2021-22 CivicSpark Projects

Host Partner: Clear Lake Environmental Research Center
Partner Location: Lakeport, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation| Wildfire Resilience
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, GIS Mapping, Flexibility/Adaptability
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote

THE PROJECT

Lake County has been severely impacted by catastrophic wildfires in recent years, with nearly three quarters of the land in the County having burned since 2015. In 2018, in response to the fires, local leaders formed the Lake County Community Risk Reduction Authority (RRA), a Joint Powers Authority consisting of the County of Lake and all five local Fire Protection Districts. A first of its kind authority in the state, the RRA was formed to support the entire county in fire resiliency efforts. The Clear Lake Environmental Research Center (CLERC), a nonprofit organization serving Lake County, is coordinating projects throughout the County to help combat the impacts of wildfire, promote positive regeneration of burned areas, and preserve the forest and woodlands that have not been destroyed by fire. CLERC’s overall goal is to work with the RRA and other partners to increase the amount of land in Lake County being actively managed for fire resilience. CLERC was recently awarded a $3M grant from CAL FIRE to complete a series of fire resiliency projects including fuel reduction on both public and private land, development of a regional prioritization plan to streamline development of future projects, and support an ongoing ecological restoration workforce development program operated by a local education nonprofit. The regional prioritization plan is a key component to capturing future funding for landscape-scale fire resilience projects in Lake County and reducing the overall impacts of wildfires in the future.

The Fellow will collaborate with partners in the community to develop a fire resilience prioritization plan for the Authority. The Fellow will assist with all aspects of the plan development process including scoping, public outreach, data inventory and collection, GIS mapping, and technical report writing. To provide a broader view of fire resilience and forest health projects, the Fellow will also assist CLERC staff in implementation of fuel reduction and reforestation projects on both public and private lands. The work will involve integration of GIS data with various forest management activities and environmental permitting depending on the details of each specific project site. These projects will also entail on-site monitoring with mobile GIS applications, which will be developed and refined as part of the project. The resources to be developed by the Fellow will include the prioritization plan that will allow the RRA to concentrate its resources on the highest priority projects. 

The Lake County Risk Reduction Authority is in the process of expanding its membership to include all of the incorporated city governments in the county (Lakeport and Clearlake) and a tribal representative, in addition to the county government, the Lake County Watershed Protection District, and all five local fire protection districts. These agencies will be the service recipients of the Fellow’s work.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The ideal Fellow will be passionate about forest health and wildfire resiliency and also be highly organized, willing to take ownership of project goals, and comfortable coordinating with a wide range of people and interests. The Fellow will also need to have had some previous exposure to ArcGIS and be somewhat familiar with different plants and vegetation types. The Fellow will also need to enjoy working with people and technology both indoors and outdoors.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

Founded in 2014, CLERC is still a relatively new organization that has only recently stepped into the role of coordinating forest health and fire resiliency projects in Lake County. CLERC hired their first Executive Director in October 2019 and has a small, but growing staff. The Fellow will get a chance to help shape CLERC’s workplace culture during a critical organizational growth period. Working with CLERC will allow the Fellow to be exposed to a variety of topics and fields including project management, GIS, forestry, wildfire resilience, contracting, grant compliance, budgeting, and community partnership building. CLERC works with partners across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to achieve our mission.

Many of the projects that CLERC pursues are one-of-a-kind in nature, therefore the solutions developed are not simply redoing work completed elsewhere, but are actually solving local problems by developing local solutions. Through the CivicSpark Fellowship, CLERC approaches mentorship by presenting problems to the Fellow and working with them, our partners, and the community to create workable solutions. Work tasks are not simply assigned by the site supervisor for the Fellow to complete, but are developed collaboratively among the team. Oftentimes implementation utilizes adaptive management where Fellows need to adjust their workflows and tasks based through on-going feedback from the partners and community.

Lake County is one of the most ecologically and geologically diverse counties in California. It is home to Clear Lake, the largest natural lake in the state and oldest lake in North America, and to Mount Konocti, a 4,300-foot tall volcano. It is, in part, home to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and the Mendocino National Forest. The County is also home to the largest geothermal power complex in the world, known as the Geysers. Lake County is believed to have had the longest continuous human habitation (17,000 years) of anywhere in the nation, largely due to the abundance of natural resources centered around Clear Lake.

Host Partner: Lake County Water Resources Department
Partner Location: Lakeport, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Water Management and/or Policy
Desired Skills: Project Management, Communication, Data Collection
Remote or On-Site Preference: On-Site Preference

 THE PROJECT

 The role of the CivicSpark Fellow in the Water Resources Department will be leading the development of a Clear Lake Shoreline Stewardship Program. They will conduct watershed stewardship activities that aim to enhance the way that the Department manages the Clear Lake Watershed, including the lake, shoreline, connecting tributaries and wetlands. The Fellow will have the goal of continuing the shoreline survey work initiated by the current 2020-2021 CivicSpark Fellows. They will utilize the following tools: digital tablets, GIS, smart phones, Survey 123 tools and technology to characterize shorelines based on development, differentiating between natural and built infrastructure. 

The project outcome would result in the lakebed managers prioritizing areas of restoration, developing more relevant management policies and procedures. To supplement this work, the Fellow will lead the research and development of a natural shoreline stewards program which will incentivize citizens and businesses that live along the lake to install and maintain natural shorelines instead of hardscapes or seawalls. This task will involve reviewing other existing programs in the country to develop training, outreach materials, guidance documents, presentations for workgroups and town halls. The work that the CivicSpark Fellow completes in collaboration with the Water Resources Department will help with community engagement to boost the resources and local knowledge around the importance of natural shorelines for the improvement of Clear Lake water quality and natural habitats. 

 Additional tasks include the support of existing aquatic invasive species programs and projects. The Fellow will play a strong role in the development and early implementation of an adaptive management plan for the strategic and long-term planning of invasive species removal and native plant restoration along the shoreline of Clear Lake. The Fellow will also support stream and shoreline surveys, conducting habitat evaluations, mapping invasive, native plant and wildlife, developing training documents for restoration and invasive species removal crews, providing assistance to stormwater staff in developing and distributing stormwater education and outreach materials, and providing assistance in water quality and quantity sampling and monitoring programs.

 The Lake County Water Resources Department is responsible for the preservation, health and growth of Clear Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in California. In order to promote an environmentally and economically healthy watershed, the Water Resources Department is identified by two main branches – Lakebed Management and Lake County Watershed Protection District. These branches encompass all of the programs and projects that work towards the goal of sustainable watershed management for Clear Lake. 

 SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

 The ideal Fellow will be comfortable being on the water and working in a small vessel and/or kayak in order to collect data, along with working in a variety of field conditions. Interest in local government and day to day operations will also be of benefit. A sense of enthusiasm, strong project management skills, experience with ArcGIS and Microsoft Office (Excel), formal writing abilities, community outreach and strong communication skills are important for Fellows serving with the Lake County Water Resources Department.

 PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

Settled between Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Counties, Lake County is a rural Northern California community with a population of a little under 65,000 residents. With the Mayacamas Mountains running along the Westside portion of the county, one of the oldest lakes in the country and largest in the state of California in the northernmost part of the county, and rolling hills in between, Lake County is a unique and beautiful gem of Northern California. Although a rural county, Lake County prides itself on creating a sense of community. From the Annual Kelseyville Pear Festival, The Clear Lake Seaplane Splash In, farmers markets, the weekly live music events that occur throughout the County to guided nature hikes, there is constantly something to do to immerse yourself in the quaint and welcoming community of Lake County.

 This sense of community also rolls over to the Lake County Water Resources Department. The Department has 15 employees, the Water Resources staff works as a team within the Department along with other local agencies, departments, and tribes to fulfill its mission and the community’s mission in protecting Clear Lake and its watershed. The Fellows will quickly gain the understanding that it takes a village to fulfill this mission – this will be of benefit to the Fellows as they will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the multiple projects and programs under the Lake County Water Resources Department. From Flood Management, Aquatic Plant Management, Highland Springs Recreation Area, Invasive Mussel Prevention, Middle Creek Restoration Project, Clean Water Program, to Sustainable Groundwater Management, the Fellows will have plenty of opportunity to hone in on professional development skills such as GIS, community outreach, report writing, project management, and data management.

The work that the CivicSpark Fellow completes in collaboration with the Lake County Water Resources Department will help with community engagement to boost the resources and local knowledge around the importance of natural shorelines for the improvement of Clear Lake water quality and natural habitats. 

The Fellow will have access to:

• All relevant training will be paid for by the Water Resources Department: boater training, SWAMP methods, etc.
• Field equipment such as boat safety gear, waders, rain boots, sun protection, and rain jackets will be provided.
• Access to County vehicles and vessels.
• Access to software and technology needed to conduct and analyze data.

Host Partner: County of Mendocino
Partner Location: Ukiah, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Affordable Housing, Wildfire Resilience
Desired Skills: Project Management, Flexibility/Adaptability, Technical Writing
Remote or On-Site Preference: Hybrid

 THE PROJECT

The County of Mendocino is a general law county, a subdivision of the state, and represented by five non-partisan elected Board of Supervisors. This year, the Fellow will support two main project areas: the Board of Supervisors approved county-wide strategic plan as well as a plan that lists “shovel-ready” disaster prevention and resiliency projects. 

Project 1: The Board of Supervisors has created a strategic planning ad hoc committee to work on a strategic plan focusing on governance organization, economic development, public safety, and social services safety net. The board members will start the planning process this summer. Topics such as environmental and social equity and affordable housing will be part of the planning process. The Fellow will be working directly with the board of supervisors, primarily with the ad hoc committee, to put together and compose the strategic plan.

Project 2: The County’s Disaster Recovery Division has transitioned to focus on prevention, resiliency, and mitigation projects. The Division will work with local stakeholders to form prevention, resiliency, and mitigation projects. The Fellow will work with County staff and community stakeholders to identify and address any unmet needs in regards to disaster recovery efforts. In the effort, environmental, social equity, and other unmet needs are identified and projects formulated to address those unmet needs.

Overall, the Fellow will offer logistical, research, and technical writing support to ensure Mendocino County has the capacity to create the strategic and resiliency plans in order to carry out the long term goals listed within those plans. 

 SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

 The Fellow will be working directly with the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors and high level executives. The Fellow is desired to be a self-starter, critical thinker, organized, not afraid to ask questions, a strong technical writer, and not afraid to engage with the public. This is a fast-paced environment and priorities could change. The Fellow is desired to be able to shift priorities.

 PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

 The County follows the high performance model where leadership responsibilities come from all levels of the organization. The Fellow will be working in the Executive Office where they will be allowed to take initiative and “own” their project while being mentored by experienced staff.

 The Fellow will gain first-hand experience working with leaders and high level executives.  It’ll be a rare learning opportunity to work with elected officials and gain networking opportunities.

Mendocino County is located in Northern California and just 2-3 hours drive from the Bay Area and Sacramento. It has a unique coastline and inland forests that allow opportunities to visit famous destinations such as Glass Beach, Skunk Train, and countless beach parks and wineries. The Fellow will work in the incorporated city of Ukiah, a small town with mom and pops restaurants with major brands such as Costco and In-N-Out.

Host Partner: Placer County Air Pollution Control District
Partner Location: Auburn, CA (on-site)
Openings: 1 of 1
Project Focus: Wildfire Resilience
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Data Collection, Communication
Remote or On-Site Preference: On-site

THE PROJECT

The Placer County Forest Resilience Fellow would work under the direct guidance and mentorship of the County’s Regional Forest Health Coordinator with input and support from two managers with the APCD’s biomass and forest management initiative.

The Fellow would take a lead role in conducting the following tasks, with direction and support from their supervisors:

• Project 1 – Build a Community Engagement Process:
  Outreach to relevant groups or organizations with information on key goals and objectives
  draft community action plan for integration into a county-wide forest health and wildfire risk reduction plan
• Project 2 – Develop Climate Action Project List:
  Collect data for a searchable database of projects, including location, sponsor, cost, and expected emission reduction/avoided impact outcomes; develop messaging around forest health/wildfire prevention needs and benefits, to be incorporated into the county-wide plan and used by county departments and partners
• Project 3 – Additional Support:
  Assist with regional forest health coordination efforts that contribute to wildfire risk reduction and climate sustainability
• Project 4 – Biomass Conversion Technology Assessment
  Research and evaluate potential uses and pros and cons of various forest biomass conversion technologies
• Project 5 – Biomass Policy Tracking
  Identify and track state and federal legislation and resources relating to forest management, wildfire, and bioenergy
• Project 6 – Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Offsets
  Conduct research on the current GHG offset market (credit availability and cost) and opportunities for GHG offsets that could be used to fund wildfire prevention programs
  develop a GHG offset protocol for approval by a GHG offset registry

 SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

This project would be a good fit for a Fellow with:

• A general science and/or natural resources background
• Skills in communications, research, critical analysis, and outreach
• Public speaking skills along with the ability to explain natural processes to the general public

Desired but not required:

• Some exposure to/knowledge of forest health, wildfire, and/or biomass energy or other technologies
• An interest in reviewing and reporting on policy issues surrounding forest health, wildfire, air quality, and/or biomass

 PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

Placer County comprises over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from a mix of agricultural land and fast-growing suburban communities stretching from the Sacramento Valley to the historic foothill communities of California Gold Country, to the heavily forested and sparsely populated Sierra Nevada mountain range. East of the Sierra crest Placer includes the northern half of the Lake Tahoe Basin, a region of lakeside towns and world-famous recreational amenities. The government center, located in Auburn, is well-positioned 30 miles northeast of Sacramento, the State capital, which offers many opportunities to learn about and engage in statewide climate action issues and efforts. The County has a diverse environmental, social, and economic landscape. The Fellow would be part of a progressive team of planners that believes in close collaboration, empowering our peers, and having fun in the workplace.

