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24 Jan 2023

Internship 2023 Arlie Schardt Memorial Fellowship (5 Opportunities)

Friends of the Earth – Posted by FOEjobs Anywhere

Friends of the Earth logo

Job Description

Overview:

Friends of the Earth is a hard-hitting, progressive, environmental organization that pulls no punches and speaks sometimes uncomfortable truth to power. It’s an approach that has worked for five decades to produce important victories that help protect our planet and its people. We’re part of Friends of the Earth International, the world’s largest federation of grassroots environmental groups, working in more than 70 countries on today’s most urgent environmental and social issues.

FOE envisions a world where we live within the ability of the planet to sustain life, and in which all people live with dignity, health and equity. We believe that both environmental crises, as well as widespread social injustice, are intertwined symptoms of flawed ideological, economic and political systems that are violating peoples’ rights, perpetuating oppression, failing to meet the needs of people, and destroying the planet.

We believe that increasing racial diversity within environmental organizations is critical to the future success of our movement. Our Fellowship program is designed to increase the long-term effectiveness of FOE and the environmental movement by operating an inspiring and fulfilling fellowship program that builds skills and relevant job experience for people of color and members of underrepresented communities.

Arlie W. Schardt was a pioneering voice for the environment and witness to some of the most seminal events in American history as a Time magazine correspondent traveling with Martin Luther King while covering the civil rights movement. Throughout his peripatetic 50-year career, Schardt reported on and acted on behalf of social justice. Al Gore states, “Through his remarkably diverse career, Arlie Schardt lived a life of purpose and impact,” said the former Vice President. “He was a champion for civil rights and an early pioneer of the environmental movement. I valued greatly his commitment to public service and will always be grateful for the invaluable roles he played on my Presidential campaign.” Schardt joined Friends of the Earth (FOE), serving as Chairman of the Board from 2009 until June 2019 when he was named chair emeritus in honor of his service. According to Erich Pica, president of FOE, “Arlie was instrumental in tripling the size of the organization and broadening its mandate to combine his concerns for social and racial justice with environmentalism.”

About the Fellowship:

Each year, we welcome a cohort of five Fellows to work with us full-time for six months. This year the Fellowship program will be a remote position, with the possibility of an in-person retreat in the DC office if/when the offices re-open. Fellows are paid $20/hour and will receive a one-time stipend of $1,000.

Fellows are placed with our Communications, Economic Policy, Food & Agriculture, Climate & Energy, or Program teams. In addition to substantive work with the teams, the Fellowship program also includes networking and career development opportunities.

The fellowship begins in March 2023 and ends in September 2023.

About our Climate and Energy Justice Team and Fellowship Position:

The climate crisis is the definitive environmental issue of our time, but it will take more than just greenhouse gas-reducing technologies to address it.

The Climate & Energy Justice Team envisions energy systems that are ecologically balanced, centered on community self-determination, and that recognize and address systemic inequity. We seek to stop the exploitation of people and the environment by halting dirty energy production; ending fossil fuel subsidies; supporting a planned phase-out of fossil fuels; protecting public lands; and preventing climate disinformation.

Recognizing that there can be no climate justice without racial justice, we support energy systems that advance environmental justice, foster equitable relationships among and within nations, and secure clean energy access for all.

The fellow will become an integral member of our dynamic Climate and Energy Justice Team and gain valuable skills and experience in research, strategic campaign development, online and traditional media communications, corporate and non-profit engagement, and public outreach, education and organizing on the cutting edge of environmental advocacy.

The Fellow will work with the team in implementing environmental and climate justice campaigns relevant to the mission of Friends of the Earth. Work within the Fellowship will focus on campaigns that engage impacted communities and organizations and FOE members in local, regional, and statewide environmental and climate justice issues and challenges.

This position will introduce the fellow to a wide range of colleagues in environmental, social justice and legislative arenas. The fellow will work in government, corporate and non-profit circles and has the opportunity to become familiar with how these different entities work.

About our Economic Policy Team and Fellowship Position:

The Economic Policy program aims to create a more environmentally sustainable and socially just world by transforming financial and economic systems. We work with allies around the world to redirect public spending to make polluters pay for the costs of their pollution, and to drive the transition to a cleaner, low-carbon economy. At home and abroad, we advocate for policies that minimize environmental and social harm and fund a brighter future. The fellow will help track government-backed institutions that fund energy projects overseas. Second, the fellow will support the implementation of the senior international finance campaigner’s strategic plans related to international financing (e.g., International Monetary Fund, World Bank, development finance institutions) in conjunction with the International Finance Program Manager. Third, the fellow will conduct research and analysis to develop reports and articles, factsheets, and other campaign materials to educate decision makers, allies, opinion leaders, the press, and the public. Finally, the fellow will engage with Congressional allies, agency officials, and domestic and international coalitions.

