Environmental and Climate Justice Advocacy Fellowship with Belle Haven Action, Summer 2026
Overview
Located north 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:
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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
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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
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Voter Education
- Work with Belle Haven Empowered to conduct outreach and animate community members
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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.
Program Details
PCJ in the Bay fellowships are Cardinal Quarter opportunities through the Haas Center for Public Service. This is a full-time (35-40 hours/week), 10-week opportunity during Summer 2026, starting no later than July 6, 2026. Doctoral students with a 50% summer assistantship may be eligible to work part-time (16 hours/week). All fellows are required to work with their community partners for ten consecutive weeks.
Please note that students can apply for no more than three different PCJ fellowship opportunities during a single application round.
Eligibility & Requirements
Please review our program policies for complete eligibility requirements.
Undergraduates of all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to students who have completed fewer than two previous Cardinal Quarter opportunities.
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. Graduate level students must be enrolled at least in spring quarter.
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 2026:
- Complete a pre-program assessment survey.
- Attend the spring retreat with cohort peers (date TBD).
- Complete an online program orientation.
- Participate in an in-person Principles of 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.
Summer 2026:
- 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 a reflection on your learning.
- Correspond with fellowship donor(s) as requested by fellowships program staff.
- Complete a post-program assessment survey.
Fall 2026:
- 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.
Stipend Information
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. Doctoral students on a 50% assistantship can work up to 16 hours/week and will receive up to $4,500 for a part-time fellowship. Doctoral students without a summer assistantship can work full-time and will receive a stipend of $11,000.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions for PCJ Summer 2026 Fellowships
