Friends of the Earth is hiring a
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 Democracy Fellowship program will be a remote position based in North Carolina, 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 Democracy 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.
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities for each Fellowship varies, but typically Fellows:
Qualifications:
No specific academic or professional experience is required, but Friends of the Earth and FOE Action 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:
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.