About our Democracy Team Fellowship Position:

The Democracy Fellowship at Friends of the Earth will provide the opportunity to dive deep into the process of creating equitable, intersectional, and visionary policy at the state level. Working to embolden the connection between environment and democracy, our fellow will work together with partner organizations to advance the implementation of an Independent Redistricting Commission in North Carolina.

There will be multi-faceted learning environments including direct lobbying, training facilitation, and hosting coalition events. Direct training on how to draw communities of interest with mapping software, lobbying elected officials, and organizing fundamentals will be provided. Opportunities for cross pollination include providing testimony in public hearings, planning a lobby day, and producing a report that will be used as an advocacy tool. There will be consistent and meaningful exposure to partner organizations in the state of North Carolina which will create the opportunity to build lasting relationships in the non-profit and political sectors.

The Democracy Fellow will have opportunities to lobby elected officials in North Carolina. They will build and maintain relationships with elected officials and partner organizations across the state. The fellow is expected to conduct research, draft advocacy materials, and provide additional support to the Programs, Communications and Development Departments, as needed.

FOE works on a dynamic set of intersectional issues knowing that we cannot build a healthy and just world without addressing the interconnectedness of society’s injustices. FOE not only fights for laws and lawmakers that will echo that mission, but it helps the public join in the political battle as well. FOE believes that unprecedented political action from across the nation will put the United States, and hopefully our planet, on a sustainable path.

Our Democracy Fellow will assist in advancing the campaign to establish an Independent Redistricting Commission in North Carolina by securing legislative endorsements, conducting outreach to partner organizations, and authoring a research project that will assist in the advancement of the campaign.

About our Food and Agriculture Team and Fellowship Position:

The Food and Agriculture program works to rapidly transition our food system to one that is regenerative, healthy, and just. Our fellow will assist our Emerging Technology in Agriculture campaign, which works to transform public policy to establish appropriate safety assessment and oversight of GMO agriculture products such as GMO crops, insects, soil, and animals; and to keep poorly regulated GMOs out of our food system. We work to advance regenerative organic and agroecological farming systems that are inherently healthier and that pose fewer risks for people, pollinators, animals, and the planet. The fellow will assist in conducting grassroots and stakeholder outreach to support our state, federal, and international policy work, help coordinate and participate in meeting and event logistics, conduct research to support public policy campaigns, and draft public outreach materials.

The fellow will become an integral member of our dynamic Food and Agriculture Team and gain valuable skills and experience in research, strategic campaign development, online and traditional media communications, corporate and non-profit engagement, and public outreach, education and organizing on the cutting edge of environmental advocacy.

This position will introduce the fellow to a wide range of colleagues in environmental, social justice and regulatory arenas. The fellow will work in community based, corporate and non-profit circles and can become familiar with how these different entities work.

About our Communications Team and Fellowship Position:

The Communications team works with all programs at Friends of the Earth to manage external communications for the organization, overseeing press coverage, social media, websites, video, art, and design. The Communications Fellow will work with the Department and the supervising Senior Press Officer to create and maintain day-to-day media strategy, analyze traditional media trends, assist with the drafting of press materials and journalist outreach, and support the digital media team as needed. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to learn more about how a national advocacy organization uses traditional media, journalist outreach and pitching to help achieve organizational goals and fight for systemic change. In addition to traditional media support, the Fellow will also support the Department’s social/digital media team, including helping draft content and videos for the organization’s Twitter and Instagram pages. We are looking for individuals who are interested in learning about nonprofit and/or environmental communications, can juggle multiple projects simultaneously, and have a working knowledge of politics and the progressive media landscape.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities for each Fellowship varies, but typically Fellows:

  • Perform research, writing and editing
  • Assist with campaign, policy and public advocacy
  • Take part in outreach and communications efforts
  • Help organize people and events
  • Participate in strategy, planning, and campaign meetings

Qualifications:

No specific academic or professional experience is required, but we are looking for people who are passionate about the environment and/or social justice. An environmental background, and previous (volunteer or paid) experience in non-profit organizations, advocacy, political campaigns are pluses.

Qualified applicants must be:

  • At least 18 years of age
  • Eligible to work in the U.S.
  • Committed to environmental and social justice
  • Able to work well in team setting
  • Motivated, and willing to learn and take initiative
  • Able to use Microsoft Office suite products such as Excel and Word, and Google applications

Friends of the Earth is an equal opportunity employer who encourages applications from women, people of color and other members of underrepresented groups who will contribute to the diversity of its staff.

How to Apply

Please apply by visiting https://foe.org/jobs/ for one of the five (5) fellowships that you are interested in. In addition, here are direct links to the 5 Fellowships

Job Categories: Environmental. Job Types: Internship. Salaries: Less than 20,000.

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