As time and interest allows, the Fellow can participate – with guidance from the sponsors – in various regional or statewide groups and efforts, such as: the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, California Public Utilities Commission proceedings related to biomass and wildfire, Ad Hoc Biomass Working Group, California and Placer FireSafe Alliance, and more, along with exposure to and potential use of a variety of planning tools related to forest restoration and wildfire.  Also, depending on the Fellow’s potential needs once placed, co-hosting agencies would be open to exploring ways in which we could provide additional support, such as public transit passes, discounted services, etc., depending on the individual Fellow’s needs. And finally, the Fellow would have a number of specific deliverables, such as research reports, project lists, and/or planning documents, to add to their portfolio of work products for the future.

Host Partner: Sierra Nevada Alliance
Partner Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation
Desired Skills: Project Management, Flexibility/Adaptability, Technical Writing
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote O.K. (needs to be located within driving distance of South Lake Tahoe)

 THE PROJECT

 The City of South Lake Tahoe adopted its first climate action plan in October 2020. In addition to the adoption of this plan, the City continues to move forward with energy efficiency upgrades and a regional solar procurement project. Since the City currently has no dedicated sustainability staff, a CivicSpark Fellow will build capacity by implementing CAP strategies and helping the City reach their 100% resolution targets, in addition to collaborating with nearby towns on regional sustainability initiatives.

 The Sierra Nevada Alliance has a long history of supporting sustainable planning. Since 1998 Alliance staff have actively partnered with member groups and allies to develop and implement local and regional resources plans. These plans, in compliance with the greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets from SB 32 and SB 375, serve as models for a resilient and thriving Sierra region to successfully face unique economic, environmental, and societal challenges, including climate change. The Alliance’s Climate Resiliency Program goals consider both climate action planning and climate adaptation. We aid communities that are taking action on climate change by assisting in the development and implementation of climate action and adaptation plans. Similarly, we work to meet or exceed local renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. In accordance with our organizational goals, our team aims to provide assistance and resources to partners working on these types of initiatives, those that align with our mission.

The Alliance aims to support and build the capacity and increase the pace and scale of climate action implementation projects with the City of South Lake Tahoe. Through this project, the Fellow will help implement South Lake Tahoe’s newly adopted Climate Action Plan, gather and analyze data, and conduct public outreach/collaboration. The Fellow will also help push for energy efficiency upgrades and help coordinate the regional SEED Solar project and have the opportunity to develop communications material, facilitate and present to the public on regional climate mitigation and adaptation projects. 

 SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

 The ideal Fellow will have a background in sustainability, experience conducting outreach, public speaking, research and data analysis. The ability to take initiative and manage various stakeholder relationships and project goals is essential for this position.

 PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

 The Sierra Nevada Alliance is a progressive non-profit serving as a hub for conservation in the Sierra Nevada region. Working with us provides a great mix of learning non-profit work skills and government at the same time as we facilitate sustainability action with jurisdictions. Our culture is professional and fun! Living in Lake Tahoe provides for great recreational opportunities in all seasons.

 The Sierra Nevada Alliance hosts monthly webinars and trainings for its member groups and its own AmeriCorps (SNAP) members that the CivicSpark Fellow will have access to.

Host Partner: Town of Truckee
Partner Location: Truckee, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Alternative or Multimodal Transportation, Food Waste Recovery, Waste Reduction
Desired Skills: Spanish Fluency, Community Engagement, Data Analysis, Self-Motivation
Remote or On-Site Preference: On-site preferred

THE PROJECT

Truckee is a rural mountain town that strives to be a regional leader in sustainability. Like many resort towns, Truckee grapples with growth, affordability, environmental quality, and community resilience. But true to its entrepreneurial and progressive spirit, Truckee has embarked on climate change strategies by adopting 100% renewable energy and 80% GHG emissions reduction goals, new recycling and waste reduction programs, and a comprehensive General Plan update which will embed climate and resiliency policies to foster a culture of equitable sustainability. 

Truckee’s Town Council has prioritized sustainability as a top Council goal for the past three years, and the Town is proposing dedicated sustainability resources within the budget again this year. The Fellow will be a key asset in helping to shape what sustainability looks like for Truckee.  

This is an exciting opportunity for a Fellow to be a part of the Keep Truckee Green program, propelling the Town of Truckee’s evolution towards community resilience and equitable sustainability. The Fellow will work for Keep Truckee Green, the Town of Truckee’s sustainability, solid waste and resiliency program, and will split their time between the Planning Division and Solid Waste and Recycling Divisions. Within the Planning Division the Fellow will build capacity in various sustainability initiatives related to climate action planning and implementation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, development reach codes, electric vehicle charging, e-bike planning, and equitable community outreach. Within the Solid Waste and Recycling Division, the Fellow will build  capacity in new organics programs, biomass feasibility, waste reduction measures. 

Projects and associated outcomes are as follows:  

• The Fellow will support researching increased mobility and e-bike infrastructure feasibility, EV charging stations, and energy efficiency initiatives. The Fellow will assist with preparing content for distribution, research and analysis of GHG-reducing activities, public meeting facilitation, and bilingual community outreach and engagement.    
• The Fellow will assist with analysis of green waste programs performance and the feasibility of a biomass facility. The Fellow will contribute to the research & direction of a feasibility study consultant and develops relationships with key partners and stakeholders (ie. USFS, Fire District, Placer County, energy providers).    
• The Fellow will be involved in the implementation of a single-use foodware reduction ordinance. The Fellow will facilitate discussions amongst a stakeholder group to vet the previously proposed ordinance policies, and draft an ordinance for single-use food reduction in Truckee.
• The Fellow will assist with targeted engagement with our Latinx population, as one of our most impacted, but least engaged populations. The Town is seeking to improve its communications and engagement through greater translation practices, and new engagement strategies. 

Good communication and prioritization skills will be valuable for the Fellow not only in completing tasks and engaging with the community, but also will help internally with working on a team and dealing with competing objectives between the projects listed above. The second key trait we are seeking is a Fellow who is bilingual in Spanish. This is essential for the outreach and engagement tasks that are planned for both Planning and Recycling projects. The Town is working on implementing wide-scale changes in equitable engagement, focused on building relationships with our Latinx community members and providing greater translation services with Town communications. In addition, the Town is looking for certain traits or soft skills that may help a Fellow to be successful, such as curiosity, passion for working in a small town, and flexibility.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The Town of Truckee will provide the Fellow with all equipment needed for working from home (including a laptop, monitor & cell phone with hotspot capabilities).   Staff recommends the Fellow explore Landing Locals (landinglocals.com) and the Truckee-Tahoe People Facebook group as regional resources to find housing. In the past year, staff have been working in a hybrid approach of working in cohorts and splitting time in-person in Town Hall, and working from home. However, we will require full-time in office work unless remote work is needed due to shelter-in-place requirements. In that case we would be able to support remote service for Fellows (e.g. remote access to files, plans for remote check-in and support, technology support for remote work).

