on with programs directly affecting underrepresented communities and learn about their journeys, needs and help with development of the solutions to address community concerns.
Preferred qualifications:
- A passion to advance equity and environmental justice and a commitment to working with underrepresented, communities and people of color to ensure good health and environmental equality
- Past experience working with community based organizations, and an interest in being part of launching a new, grassroots nonprofit organization
- Passionate to be of service to others
- Baseline understanding of environmentalism and sustainability topics
- Experience and interest in communications and community outreach
- Ability to speak Spanish is 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.
Please note that students can apply for no more than three different PCJ fellowship opportunities during a single application round.
This is a full-time (35-40 hours/week), 10-week opportunity during Summer 2025, starting no later than July 7, 2025. All fellows are required to work with their community partners for ten consecutive weeks.
Undergraduates and MA students from academic disciplines are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to students who have completed fewer than two previous Cardinal Quarter opportunities.
Graduating seniors are only eligible to apply during Round 2 (early April) if funding is available and positions are still open. Please note graduating seniors are not eligible for financial aid supplemental funding. Please review our program policies for complete eligibility requirements.
In order to be eligible for a Haas Center-sponsored Cardinal Quarter summer opportunity, undergraduate students are required to be enrolled in both the winter and spring quarters.
Students are required to be in good academic standing. The requirements for good academic standing include: 1) Earn at least 9 units of credit in a single quarter. 2) Earn at least 36 units over the most recent three quarters 3) Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or above.
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 will be a part of a cohort of other PCJ in the Bay summer fellows placed at sites across the Bay Area.
Additional requirements include
Spring 2025:
- Complete an online program orientation.
- Participate in an in-person Engaging in Ethical and Effective Service workshop at the Haas Center.
- Identify and meet with an academic mentor (Stanford faculty or staff) at least once.
- Design a personal learning plan and share the learning plan with your site supervisor and academic mentor.
- Complete all required pre-orientation forms.
- Attend the spring retreat with cohort peers (date TBD).
Summer 2025:
- Complete a pre-program assessment survey.
- Attend all PCJ in the Bay Fellows cohort activities (more information will be shared about these events in spring quarter).
- Submit a final report documenting your work and reflecting on your learning.
- Correspond with fellowship donor(s) as requested by fellowships program staff.
- Complete a post-program assessment survey.
Fall 2025:
- Meet with your academic mentor to discuss your fellowship experience at least once.
- Participate in outreach activities to share the experience and help publicize the program.
Frequently Asked Questions for PCJ Summer 2025 Fellowships
Selection Process
Complete applications are screened, finalists interviewed, and fellows selected by the host organizations staff with the intention to award fellowships prior to spring break. Applicants should respond promptly (within 48 hours) via email to a fellowship offer, or the offer will be rescinded. Once an applicant accepts a fellowship offer, the student should promptly notify all other Stanford and non-Stanford programs to which they have applied that they have accepted another offer and to withdraw their candidacy.
