Organizing Intern

Job Title: Rio Hondo Organizing Intern (Part-time) Department: Angeles Chapter Location: Hybrid - northern Orange County area Reports To: Conservation Program Manager Supervises: n/a Duration: 10 hours per week for up to 6 months 

Context: At the Sierra Club we believe in the power of togetherness. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel inequity, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our democracy. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to believe that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government should advance our collective humanity rather than oppress it. 

Scope: The Rio Hondo Group spans Northern Orange County and part of Eastern LA County. The Intern position would involve coordination with the Group and the Chapter in forming a Student Group on the California State University Fullerton (CSUF) Campus.  We want to infuse energy and time into establishing a strong environmental presence on campus and in the area. The Rio Hondo Group Organizing intern will be primarily focused on CSUF, with some possible outreach in nearby colleges and surrounding communities. The intern will help start a campus Sierra Club group and develop at least 5 volunteer leaders to join the campus group’s leadership structure in 2024. This intern will be instrumental in training new volunteer leaders for the chapter, including training in  organizing skills, political action, and environmental leadership.

Job activities include but are not limited to:

• Helping support and coordinate a Campus organizing effort to start a campus Sierra Club student group. This includes meeting with related campus organizations.
• Facilitate conversations with the student group to identify environmental issues and support them to work on them using Sierra Club resources and expertise and take advantage of Sierra Club outings and social events.
• Support student members to get involved with existing Sierra Club leadership opportunities and activities.
• Tracking progress in outreach efforts.
• Use digital tools to create communications for outreach such as Flyer/get out on social media for campuses and local community libraries and businesses.
• Hosting at least 4 meetings over the 6 months and training volunteers to continue your work beyond 2024.
• Attending Rio Hondo group meetings and providing updates on their work.
• Meet weekly with the Conservation Program Coordinator and other staff within the Chapter to strategize, plan and coordinate actions

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:

• Strong Communication skills. Able to ask clarifying questions to gather necessary information and context. Responsive to communication from partners, teammates and other collaborators.
• Self-starter once the plan is outlined with clear, realistic and tangible goals.
• Self-awareness. Keen on time management, limitations, and capacity. Able to communicate needs with manager and teammates/collaborators.
• Adaptable. Able to pivot, adjust and strategize through challenges and new information that may lead to different outcomes and approaches.
• Committed to evolution. You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility. And you easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate.
• Uplifting and additive. You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions, and inspire others along the journey. You carry a constructive approach, can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go.
• Knowledge of Google Suite tools