Climate Justice Advocacy and Program Intern

Position:  Climate Justice Advocacy and Program Intern

Position Type: 15 hours/week, In-person in Washington, D.C. and Hybrid

Compensation: $18/hour

Timeframe: January 8th 2024 – May 17th, 2024

 

Organizational Background:

Interfaith Power & Light inspires and mobilizes people of faith and conscience to take bold and just action on climate change. We work with individuals and faith communities of all major faith traditions across the nation. We work in all 50 states and U.S. territories with a broad national network of state- and regional-level affiliates.

Interfaith Power & Light envisions a stable climate where humans live in a right and just relationship, interconnected with a healthy, thriving, natural world. Founded in California in 2000, our main office is now located in Washington, D.C., with many staff located remotely across the country.

 

Interfaith Power & Light is actively working to become an anti-racist organization. We believe that relationships must be centered in justice and equity within the human family, as well as with all of the natural world. We must strive together toward this sacred goal. Learn more about our commitment.

About the Interfaith Power & Lights Advocacy Work

IPL mobilizes people of faith and conscience to take action on climate change and care for those who are most harmed by its impacts. As people of faith and conscience, our shared values call us to care for our neighbors and to protect our Sacred Earth for current and future generations.

We advocate for climate justice policies to address the climate crisis and protect our neighbors and communities. As communities of faith, we advocate alongside our environmental justice partners for bold and just solutions to the climate crisis.

IPL advocates for policy change based on these principles developed with our faith partners and IPL’s Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusiveness principles.

About the Position

This position helps advance federal climate justice and democracy protection policies. You’ll learn basic advocacy skills, media relations, Hill lobbying skills, and work with leading national faith and environmental groups advocating for climate justice.

The Advocacy Intern works with IPL staff to support our overall advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., and across the country.

The issue areas of work will be focused on both administrative and legislative actions. The Fellow will support these areas of IPL’s advocacy agenda:

Increase President Biden’s climate ambition and ensure that the administration works across the federal government to meet Biden’s promise to cut climate pollution in half by 2030 and deliver strong public health protections for all communities, including those historically overburdened by pollution;
Advance U.S. international climate policy commitments;
Ensure our democracy is protected and strengthened;
Defend and advance climate justice in Congress on TBD legislative work.

The position will also provide support our Faith Climate Action Week (FCAW) work, IPL’s annual premier week of climate action. IPL invites faith leaders across the nation to preach and teach about the moral call to care for the Earth to inspire people of faith and conscience to take action on climate.

The position will work with IPL partners, affiliates, and staff to provide support and IPL representation at Washington, D.C., Hill events, IPL events, or coalition events. Additionally, the position will support IPL’s annual May lobby day as well as media events. The Intern will also provide support for faith partners coalition advocacy.

The Fellow reports to IPL’s Federal Policy Manager who is based in Washington D.C.

Responsibilities:

Hill and Administrative Advocacy Support (40%)

Assist in creating advocacy materials for policy priorities
Attend coalition meetings and events
Join and help schedule IPL and partner Hill and Administrative meetings
Support IPL’s May Day on the Hill for our affiliates
Schedule and track meetings for affiliates
Assist in material preparation
Assist in affiliate briefings and trainings
Accompany affiliates in meetings
Track meeting reporting
Policy analysis and campaign research
Assist with policy briefings to the network and partners

Communications (20%)

Help develop campaign materials
Support press events and help generate earned media
Draft and submit 2 letters to the editor to hometown newspapers
Provide logistical support at press events, helping arrange logistics, take pictures and video and upload them to IPL’s photo folder in a timely manner.

Faith Climate Action Week support (30%)

Support our program team with shipping and coordinating Faith Climate Action Week materials to congregations around the country.
Research and assist in developing worship resources.

Other internal duties, as assigned (10%)

Help with data entry and tracking of campaign accomplishments
Share updates and resources across the IPL network
Attend May IPL Conference and join other staff in providing logistical support for the conference
Participate in overall organization events and staff meetings.
Assist IPL’s development team in drafting funder proposals and reports for the campaign.
Provide support for IPL virtual events
Attend IPL staff meetings with IPL staff and IPL network quarterly Zoom meetings

Experience and Qualifications:

Interest in climate justice
Commitment to IPL’s JEDI statement
Experience working on a political or issue campaign for an advocacy group
Experience working with volunteers
Excellent research, writing, and communication skills.
Project management experience and strong leadership skills.
Strategic thinking skills
Proficiency in Google applications, Microsoft Office programs, and Zoom.

Additional Desired Skills:

Experience working with an environmental organization or with a church, a synagogue, or other house or worship or religious organization
An understanding of interfaith-ness and the climate movement
Experience working with the media
Creative and design experience

IPL is committed to advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming a diversity of voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet’s most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically underrepresented in the environmental movement.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We strongly encourage diverse applicants to apply.

To apply:

Please send a cover letter and resume by December 5th to hr@interfaithpowerandlight.org with the email subject Climate Justice Advocacy and Program Intern.