Community Action for Sustainable Alameda (CASA), a nonprofit based in Alameda, CA, is offering part-time internships this fall for graduate students and undergrads interested in sustainability, equity, and public policy. CASA partners closely with City staff, and intern projects are designed to support the implementation of the City’s award-winning Climate Action & Resiliency Plan.
Project descriptions
The Climate Fund Intern will analyze and make a recommendation to City leadership on all aspects of a Climate Fund for the City of Alameda. Aspects include how revenue is raised, how revenue is spent, and how the fund is administered. The fund should advance the City’s goals for climate, resilience, and social equity. Several ballot measures to establish climate funds are being considered this fall in the Bay Area, so it is an exciting time to work on this type of initiative.
The Social Equity Intern will build upon and synthesize the City’s existing equity work, in particular a Social Vulnerability Assessment (SVA) that was part of the City’s 2019 climate action plan. The intern will update the 2019 SVA to incorporate the digital divide and transportation equity. The intern may also establish more specific and accountable metrics, an equity checklist for projects, and lay the groundwork for a local definition of “disadvantaged communities” which is a designation often used in allocation of state and federal funds.
The Electrification Policy Intern will analyze the City’s current trajectory toward its 2030 greenhouse gas goals and recommend policies that will decrease emissions from existing buildings, which constitute 30 percent of Alameda’s total. The intern will develop appropriate metrics and incorporate them into the City’s online climate dashboard, draft reach codes and other policies designed to reduce emissions, and recommend strategies for addressing other barriers to building electrification such as consumer perception and contractor training.
Logistical details
This is a part-time position that requires 10-12 hours a week for 12 weeks, from September 7 to November 27. We intend to offer a $1000-1500 stipend but are in the process of securing funding, so the stipend is not guaranteed. This internship is remote.
About the organization
CASA was formed in 2008 as a nonprofit partner of the City of Alameda in order to support the implementation of the City’s first climate action plan. CASA’s membership holds expertise in a variety of local sustainability sectors, including housing, transportation, zero waste, energy, and climate adaptation. For the last three years, CASA has partnered with City staff to supervise interns working on sustainability research projects. Previous interns have come from Brown University and UC Berkeley.
How to apply
Send a resume and cover letter to info@casa-alameda.org by the end of day Sunday August 23rd. Please indicate which internship positions you are interested in and why. If more than one, please rank your choices. Students of any educational background are welcome to apply as long as they are able to demonstrate why they are drawn to an internship in local government sustainability policy in this moment of their career.