Saturday, March 26, 2011

Researchers at Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute

Interns and summer students are required for placements in Kempt, Queens County
Location of Project and Field Work:
Field work will be conducted in the upper Mersey watershed within the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve (SNBR), Nova Scotia. Sites will be located in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site (KNPNHS), the Tobeatic Wilderness Area, as well as on private and public land. Sample processing and analysis will be conducted at the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute in Kempt, Queens County, Nova Scotia.

Description of Work:
Researchers will contribute to one or more of the following projects:
Monitoring loon productivity and water quality on freshwater lakes
Contributing to endangered species monitoring programs
Monitoring red oak regeneration and forest health
Conducting outreach and education to provide information to private landowners about good forest management and species at risk stewardship
Researchers will be trained and gain hands-on experience in research design, fieldwork, data analysis, literature reviews, computer skills, teamwork, communication and report writing. They will gain a solid understanding of water quality issues, climate change, long range transport of air pollutants, and sustainable forestry practices. Through their work, the researchers will assess environmental health using loons and forests as indicators, and will contribute to our understanding of the effects of air pollution, climate change, and forestry on environmental health.

Wages:
Approximately $10.50 - $12.00, depending on experience and education, 35-40hrs/week for 3-8 months, to start approximately May 23rd 2011.

Education requirements
College and university students, and recent graduates are encouraged to apply. Specialization in environmental science and/or biology is preferred. Preference will be given to returning students. Some summer jobs are also available for high school students, please contact MTRI for more information.

Skill and knowledge requirements:
Outdoor field work and orientation skills; tree, plant and bird identification; canoeing, boating and swimming skills; writing skills; computer word processing and data entry.
Preferred experience:
-ecological field work including water quality monitoring, forestry and/or work with wildlife
-statistical analyses including power analyses
-outreach and education

Personal suitability:
The candidate:
· must be self-motivated and work well as a member of a team
· must be between 15 and 30 years of age
· must hold a current driver’s license (access to a vehicle for summer field work is preferable)
· must be adept at tedious fieldwork and data collection
should have living accommodations or be willing to live in or near Kempt, Queens County.

Candidates will be rated based on education, skills, experience, and personal suitability.

Application deadline is Friday, April 22th, 2011. Applications can be emailed to info@merseytobeatic.ca.

Friday, March 18, 2011

2011 ALSTON BANNERMAN SABBATICAL FELLOWSHIP

APPLY FOR THE 2011 ALSTON BANNERMAN SABBATICAL FELLOWSHIP

We are accepting applications now for the 2011 Alston Bannerman Sabbatical Fellowship. Download application at /www.centerforsocialinclusion.org/fellows_news/?url=apply-for-the-2011-alston-bannerman-sabbatical-fellowship-1
Applications must be postmarked by April 05, 2011

CRITERIA
To qualify for an Alston Bannerman Sabbatical Fellowship, you must:
be a person of color
have more than 10 years of community organizing experience
be committed to social change work in communities of color
live in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa or U.S. Virgin Islands
Beyond the basic eligibility criteria, the Alston Bannerman Program seeks applicants whose work:
attacks root causes of inequity by organizing those affected to take collective strategic action;
challenges the systems that perpetrate injustice and effects institutional and structural change;
builds community capacity for democratic participation and develops grassroots leadership;
acknowledges the cultural values of the community;
creates accountable participatory structures in which community members have decision-making power;
contributes to building a movement for social change by making connections between issues, developing alliances with other constituencies, and collaborating with other organizations.


The Alston Bannerman Program distinguishes between organizing, services, and advocacy and believes that organizing low-income people at the grassroots level is an indispensible part of successful social change.
The Program does not make awards to individuals:
who exclusively provide services, such as substance abuse counseling, after-school programs, HIV-AIDS outreach or shelter for the homeless; or
who advocate on behalf of a community without directly involving the members of that community in asserting their own interests and choosing their own leadership.
We do recognize, however, that organizations and leaders combine services, advocacy, and organizing. Providing services as a companion to organizing will not disqualify an applicant for the Sabbatical Fellowship. Similarly, we know that cultural work can be part of an organizing process. In such cases, applicants must demonstrate that their work has a direct and close connection to organizing, leadership development and democratic participation.

