When was the last time your term paper saved a national treasure?
Internships with Meaning
We all care deeply about our environment. We also know that, as a country, we
need to be taking more action to ensure that our environment is preserved,
especially when powerful interests stand in the way.
Environment America,
the federation of state-based environment groups, acts as a strong advocate on
a broad range environmental issues, including promoting energy efficiency,
protecting our open spaces, cleaning up our air and water, and to advancing
global warming solutions. We speak out and take action at the local, state, and
national levels to protect our precious natural resources.
Our approach works; we have been a part of many important victories for the
environment. Our efforts to pass renewable energy standards in the states has
already resulted in decreasing global warming pollution – the equivalent of
taking 1.5 million cars off the road. We have protected pristine wilderness
areas across the country, including 4 million acres of forests in Colorado
and convinced Michigan to
protect three key ecological areas in the state. We have kept safe countless
waterways, including designating 45 waterways for Clean Water Act protections
in New Jersey
and passing an ocean protection bill in California. Most
recently, Environment America championed the energy bill that Congress passed
and the President signed into law.
“I actually got to participate in every aspect of the campaign and see what it
is like to be an advocate on a daily basis…It was awesome to actually meet with
congressmen and it really made me feel like I was directly involved in the
process.”
– Angela Kilbert, College
of William
& Mary Student and Environment America Intern
“This internship was so much more than I expected. I liked the opportunity to
work on substantive things…and found the staffers to be so enthusiastic and
helpful. The mentor program is a great way for us to…focus on an issue that
particularly interested us. All my friends were jealous of my internship. ”
– Jill Bunting, Harvard University
Student and Environment America Intern
Internship Description
Internships with Environment America offer students a unique, mentored
experience. Interns work one-on-one with one of Environment America’s advocates
or campaign organizers. Interns acquire the basic skills to analyze issues and
put together solutions to problems that threaten our environment. Interns learn
that activism and participation in the democratic process yield results. Though
responsibilities vary, most internships include:
- Conducting research into critical environmental problems and preparing investigative reports
- Coordinating media events, assisting in the preparation of news releases and opinion pieces
- Attending meetings with lawmakers and other decision makers
- Working with coalition partners and state-based environment federation
- Monitoring the progress of legislation in Congress and the actions of Federal agencies
Interns may also have the opportunity to attend local, regional, and national
program briefings and trainings where they learn more about environmental issues
and gain political skills. Summer interns participate in “brown bag lunch”
discussions with leaders within Environment America and our federation of
state-based environment offices as well as leaders within other organizations.
Although Environment America internships are unpaid, students may receive
academic credit from their college or university.
Qualifications
- A strong commitment to Environment America’s issues
- Strong writing and analytical skills
- The ability to debate and speak persuasively
- An enthusiasm for the work
Available Internships
Field Internship: Work with Environment America’s campaign and advocacy staff
to demonstrate support for Environment America’s issues at the state and
national level. Over the course of the internship, you will learn the basics of
a variety of issues, and then reach out to individuals, media outlets,
organizations, and decision-makers to build visibility and gain their support.
Legislative Internship: Over the course of the internship you will work with
Environment America’s advocacy staff gaining in-depth knowledge on one or two
specific issues. You may help to research and write reports, organize media
events, build national coalitions, and lobby governmental or corporate
decision-makers in support of specific policy proposals.
Social Networking Internship: Over the course of the internship, you will work with
Environment America’s Web Team to engage the public through internet organizing, write blog posts, respond to breaking news and requests for information, increase our online following, and produce interesting material for our online outreach.
How To Apply
Interested students should e-mail a compelling cover letter, resume, and short writing sample (1-2 pages) to:
Jenn Kaufer
Internship Coordinator
DCInternships@EnvironmentAmerica.org
For your writing sample, please write a persuasive essay responding to a recent article in the news. Select an article that interests you personally. The position you take should be your personal point of view; please do not play devil's advocate.
It should only take up 30 minutes of your time and should be no more than two pages. If you already have a prepared writing sample under two pages that you feel accurately reflects your writing ability for this internship, then you may provide this instead.
For more information please call or email Rachel Antonoff at 202-683-1250 or DCInternships@EnvironmentAmerica.org – or visit www.environmentamerica.org