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The Town of Truckee is a unique place to live and work. Nestled in the mountains, near Lake Tahoe and the many ski resorts, Truckee is prideful of its tight-knit small town community and the extraordinary natural environment surrounding us. At the Town, the Fellow will be working with a lively team of like-minded people who value a “work hard, play hard” work ethic. Staff love to venture out where they live, and are often found skiing, biking, running or recreating in the mountains when not in the office. Working in Truckee is extremely rewarding for someone who wants to have the ability to have profound impact as a big fish in a small pond. Because it is a small town with a relatively small local government organization, the work is very meaningful when implementing new programs and policies, like implementing the Town’s first climate action element in the General Plan, or rolling out a single-use foodware ordinance. Truckee strives to be a leader in the region for developing innovative approaches to both sustainability and affordable housing. This Fellowship will provide a great opportunity for a candidate looking to utilize excellent community engagement and project management skills.  

Host Partner: Town of Truckee
Partner Location: Truckee, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Affordable Housing
Desired Skills: Research, Data Analysis, Flexibility/Adaptability
Remote or On-Site Preference: On-site preferred

THE PROJECT

Located at 5,800 feet at the crest of the Sierra Nevada range, Truckee is a beautiful mountain town with a full-time population of 17,000. Because of the incredible environment, access to ski areas and proximity to the large urban areas, Truckee is a very popular vacation area. Our popularity as a vacation destination impacts Truckee’s housing affordability and accessibility.  Second homeowners own over 50% of the housing stock and this number continues to grow. Additionally, 54% of local employees commute long-distances to work in Truckee, resulting in greenhouse gas impacts. The gap between what the workforce earns and the cost of housing is daunting and creates challenging economic conditions for residents, and local employers struggle to find and retain skilled employees.  The Town of Truckee has an ambitious Housing Action Plan to address affordable housing challenges. 

The Town of Truckee is seeking a Fellow with an interest and passion for building strong communities, economies and natural environments by accelerating affordable and inclusive solutions for housing in our small town. The goal of the Town of Truckee Housing Action Plan is to significantly increase the inventory of homes that those that work here can afford to rent and buy. The Fellow will be a key team member in determining data-driven strategies to accelerate inclusive and equitable housing solutions that will serve to build community and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. All of the efforts of the Fellow would help build the data and community input needed to design housing strategies that work best in Truckee. Additionally, the research and reports created by the Fellow would help build alignment within the Town and with external partners to design solutions that are equitable and inclusive.

The Fellow will gain a wide range of experience while working in the Housing Division at the Town of Truckee under the Housing Program Manager.  The Fellow would work with the two Senior Planners in the Housing Division as well.  The Fellow will support three projects which would serve to increase the Town’s capacity to address housing challenges for Truckee’s workforce and homeless populations:

Accessory Dwelling Units Research and Support:

• The Fellow would conduct an analysis of construction costs for various accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in Truckee.
• The Fellow will conduct outreach to contractors and homeowners who have already built ADUs to understand costs to construct different types of ADUs. 
• The Fellow will conduct research on options for creating affordable ADUs that fit with codes and standards in the Town. 
• The Fellow would contact financial institutions to research options for financing the construction of ADUs.  
• The Fellow will summarize results into a simple presentation that will be shared as a resource on the Town’s ADU website. 
• The Fellow will work with staff to develop and present a webinar to explain the pathway to building affordable ADUs to the community.

Assessing Deed Restricted Home Ownership Program:

• The Fellow would assist with assessing the feasibility of a deed restriction home ownership program. 
• The Fellow will research what other communities are doing to implement deed restricted home ownership and work with staff to summarize findings in a short report and presentation to the Town Council detailing recommendations to consider.  
• The effort will include summarizing the inventory and monitoring of existing deed-restricted housing in Truckee.  
• The Fellow will research what other communities are doing to streamline the monitoring process for deed-restricted housing as part of the final reporting.  

Community Outreach   

• The Fellow will support in the development of marketing and outreach materials for all new housing programs, including printed materials and website and social media content. 
• The Fellow will conduct outreach in the community to better understand the needs and shape future programs.  
• This outreach will include Truckee’s Spanish-speaking community, residents of existing affordable housing, and other target audiences. 
• The Fellow will design surveys, conduct in person and on-line surveys and summarize findings to staff.  

The Fellow would work in the Housing Division and coordinate with community partners and other Town departments such as planning, building and sustainability. Desired skills include strong writing, problem solving, and analytical skills. Experience conducting community engagement in diverse communities, marketing and  an interest in social justice, affordable housing, land use planning, finance and community development helpful. Ability to speak Spanish much appreciated.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The Town of Truckee will provide the Fellow with all equipment needed for working from home (including a laptop, monitor & cell phone with hotspot capabilities).   Staff recommends the Fellow explore Landing Locals (landinglocals.com) and the Truckee-Tahoe People Facebook group as regional resources to find housing. In the past year, staff have been working in a hybrid approach of working in cohorts and splitting time in-person in Town Hall, and working from home. However, we will require full-time in office work unless remote work is needed due to shelter-in-place requirements. In that case we would be able to support remote service for Fellows (e.g. remote access to files, plans for remote check-in and support, technology support for remote work).

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

Truckee is located in the mountains, close to several ski areas and 12 miles from Lake Tahoe, a 35- minute drive to Reno and a three-hour drive to the Bay Area.  In the summer, the local lakes are perfect for swimming and in the winter, snow can gather as high as 10 feet making for excellent snow sport fun. We are often the coldest reported spot in the lower 48. Because the Town is small (population of 17,000) it has a small town feel. 

Truckee strives to be a leader in the region for developing innovative approaches to both housing and sustainability. For the past several years, Town Council has consistently prioritized affordable housing and the local community supports this as well.  Working at the Town will expose the Fellow to a progressive, energetic and highly collaborative workplace culture.  Housing is a topic that crosses many departments from planning to building to sustainability to finance, and the Fellow will have an opportunity to work with a range of departments. The Town of Truckee Housing Program is a new division at the Town, started in January of 2020 and because of this, there are exciting opportunities for the Fellow to be a key part of building this new area of focus.

Host Partner: Sierra Business Council
Partner Location: Truckee, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus:  Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Technical Writing, Self-Motivation

THE PROJECT

Sierra Business Council (SBC) is a non-profit based in Truckee, CA serving the Sierra Nevada region. SBC pioneers and demonstrates innovative approaches and solutions to increase community vitality, economic prosperity, environmental quality, and social fairness in our region, and is guided by the triple bottom line that considers the economy, environment, and community simultaneously. Sierra Nevada communities are already facing wildfire, flooding, declining snowpack, drought, tree mortality, and other climate-related impacts. The lack of funding and technical resources in many of the region’s rural local governments poses a challenge for these communities in preparing to face climate risks. 

We are seeking an enthusiastic and passionate individual to support two of SBC’s Climate & Energy programs working with local governments and public agencies in the Sierra Nevada. This Fellowship would help support both climate preparedness/adaptation activities and energy/greenhouse gas reduction activities both throughout the 22-county region and in greater depth within a couple specific jurisdictions. Learn more about Sierra Business Council and our Climate Action programs at sierrabusiness.org.