We also recognize that organizing is a full-time job for some, but for others it is voluntary work done outside of their employment. Both paid and unpaid leaders are eligible to apply.

REQUIREMENTS
Fellows are required to stop their day-to-day work activities for at least three consecutive months and devote that time to activities that are substantially different from their normal routine.

Fellows are expected to attend pre- and post-sabbatical retreats.
Fellows must begin their sabbaticals within one year of the awarding of the Fellowship.
Fellows must report on their sabbaticals within four months of their completion and describe what they did, what they learned on sabbatical that will improve their leadership, and what impact the sabbatical has had on their work.

SELECTION PROCESS & TIMELINE
Applications must be postmarked by April 05, 2011
Applicants not selected as finalists are notified by mail.
Finalists are notified and interviewed by telephone.
Fellows are selected by the end of July.

DIVERSITY FOR SUSTAINABILITY INTERNSHIP

The Pacific Institute in Oakland, California is accepting applications for its Diversity for Sustainability Internship Program. This exciting new internship program is part of the Institute’s commitment to furthering diverse perspectives both in our own work and in the critical fields of environmental sustainability and social justice. The program will bring emerging environmental leaders from a variety of backgrounds to contribute to our work under the mentorship of knowledgeable research staff. Interns will develop a deeper understanding of and hands-on experience with fundamental skills for environmental research and outreach and have the opportunity to make connections for their future success.
Who We Are: The Pacific Institute is one of the world’s leading independent nonprofits conducting research to create a healthier planet and sustainable communities. Based in Oakland, California, we conduct interdisciplinary research and partner with stakeholders to produce evidence-based solutions that advance environmental protection, economic development, and social equity—in California, nationally, and internationally. We work to change policy and find real-world solutions to problems like water shortages, habitat destruction, global warming, and environmental injustice. Since our founding in 1987, the Pacific Institute has become a locus for independent, innovative thinking that cuts across traditional areas of study, helping us make connections between divergent perspectives and bring diverse stakeholders together. The result is effective, actionable solutions addressing issues in the fields of freshwater resources, climate change, environmental justice, and globalization.
Diversity for Sustainability Internship Program Goals: The goal of the Pacific Institute Diversity for Sustainability Internship Program is to train the next generation of sustainability and environmental and economic justice leaders. The complex environmental challenges facing our society call for innovative and forward-thinking solutions from leaders who bring knowledge and expertise that traverse a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. The Internship Program seeks to provide each intern with significant and varied experiences to build skills in research, outreach, and leadership; to benefit from a committed mentor; to have the opportunity to network with other professionals in the sustainability field; and to accomplish a specific project(s) that also contributes to his/her resume. Interns will gain experience working in a nonprofit organization, including such tasks as reading and analyzing academic reports and other literature, analyzing data, writing reports and related materials, conducting internet research and field research, assisting in outreach, giving presentations, and connecting with others in the field.

Details:
Research for People and the Planet
• The Diversity for Sustainability Intern will work 20 hours per week for 10 weeks beginning in June 2011 (dates to be confirmed with individual interns).
• Compensation is a stipend of $2000, valuable nonprofit work experience, professional development and mentorship from skilled researchers, and opportunity for references from a reputable organization.
Potential projects for 2011 include: • Vulnerability and Resilience to Local Climate Impacts: Conduct primary and
secondary research to document the presence of factors that could reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts in specific Oakland neighborhoods. • U.S. Water Policy: Develop and present summaries for policymakers and the public from the Institute’s new work on U.S. Water Policy. • Water Conservation and Efficiency Success Story: Research and write an agricultural
success story, focusing on urban agriculture or other topic. • Green Jobs in Agriculture: Assess potential approaches to job creation for water efficiency in California’s agricultural sector. • Community Choices Tool: Evaluate technologies and output web pages that collect existing research for our online decision-making tool for the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector (www.washchoices.org). • Evaluate Multiple Use for Water Framework: Conduct interviews and identify and document case studies of Multiple Water Use (MUS) approaches worldwide, and identify opportunities to make the framework more robust and comprehensive. • Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Mobile App/Texting (WASH SMS Project): Conduct a landscaping study of projects using texting and mobile phones to improve social andenvironmental services.
• Community Access to Green Jobs in Urban Water Projects Conduct research to characterize the jobs involved in these urban water projects and the pathways for low-income communities to access and advance in related careers.

