Redefining Progress, Summer Internship (Oakland Downtown, CA)

Date: 2008-04-10, 3:53PM PDT


Company Description: Redefining Progress is a policy institute that provides research, tools and solutions that help people grow the economy and protect the environment. We achieve our impact by linking ground-breaking analysis to strategic communications and powerful partnerships with business, government, advocacy, and grassroots leadership.

Job Descriptions: We are currently seeking interns for the summer quarter. We aim to provide interns with the rewarding and challenging experience of being an active participant in the shaping of public policy, social change, and a new vision of progress where everyone enjoys a high-quality of life within the means of nature.

Internships are scheduled according to program director and intern convenience, but roughly follow the academic semester schedule. We accept both full-time and part-time interns, with a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week for three months (Some programs prefer a longer commitment). At the present time, RP only offers unpaid internship opportunities.

Internships are currently available in our Oakland office.


Sustainable Economics

Research Intern
The internship focuses on advancing the use of market-based policies — especially taxes and tradable permits — to better harmonize environmental health, social justice and economic growth. The position will combine quality original scholarship with application of these instruments to real-world problems at the local, state, national and international level. The person who will succeed in this position is a quick, meticulous, self-directed individual with advanced quantitative and communication skills. The intern will work in close cooperation with the Director of the Sustainable Economics Program.
Specific qualifications include:

• Ability to perform complex research tasks without close supervision.
• Excellent computer skills, including spreadsheets, ability to manipulate matrices, and ability to use and analyze large data sets in various formats and media.
• Mathematical skills on the order of at least a junior in economics or engineering. Graduate students are also strongly encouraged to apply.
• Ability to quickly locate and effectively summarize the literature (primarily economic) in an area of study.
• Knowledge of statistics and econometrics.
• Excellent research and writing skills.

Political Interns
Track legislation and political developments in state-level tax shifting. Assist in outreach and coalition building with environmental, business, and organized labor groups, legislators, executive staff, and press to promote the use of environmental fees and charges to address state budget crises. May be asked to support other sustainability initiatives.



Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative

EJCC is seven years strong and ever committed to building power within our national coalition. With renewed support from our membership to take on the challenge of shifting debate from climate change to climate justice, the next 12 to 18 months stand to be the most powerful in Environmental Justice History.

Researcher/Coordinator
Work closely with EJCC initiative project staff to coordinate communications with initiative partners throughout the U.S. and conduct initiative related research. This position requires excellent oral and written communications, web and library research skills, and the ability to work with a diverse array of people. All applicants should have an academic background in economics, political science, or environmental studies; strong writing skills; quantitative and/or qualitative research experience and/or skills (or strong interest/aptitude in acquiring them). Persons of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Program Intern
The EJCC program intern will work closely with EJCC program staff to provide assistance in project coordination in community education and organizing, monthly newsletter development, policy and other initiative-related research, administrative & accounting support, and possible event planning. Required skills include a passion for environmental justice and policy, strong written and oral communication, good organization, web and library research experience and an overall self-motivation and dedication to the workplace. Experience in education and/or community organizing is a major plus.

Web Editor
Intern assists with HTML writing and production, web page layout and graphics of expanding EJCC website. This position may also require Internet research. Position requires web production skills, a good eye for design, strong writing skills, and good information organization skills.

Media & Strategic Communications Intern
Specifically, our media team will be behind and in front of cameras and laptops documenting the recent history and upcoming history-making waves of EJCC and its member organizations. On the docket: a fully interactive website and e-advocacy campaign, public relations strategizing, social networking for political education, new media production and skills sharing workshops, redesign of curriculum, creation of new tools and materials for climate justice organizing and civic engagement around just policy.
Over the next few months, we will:

• Develop and distribute a Climate Justice Toolkit
• Launch a membership org media capacity assessment, and then plan
• Build a press database
• Compile justice scholarship opportunities for students
• Research in various related social justice issue areas
• Update and release national EJ/CJ resource guide (online)
• Create EJ/CJ map (Google earth and on-line database)
• Produce two to three documentaries

To see the complete listing go to:
http://www.volunteermatch.org/results/opp_detail.jsp?oppid=387112

Communications/Development

The Communications/Development Intern
Intern will participate in various projects, depending upon skills and interests of the intern and project needs. Internship projects include grant research and writing grant proposals, letters of inquiry and donor correspondence; website content development; creating and maintaining a media contact list; writing press releases, letters to editors, etc.; tracking and archiving RP’s media coverage and media and donor outreach efforts; and performing mail merges and data entry. The intern will gain experience in strategic communications and general fundraising principles, office skills, and an introduction to the fundraising software Raiser’s Edge and Convio. Strong writing and organizational skills required. Experience with website management and/or any contact management system a plus.


Qualifications: To apply for an internship, please send the following three items:

• Cover letter explaining (1) why you want to work for Redefining Progress, (2) the area or areas in which you are interested, and (3) the dates you will be available to do the internship
• Resume
• Brief (2-4 page) writing sample

You can access further intern information on our website at: http://www.redefiningprogress.org/newabout/jobs.shtml
Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. Please apply ASAP indicating the dates you are available to work. Email submissions: internships@rprogress.org. You may also fax your materials to 510-444-3191 or mail them to:

Intern Coordinator
Redefining Progress
1904 Franklin Street, 6th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
A limited number of paid internships are available depending upon need and experience.

Date Posted on Original Website: 4/10/08

• This is at a non-profit organization.
• This is an internship job
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
• Phone calls about this job are ok.
• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

PostingID: 637783268

Posted by Danna Sadetsky