Through SBC’s two climate action programs, Sierra Nevada Energy Watch (SNEW) and the Sierra Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Partnership (Sierra CAMP), the Fellow will have the opportunity to engage in the following activities: 

Sierra Nevada Regional Vulnerability Assessment

Supporting the development of local and regional vulnerability assessments, adaptation strategies and resources, the Fellow will:

• Develop, coordinate and deliver technical assistance to local governments meeting their SB 379 climate planning requirements.  
• Support planning and facilitation of up to 6 workshops in rural mountain geographies throughout the Sierra Nevada.  
• Coordinate outreach and education campaigns to increase attendance to workshops.  
• Support the development, delivery, and analysis of a regional survey to identify climate hazards and impacts.  
• Support a Sierra Nevada climate change vulnerability assessment by assisting in report drafting.  
• Assist in writing vulnerability assessment reports, clearly communicating data from a variety of sources while referencing the California Adaptation Planning Guide. 

Capacity Building

The Fellow will engage with Sierra leaders in government, business, academia, and community groups to share best practices, identify critical needs, and conduct research, education, and outreach around regional-specific climate and energy action.

Climate & Energy Planning and Implementation

Supporting public involvement in local government planning processes, and the opportunity to support Sierra Nevada jurisdictions in the development and implementation of their previously adopted Energy/Climate Action Plans. The Fellow will:

• Facilitate a community working group to help implement the EAP and identify projects, and support public and agency informational outreach and planning meetings.  
• Coordinate outreach and education events, develop outreach materials for the jurisdiction, and track EAP progress.   
• Support jurisdiction staff in identifying projects and using implementation resources, support research and action item development.  

The ideal candidate will have a willingness and capability to engage with community members, stakeholders, and public agency staff on a variety of climate and energy issues faced by rural mountain communities. This person will be a self-starter, prepared to dive in and take ownership over their work and balance multiple, ongoing, multi-faceted projects. Comprehensive research and writing skills, both technical and narrative, are also important, as well as a demonstrated ability to recognize the importance of the triple bottom line as the underpinning for the social, environmental, and economic vitality of Sierra Nevada communities. Desirable technical skills include GIS/mapping, an understanding of climate planning and policy, especially in California, and familiarity with energy efficiency programs.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE
Sierra Business Council is located in Truckee, CA. Truckee is a vibrant outdoor recreation hub in the Sierra Nevada, a 22-county forested mountain region, with close proximity to outdoor attractions like world-renowned ski destinations, Lake Tahoe, the Truckee River, and the Pacific Crest Trail. Truckee is characterized by four seasons, and can experience 90 degree beach-worthy weather in the summer, crisp and colorful autumn tree foliage, and 20 degree, 3-foot deep snowy powder days in the winter.

The huge recreation economy and many visitors the region welcomes each season provide both the charm and the challenges of living in Truckee, which at times can mean bumper to bumper traffic and high housing rental costs. Renting in Truckee requires foresight and effort to find affordable options a few months ahead of moving in to ensure housing, but SBC staff are more than willing to help identify opportunities and even avail their couches and spare bedrooms for temporary situations. A personal vehicle is very strongly recommended, as local public transportation is limited and bus times can be impacted by tourism.

SBC’s workplace culture supports a lifestyle that is based on a passion for the environment, recreation, and the close-knit small-town communities that characterize the region. The SBC office is a fast-paced, open environment where staff are encouraged to take initiative, work across programs, and support each others’ projects. All SBC programs are designed to address community, economic, and social issues together, and they prioritize equity and access to opportunity for the region’s populations. SBC supervising staff are approachable and professional development-oriented and are available to help project staff with training and career goals. All SBC staff have opportunities to sit in on Board Meetings, strategic discussions, and SBC program events. SBC’s team is also well-known for hosting excellent parties and distributing humorous GIFs to celebrate important milestones.

Host Partner: South Tahoe Public Utility District
Partner Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Data Analysis, Communication
Remote or On-Site Preference: X

THE PROJECT

The South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) owns and operates water and sewer facilities for the community of South Lake Tahoe, California. Some of these facilities are nearing the end of their useful life, and on top of that, the changing climate is adding challenges to system operation: winter rainstorms are melting snowpack and causing localized flooding and inundation of the sewer system; increasing risk of wildfire puts additional demands on the water system. To ensure that these valuable facilities continue to serve the community and to protect Lake Tahoe well into the future, STPUD is developing a comprehensive program to assess and report on the state of the facilities, track their performance over time, and plan for their rehabilitation and/or replacement. 

STPUD is seeking a Fellow to support the development of this program, drawing upon an environmental science or engineering background, with a working knowledge of GIS. Specifically, the Fellow will work with STPUD’s Engineering Department to:

• Update and validate assets in STPUD’s ArcGIS and Work Order Systems  
• Use new and existing tools and technologies to capture and analyze facility condition information  
• Work with the Operations departments to develop programs for monitoring station efficiency and performance  
• Support the System Efficiency Committee efforts
• Draft STPUD’s first Annual Asset Management Report   

The ideal Fellow will have an educational background in Environmental Science, Geography (GIS), and/or Engineering. The Fellow will be expected to work with a variety of computer platforms, including but not limited to GIS and Excel. Other programs that we will teach them to use include Maintenance Connection (Work Orders) and Laserfiche Forms (database). Fellows should have an interest in water utilities, water conservation, energy efficiency, and GIS. The ideal Fellow will be personable, open-minded, creative, self-motivated, and interested in the details of “how things work” but also able to see how individual parts fit into a larger system.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The South Tahoe PUD provides water and sewer services to approximately 17,000 customers in and around the City of South Lake Tahoe, on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. This dynamic organization of 115 employees works diligently to provide high quality service to its community. South Tahoe PUD strives to maintain a highly collaborative and supportive work environment. Our employees recognize the special environment in which we live and work and how that creates a higher purpose than just “doing the job.” 

Serving with South Tahoe PUD is a great opportunity for professional development experience. As a relatively small utility, our employees are involved with all aspects of planning and operation of the water and sewer systems. Because of our size, we can also be relatively nimble and move projects along rather quickly. As opposed to larger agencies, South Tahoe PUD can offer a greater breadth of experience. In addition, because of the highly regulated environment in the Tahoe Basin, serving with South Tahoe PUD will also potentially expose the Fellow to many of our partner agencies that are also working to protect the Tahoe Basin.     

Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. Lying at 6,225 ft, it straddles the state line between California and Nevada. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America, and with a depth of 1,645 ft, it is the second deepest in the United States after Crater Lake in Oregon. Lake Tahoe is a major tourist attraction in both Nevada and California. It is home to winter sports, summer outdoor recreation, and scenery enjoyed throughout the year. Snow and ski resorts are a significant part of the area’s economy and reputation. Hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and more are literally just out the back door.

Host Partner: California Water Efficiency Partnership
Partner Location: Sacramento, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Water Management and/or Policy
Desired Skills: Research, Community Outreach, Flexibility/Adaptability
Remote or On-Site Preference: On-Site Preferred

THE PROJECT

The California Water Efficiency Partnership (CalWEP) is a membership-based non-profit organization located in Sacramento that is made up of over 200 water agencies throughout California. CalWEP’s mission is to maximize urban water efficiency. Over the years, water conservation programs have targeted the low hanging fruits of water savings, such as providing free water-saving fixtures and incentivizing customers through rebate programs for high-efficiency toilets and washing machines. Many of these programs have now reached a point of saturation where it is no longer possible to achieve large amounts of water savings. As a result, water agencies must now look for new programs and projects to meet upcoming state-mandated water efficiency goals and help their customers conserve water. This need for new and innovative water-saving programs and projects is becoming increasingly crucial due to California’s changing climate. Emerging programs in water conservation and efficiency will help develop and expand access to programs in two growing fields of water efficiency: outdoor landscape transformation and leak detection and repair. 

