Federal Policy Fellowship

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network seeks a talented Policy Fellow to assist the Federal Director with research, policy development, and outreach. This fellowship is especially designed for students of color seeking to gain experience in the areas of climate change and environmental justice, especially students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, although qualifying candidates from any school are encouraged to apply.

 

About Us 

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) is the only group in the Chesapeake region of Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. dedicated exclusively to building a powerful grassroots movement to fight climate change. We envision an equitable energy future where truly clean sources of power — such as solar and wind — sustain every aspect of our lives, and dirty fossil fuels are phased out. We strive to include principles of justice and equity in every policy that we advocate for, with the knowledge that racial and social justice is foundational to climate justice.

Last year, we won some huge victories, highlighted by the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. Now, we’re making sure that those legislative wins turn into real climate action. We are taking our “Inflation Reduction Act Roadshow” on a tour of the region to educate people about the opportunities and funding available through this legislation. We are mobilizing alongside the friends we made during the fight to pass that bill to stop harmful fossil fuel projects across the country, like the Willow Project. And we continue to advocate on Capitol Hill for critical legislation in the farm bill to lower methane emissions in agriculture. 

About the Position 

The Policy fellow will have the skills, passion and commitment to take on one of the biggest problems facing our planet. A successful candidate must be able to quickly learn about the climate challenges facing our region, the policies on the table to address these challenges, and the legislative process. 

What You Will Do

The primary responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to: 

  • Climate Change Issue Education and Advocacy 
    • Work alongside CCAN’s Federal team and our allies to promote bold climate action, including implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act
    • Contribute to lobbying materials for key policy changes with the opportunity to lobby alongside the Federal Director
    • Attend/assist in organizing key campaign mobilizations, such as rallies, webinars, or other event
  • Research and content creation
    • Assist the Federal Director and policy team with issue research and the creation of materials such as factsheets, white papers, blog posts, and social media content relevant to our policy priorities
  • Administrative duties and CCAN team expectations
    • Attend internal meetings to learn about and support the work CCAN does across the region on the state and local level
    • Assist the CCAN field team with grassroots organizing and outreach as it pertains to Federal policy goals
    • Work with and learn from the various departments within CCAN including communications, state policy, and field

Qualifications 

The successful candidate will display many of the following capabilities and qualities: 

  • Passion to learn more about climate policy; familiarity with climate issues is a plus.
  • Commitment to environmental justice and amplifying the voices of those being victimized by extreme extraction and the effects of climate change; including Indigenous Americans, Black and Latino communities, low and moderate income communities, rural communities, and struggling farm families.
  • Strong dedication to justice, equity, and inclusion 
  • Ability to work with social media and digital tools to convey complex ideas in accessible ways
  • Ability to work independently while working effectively with a team and seeking feedback and support when needed. 
  • Strong time management skills. 
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Proven ability to be self-driven, while working effectively with a team 
  • Proven ability to multitask, while prioritizing measurable results 

The Details

CCAN is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse workforce. We value bringing a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives on staff because it makes us smarter and more effective at what we do and, ultimately, we want our staff and supporters to reflect the communities we organize.

This position is based in CCAN’s Takoma Park office. There will be occasional opportunities to work on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Mileage reimbursement is available for all CCAN-required travel except travel to and from the office (commute). The Federal Policy Fellow reports to the Federal Director. 

Compensation is $16.10 per hour for 20 hours per week during the summer over a period of 15 weeks. 

How to Apply

Please fill out the Google form application linked here to apply. We will continue reviewing applications until the position is filled but preference for interviews will be given to candidates who apply before March 21, 2023. You will be prompted to answer a series of short questions and asked to submit a resume and writing sample. Please contact jobs@chesapeakeclimate.org with any questions.

Mobility for All: the Fight for Public Transit

CCAN honors today, February 4, Transit Equity Day and the birthdate of civil rights advocate Rosa Parks. In 1955, Ms. Parks helped spur a national movement against racist Jim Crow policies by refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, resulting in a year long bus boycott. 

CCAN is a proud advocate for frequent and far-reaching public transit to combat climate change and promote mobility for all. Access to reliable and safe public transportation directly leads to improved economic outcomes and quality of life, while reducing air pollution and mitigating climate change. The transportation sector accounts for more than half of our carbon emissions, yet here in the Commonwealth few options exist for those reliant on public transit. Freedom of mobility remains only for the privileged. 

A plan for democracy in transit decision-making

In the fall of 2021, I teamed up with RVA Rapid Transit to apply for the Virginia Walkability Action Institute (VWAI). This program is a joint project by the Center for Disease Control and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to promote active transportation and public transit in the Commonwealth. We came in with a broad intention to elevate the voices and lived experiences of bus riders to the rooms where the decisions about public transit are made. We went through a series of lectures led by VDH’s Dr. Milicent Miller and Equitable Cities founder Charles Brown. We eventually came up with an action plan for a multi weeklong program that mirrored a lot of the information that we had learned in this course to pass onto those in our community. We decided to begin a biannual Mobility University.

We took to the streets to collect stories and start building out our advocate base. This past summer, CCAN and RVA Rapid Transit canvassed Richmond city bus stops garnering feedback on public transit related issues, like increased frequency & coverage, essential infrastructure and remaining zero free for everyone. We were armed with voice recorders and surveys to collect data. We handed out water and fans as we discussed the lacking infrastructure to protect passengers from the heat of the summer. 

These videos and statements were brought forth to City Council meetings and Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) board meetings, to put actual rider experiences in front of those with the power. Getting to 8 am board meetings (off of a bus line that only runs hourly) proves difficult for someone juggling multiple jobs, and we wanted to ensure that everyone’s voices were heard – even if they couldn’t commit to showing up in person at Mobility University. Additionally, from these encounters, we secured a group of 10 individuals from all over the city together to be a part of our inaugural effort.

Mobility University: a training ground for bus advocates

In the fall 2022, CCAN and RVART put on the first iteration of Mobility University, dedicated to educating and empowering bus riders for self advocacy in the transit world. We tackled topics like a history of transit, walkability, transit governance. We also worked to hone our skills as advocates with sessions like testifying and storytelling for change. By the end of our time, we held a graduation for our first class with representation from GRTC in attendance. 

All of our work has resulted in some major wins! Last month, the GRTC board, in response to our outpouring of support, decided to continue to fund the zero free initiative. Through a grant from the VWAI program, we created a standalone project that relates the experience of Richmond public transit to a diverse audience in an easy and palatable way. You can check out this video (in both English and Spanish) that highlights the rider experience and why well-funded transit systems are essential. The viewing party, which we co-hosted with RVART and VAIPL, was attended by over 50 people.

What’s left in the fight

We still have work to do. In conversations with the GRTC, RVART and CCAN are working to put together a transit riders advisory group, which would serve as a key consultant on decisions made in regards to transit in the Richmond metro area. We also need to take action now in the General Assembly session to ensure that we continue to prioritize public transit! State lawmakers are currently considering a great bill that would invest in transit funding, and you, regardless of where you live in the Commonwealth, can help.

Tell your state legislators to SUPPORT HB2338/SB1326. Ensure that we utilize all of the current public transit funding to the best of its ability. Send a quick message today!