Qualifications:
The successful Pacific Institute Diversity for Sustainability Intern Program candidates will:
• Come from groups that are under-represented in the professional environmental field and research sector (for example, but not limited to, people of color; educationally, physically, or economically disadvantaged; women; etc.), and/or with life circumstances, experiences, skills, or talents that will enrich the perspective of the Pacific Institute and in the environmental sustainability and justice fields.
• Demonstrate through coursework or activities their interest and experience in environmental sustainability and/or social and economic justice.
Research for People and the Planet
• Be enrolled in an undergraduate program (especially at a community college or state university), or be a non-student with relevant life experience.
• Have strong writing and computer skills. • Have a demonstrated ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds.

Application Procedure:
1. Please prepare a letter of interest of no more than two pages detailing: • your experience and/or interest in environmental sustainability and justice work; • your interest in the work of the Pacific Institute (www.pacinst.org); • how you meet the specific qualifications listed in the section above. (If applicable, you may also describe any disadvantages or challenges that you have successfully overcome, including linguistic barriers or a personal or family history of educational or socioeconomic disadvantage.)
2. Resume
3. Name and phone number of two references (non-family members, such as a work supervisor, teacher, or counselor)
Email these three items to: diversityintern@pacinst.org.
NO phone calls please.
Deadline: Applications will be accepted through Monday, March 28, 2011.
Interviews will be conducted for selected applicants (phone or in person) from March 31through April 13. All applicants will be notified of final selection by April 18.
The Pacific Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
People from diverse backgrounds of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, income, age, disability, or sexual orientation are strongly encouraged to apply.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Diversity for Sustainability Paid Internship

The Pacific Institute in Oakland, California is accepting applications for its Diversity for Sustainability Internship Program. This exciting new internship program is part of the Institute’s commitment to furthering diverse perspectives both in our own work and in the critical fields of environmental sustainability and social justice. The program will bring emerging environmental leaders from a variety of backgrounds to contribute to our work under the mentorship of knowledgeable research staff. Interns will develop a deeper understanding of and hands-on experience with fundamental skills for environmental research and outreach and have the opportunity to make connections for their future success.

The deadline for application is March 28.

The full notice is also online on the Pacific Institute website at: http://www.pacinst.org/about_us/Diversity_for_Sustainability_Internship_2011.pdf

Nancy Ross, Director of Communications
Pacific Institute
654 13th Street, Oakland, CA 94612
510-251-1600 x106
www.pacinst.org

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Oakland Local Intern

Oakland Local - Oakland's local news and community site - is seeking sales and marketing interns to work on sales and marketing promotion programs. Stipend plus commission, plus pride at keeping local dollars in the community.

Help support local media by helping local business sell to our communities.

Job requirements
* Bright, energetic and service-oriented personality with VERY strong networking abilities and good follow through
* Strong communication skills
* Able to travel around Oakland, CA
* Experienced in marketing products to retail businesses, yellow pages sales or other sales is a big plus
* Able to work evenings and weekends, with notice, if needed
* Have your own laptop

Who we need?
* Are you an entrepreneurial, computer-literate person, 18 or older, with interest and/or experience in sales, marketing and promotion?
* Able to be part of a team and take direction, but also make it happen on your own? * Have that drive and focus to sell?
* Want to be part of an exciting local endeavor that's making positive social change and building community in Oakland?
* Do you have references that will speak to your work ethic, persuasiveness, problem-solving skills, ability to learn new things?
* Looking for a 10-15 an hour a week job that can grow into something more?

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is interested in selling our services/product to local businesses such as coffee shops, restaurants, dry cleaners and more.

Who we are
Join the advertising and sponsorship team at Oakland Local, the most visited community news nonprofit in the East Bay and named "One to Watch for 2010" by Mashable.com - the most visited tech blog on the Web.