Scaling the Successful CalScape Nursery Program: This project will build on the CalScape Nursery Program (Program), a successful regional program in Southern California connecting urban water suppliers with their local nurseries to expand awareness and access to native, climate appropriate, and drought tolerant plants. The Fellow will:

• Conduct research, develop, and possibly implement two new statewide water-saving programs.

• Work on a team with other CalWEP staff to conduct research, organize interviews with relevant stakeholders, and provide capacity to scale the Program statewide for CalWEP members.
• Aid in developing educational and marketing materials for the program (e.g., flyers, guidebooks, etc.), reports, presentations, web content, and a network of CalWEP members (beyond the agencies served in this project) who are eager to adopt the Program in their communities. 

Feasibility Analysis of Leak Detection Training Program: Leak detection has improved to an extent through technological advances like advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and other water monitoring devices, but there is a need for trained professionals who can help identify the exact source of the leaks and adequately address them. The Fellow will:

• Work with CalWEP staff to conduct research, analyze data, organize interviews and focus groups with interested water agencies and other relevant stakeholders, and provide capacity to evaluate the need and feasibility for developing a new statewide leak detection training program. 

• Assist with creating reports and presentations regarding the feasibility for a professional program to train and certify professionals on leak detection. 
• Assist with developing a plan or framework to implement the training program.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

We are looking for a team member who is mission-driven and accountable, has the ability to work both independently and with supervision, and who is self-motivated. We prefer strong written and oral communication skills, excellent research skills, someone who can present complex information in a concise manner, and someone who can thrive in a deadline-driven environment. We also look for team members who can jump right in and problem solve. Proficiency in the Microsoft suite of programs is a must, and additional skills in website content management, email marketing platforms, and GIS is a plus.

We would strongly prefer to have the Fellow in office with us. We have a great space in downtown Sacramento with 6 full time staff members. We are flexible with remote work, and would accept a hybrid position as well. All CalWEP staff are fully vaccinated and we comply with all OSHA guidelines.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The CalWEP team is small but dedicated and energized. Our Board of Directors is supportive and our membership is engaged.  Staff, leadership, and membership are all dedicated to maximizing water use efficiency in California. Our team will support a CivicSpark Fellow through continuous communication and team building, weekly staff meetings, the use of web-based tools such as BaseCamp, and our own website. We will provide the opportunity to meet other leaders around the state and nationally both in-person and online. Work/life balance is a core value of management. We also value input and ideas from all staff levels.

CalWEP is able to provide parking and transit subsidies depending upon need and schedules.

Host Partner: Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Partner Location: Sacramento, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Urban Greening
Desired Skills: Project Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Flexibility/Adaptability
Remote or On-Site Preference: TBD

THE PROJECT

This project will support the goals of SMUD’s Sustainable Communities program and local partners with these focus areas:

• The Fellow will conduct public outreach, deliver presentations to community groups, formulate strategies and develop a roadmap to get new “cool community” ordinances aligned and enacted in the region. There would be additional research, alongside outreach to developers, roofing, pavement and other contractors to influence material choices in the built environment and evaluate the potential for workforce development opportunities.
• The Fellow would support the development of programs, education and recommendations to provide immediate relief to underserved neighborhoods in heat events. That could include education on individual health protection as well as low-tech/low-cost building cooling opportunities and/or social infrastructure development. This work may also include collaboration and integration with SMUD’s Neighborhood Energy Stars program.
• The project work completed by the Fellow will be supportive of the Community Health and Resilience Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) recommendations to the Mayor’s Commission on Climate Change, which highlighted the need to develop and implement preparedness measures, with a priority focus initially on increasing the resilience of communities most vulnerable to climate-change impacts and expanding adaptive capacity. The Fellow will have the opportunity to engage with members of that TAC and develop creative strategies to leverage existing partnerships, groups and platforms to expand protective capacity at a neighborhood scale.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

SMUD is seeking a Fellow who is a self-starter who seamlessly blends the more typical qualities of an introvert (critical thinking, research & analysis, content to work behind the scenes) with those of an extrovert (enthusiasm, confidence, enjoyment of collaboration and interaction with people to learn and share findings). Coursework, experience and interest in the energy sector, public utilities, local and regional government, social or health sciences are very valuable. Flexibility is critical to meet the changing needs of the host organization and opportunities that may develop in the course of the service year. Good writing and editing skills and proficiency with standard digital office tools is expected. Project focus and deliverables can be tailored somewhat to fit the best candidate

 PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

SMUD is an award-winning, community-owned electric utility with an ambitious adopted goal of absolute zero carbon emissions by 2030, far outpacing current state greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. SMUD’s innovative programs span our operations, customer programs, environmental stewardship and community engagement, but we know we can always do more. There is an active quest for new and innovative ideas and the organization is reorganizing to help us achieve this important goal. Our board and management’s commitment to regional equity is reflected in the creation of our Sustainable Communities program which seeks to build active local partnerships and integrate equity into everything we do.

SMUD supports multiple types of internship programs (high school, college and post-grad) and provides a welcoming environment in which Fellows are encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions and propose new approaches to the challenges we have to overcome to ensure that access to low-cost electricity and opportunity for success is shared throughout our community. The Fellow will be hosted within the Energy Strategy team but also expected to collaborate directly with staff from the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, the Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative and other Sustainable Communities partner organizations, affording multiple opportunities for networking and leadership development.

Sacramento is California’s Capital city, providing a front row seat to political activity and state agency decision-making, all of which will impact community resilience in the long term. We are the home of the aforementioned CRCRC, a thriving regional climate collaborative with an active membership and staff. Sacramento is a relatively affordable city with outstanding amenities including the unique American River Parkway which provides a retreat from urban life along our two rivers. Access to San Francisco and the Lake Tahoe region is also an attraction.

Host Partner: Central Valley Water Quality Control Board
Partner Location: Redding, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Water Management and/or Policy
Desired Skills: Research, Communication, Data Collection
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote OK

 THE PROJECT

Since time immemorial, California Native American Tribes have used, and in some cases continue to use, water to support their cultural, spiritual, ceremonial, and/or traditional rights. Those uses were not formally recognized, however, until 2017, when the State Board adopted Beneficial Use definitions inclusive of cultural and subsistence uses of water. These Tribal Beneficial Uses (TBUs) provide a water quality safety measure that considers these specific uses of water by individuals, households, or communities of California Tribes. The Central Valley Water Board is the first in the state to actively pursue the designation of TBUs on waterways within its jurisdiction.

An important recognition of the Governor’s priorities around environmental justice (EJ) and Tribal rights and sovereignty, the action represents an attempt to address some of the EJ issues experienced by California Native American Tribes for at least 200 years through recognizing the importance of cultural ways and activities and protecting the resources they depend on for these practices. 

The work of the Fellow will be divided into two main project areas: Cultural Use (CUL) designations and Tribal Subsistence Fishing (T-SUB) designations. 

Central Valley Water Board staff anticipate beginning the CUL designation process in July of 2021. The Fellow’s work will include outreach and education to Tribes, including members and staff, regarding Basin Planning, timelines, the evidentiary process, and generally building Tribal understanding of and interest in the process of requesting a CUL designation. This work will include support for a Tribal Advisory Committee, work with other state agencies and Water Board divisions, and data and information review of the support materials submitted by Tribes. This work will require significant cultural sensitivity, community entry skills, and the ability to work effectively with a geographically-dispersed team and participating Tribes.

The T-SUB designation project will begin with a data gap analysis and close collaboration with UC Davis researchers to begin gathering consumption data. The Fellow’s support for this project will include research into historic Beneficial Uses designations similar to T-SUB, a review of existing literature and scholarship relevant to the effort, and an analysis for Tribal data and information potentially supporting the T-SUB designation process. With this information and the collaborative process, the Fellow will support the creation of a path forward for this challenging designation process. While more quantitative in nature, this project will also require cultural sensitivity and an awareness of how the regulatory process impacts culture and policy.

 SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

 The priority is for a Fellow to have capability and interest in this project, as demonstrated through academic studies, previous work or volunteer efforts, or soft skills, including robust communication skills, demonstrated community entry skills, humility, and curiosity.

 Skills in research and data analysis will be helpful, as well. For the support for designations of Tribal subsistence fishing, quantitative data analysis and an understanding of water quality data and interest in regulatory requirements is important.

 PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

 The Basin Planning team within the Central Valley Water Board is a high-performing, driven, and innovation-centric place to work. Staff have significant demands on time, so efficiency is prized, but we still have a great time doing the work of protecting CA’s waterways. Communication is incredibly important for this work – communication with the Water Board team AND with the public we serve, so we utilize all tools possible to ensure we’re in close communication. We all work remotely, currently, and so are prepared to support our Fellow in whatever capacity they’re able to be present in person (when things open up); that is to say that we’re open to this being a remote position, if we find the right applicant.

 The Central Valley Water Board employs approximately 170 employees in three offices: Redding, Rancho Cordova, and Fresno. We are passionate about water quality and protecting public health and the environment. We prioritize continuous leadership and professional development for all staff.

 The Water Boards as a whole are one of the nation’s preeminent protectors of water quality: the Clean Water Act was developed based on California’s Porter-Cologne act, which has been the regulatory authority used in California since 1969. The Fellow’s service at the California Water Boards will set Fellows up with great professional contacts and an understanding of the most complicated water system in the nation.

Host Partner: California Health Collaborative
Partner Location: Sacramento, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Leadership, Community Outreach

THE PROJECT

 Founded in 1982, the California Health Collaborative (Collaborative) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization committed to enhancing the quality of life and health of the people of California, particularly the underserved and underrepresented.  The Collaborative currently holds 5 different grants to provide resources and support to rural jurisdictions in California to adopt and implement Environmental Justice (EJ) or Health Elements into community General Plans. This project will address Environmental Justice in California’s rural Gold Country by assessing the seven main criteria laid out by Senate Bill 1000 in Gold Country jurisdictions. These criteria include identifying and addressing the needs of disadvantaged communities, promoting civic engagement, reducing exposure to pollution, ensuring equitable access to public facilities, promoting food access, promoting safe and sanitary homes, and promoting physical activity.  The overarching goals of this project are to facilitate the adoption and implementation of Environmental Justice Elements in General Plans of rural Gold Country communities.

 The Collaborative works with the following ten rural Gold Country counties: Sutter, Nevada, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Alpine, Mono, Inyo, and Stanislaus. Of these ten counties, jurisdictions in the counties of Stanislaus and Sutter are required to address Environmental Justice in their General Plans under Senate Bill 1000. Senate Bill 1000, the Planning for Healthy Communities Act, was adopted in 2016, and requires that jurisdictions with disadvantaged communities as identified by the online Cal EPA tool, Cal Enviroscreen, are required to address the seven EJ criteria mentioned above. In many cases, small rural jurisdictions that are interested in pursuing an EJ Element do not have the staff time or capacity to take on such a large project. 

The Fellow, in collaboration with the CA Health Collaborative and local planning department staff in two Gold Country communities, will conduct community outreach and engagement to 1) identify disadvantaged communities, 2) conduct listening activities such as empathy interviews, listening sessions, and community meetings, 3) engage local nonprofits and community based organizations (CBOs) that have an interest in the development of an Environmental Justice element, and 4) establish a community task force with CBOs, stakeholders, and interested community members to develop recommended policy language for each jurisdiction’s  EJ elements.  

The Collaborative has already developed several helpful assets the Fellow will be able to utilize: 

• The Planning Department Needs Assessment survey results will be used to identify jurisdictions that are interested in developing an EJ Element.
• The EJ Scorecard will be used to demonstrate to jurisdictions where they are already implementing EJ goals and policies and where they could improve.
• Model EJ Element language is currently under development by Collaborative staff, though there are several jurisdictions that have already adopted EJ Elements whose examples can also be used.  

The Collaborative also organizes a statewide Tobacco Control in General Plans work-group that includes experts from the Public Health Law Center and from the American Planning Association that meets monthly and can be accessed for further guidance and support.  

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

 The ideal Fellow will have a background and interest in urban or regional planning, public health, social justice, political science, sociology, or environmental health. The Fellow should have strong research, community engagement, and project management skills. Experience with environmental justice, planning, environmental health or public health is preferred.

 PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

 The California Health Collaborative has over 100 employees and works very hard to ensure that everyone feels connected and heard, even in the mostly-virtual environment that we are currently working in.  There are several organization-wide newsletters, a diversity council that hosts events and training, an Employee Assistance Program for extra help when needed, and an “espresso with Steve” opportunity for anyone in the organization to chat directly with the CEO Stephen Ramirez.  The Fellow would be working as a team-member on project STAAND (Small Town Allies Against Nicotine Dependency) which consists of a project director and two community engagement coordinators.  The STAAND team meets several times per week and work closely together on all activities.  The STAAND team is connected into a larger network of Collaborative tobacco control projects across Northern California, eight projects (each with 2-3 team members) in all. 

The STAAND team consists of three diverse, older, experienced professionals that can provide mentorship and leadership development opportunities for the Fellow.  The Collaborative can also pay for a membership to the American Planning Association for the Fellow to receive additional training and networking opportunities.  The California Tobacco Control Program, through which STAAND is funded, also provides many trainings, conferences, and leadership development programs that the Fellow could take part in. 

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

Working in rural Gold Country communities will provide the Fellow with a unique opportunity to address community needs in small rural towns where there is often a lack of funding and community-based organizations.  The area is rich with history and natural beauty including Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, and Mammoth Lakes.  It is also a short drive to other world-class destinations including Napa Valley and San Francisco.

Host Partner: City of Chico
Partner Location: Chico, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation| Wildfire Resilience| Other Environmental Justice
Desired Skills: Project Management, Technical Writing, Detail-Oriented
Remote or On-Site Preference: Hybrid

THE PROJECT

Chico is the largest urban center in Butte County, has the largest homeless population, and includes a number of disadvantaged communities that have a higher potential to be impacted by climate change. The vulnerability assessment prepared by CivicSpark’s 2017 Fellow highlighted many concerning community impacts associated with climate change, and the need to pursue resiliency and adaptation strategies. Creating solutions to these vulnerabilities will help the City be the beneficiary of a coordinated approach to not only support those less fortunate but the Chico community at large. 

The City of Chico is undergoing several General Plan amendments in response to legislative mandates from the State concerning the impacts of climate change on adaptation and resilience policy, environmental justice policy, and the need to address fire hazard impacts. The CivicSpark Fellow will  work on a number of long-range planning projects that pertain to climate change, environmental justice, and community resilience. 

Project tasks include:

• Assist in the integration of environmental justice concepts throughout the General Plan to help prevent vulnerable communities from facing disproportionate risks from climate change, fire, or other natural hazards 
• Review and apply all applicable State plans and data sources, including Cal-Adapt, the California Fourth Climate Change Assessment, the Safeguarding California Plan, and the integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program
• Assist in the formal adoption of adaptation and resiliency strategies into the General Plan
• Review the State’s “Fire Hazard Planning” document and assist in researching and drafting strategies to protect the community from wildland and urban fires
• Participate and provide support for community outreach and engagement efforts for General Plan updates
• Develop materials related to environmental justice, sustainability, adaptation and resilience for use in community meetings, social media, pop-up events, and other outreach activities 

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The ideal Fellow will possess strong research abilities, writing skills, and a working knowledge of sustainability practices and processes. The Fellow will have the ability to effectively work with community organizations to plan community meetings and engage with community residents, document the energy and environmental needs of the communities, and assist with the creation of long-term strategic plans. The Fellow should be comfortable in multi-tasking and setting work priorities and working in a collaborative environment, as well as independently with minimal supervision. 

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The City of Chico’s workplace culture mimics the community’s spirit. Located Downtown in the central gathering place for many community events, employees engage with community residents and visitors to help provide a Beautiful, Clean, and Safe Chico. With a short walk to community events such as Thursday night, Friday night concerts, Taste of Chico, and parades, it’s hard not to pick-up on the city’s vibe – even when at work. Chico’s Downtown is adjacent to Chico State, and provides a food and drinking hub with College “specials” available to all.

Living in Chico there is a diverse range of things to keep you interested: outdoor activities, arts & culture, education, unique dining options, and athletics all provide for an environment that balances living and working lives. Chico is a dream for those who love the outdoors. Bidwell Park is one of the largest municipal parks in the United States and is home to hiking and biking trails, Sycamore Pool, Bidwell Golf Course, Bear Hole, and much more. As a university community, Chico Performances hosts performances in theater, comedy and music, as well as lectures typically found in big cities. Sierra Nevada Brewery brings live concerts to Chico in its Big Room venue and hosts many other community events. Lassen National Volcanic Park, Mount Shasta, and Lake Oroville Recreation Area are just a short drive away where there are unlimited outdoor activities including camping, hiking, backpacking, snowboarding, and kayaking. Chico is also a perfect place for bicycle enthusiasts as the City was ranked in the top 15% of over 500 US cities in the League of American Bicyclists Places for Bikes city ratings.

Chico provides an excellent opportunity for professional development experience. The City works closely with organizations such as the Downtown Chico Business Association, Chico Chamber of Commerce, Butte Environmental Council, Chico State, and local newspapers to create a thriving and healthy community.

We have a hybrid work schedule here at the City of Chico. Staff is in the office part-time and remote part-time. The Fellow’s schedule will mimic their Site Supervisor’s schedule so they are in the office the same days of the week. 

Host Partner: CA Department of Water Resources (DWR), Office of the Tribal Policy Advisor, Executive Division, and Financial Assistance Branch, Division of Regional Assistance
Partner Location: Sacramento, CA
Openings: 0 of 2
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Water Management and/or Policy, Environmental Justice
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, Teamwork
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote OK; Some potential in-person or travel

THE PROJECT

As a state agency, DWR works with all Tribes in California, including the 109 federally recognized Tribes and over 70 non-federally recognized Tribes.  It is DWR’s responsibility to reach out to all Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) and Tribes throughout California. The Tribal Policy Advisor works with Tribal governments and Tribal communities to identify areas of mutual concern, develop partnerships, and consensus in water management.   

This project is designed to assist DWR in its efforts to increase the Tribes’ and DACs’ resiliency and ability to respond to water management challenges facing them.  This effort will highlight the Tribes’ and DACs’ needs so that more state and federal resources can be garnered collaboratively for current and future challenges and opportunities. The prospective Fellows will assist DWR on the following activities: 

• Identify, characterize and map the Tribes and DACs in CA. The Fellow will build a database of Tribes in California linked to our GIS mapping tool
• Document and understand the water and sanitation needs of these traditionally underrepresented communities (and present findings and recommendations to CA water leaders to inform policy and other decision making)
• establish/convene venues for collaboration and input (CA Tribal Government Roundtable, Tribal Advisory Council for Water Resilience Portfolio, DAC Involvement Working Group, Tribal Summit)
• improve Tribal and DAC grant applications through workshops and trainings to become more competitive and to make their grant administration easier.      

In this unique opportunity to work in the State Capitol with DWR, Tribes and DACs, the Fellows will learn about statewide water management challenges, such as: sustainable groundwater management and regional water balance, planning for implementation of the Water Resilience Portfolio, climate change adaptation, drought and flood preparedness and response, water conservation and supply, and fiscal challenges. This is a unique project, in that the beneficiaries are statewide and not associated with a single local government agency.  However, in the course of the work, there will be opportunities for the Fellows to work with specific regions and local governments that provide representative data and results to inform other regions in CA.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

Ideal Fellows for these two positions should have an interest in assisting underrepresented communities, ability to connect people and topics, desire to learn and research, excellent communication skills (verbal and written), enjoy organizing outreach and educational events, and ability to work effectively as part of a team. Fellows should have strong organizational, project management, database and presentation skills.

Due to the pandemic, the current Fellows are 100% Telework since March 2020.  However, prior to the pandemic, the anticipated arrangement was:  Fellows will spend about 70% of their time in an office environment and attending meetings, and about 30% of their time in travel to various parts of the State with other DWR managers and staff. This arrangement is pending State and safety updates and guidelines, as they become available.  

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

Being in the Department of Water Resources will provide the Fellows with a statewide view of issues and the demographics affected by water management issues. In addition to Tribal and DAC work, DWR provides essential information to legislation and policy issues, for many water resources topics such as water management and water supply, power and infrastructure, dam safety and flood management, emergency response and education. The two Fellows will be a welcome addition to DWR’s 35-person Financial Assistance Branch team, composed of environmental scientists, engineers, analysts and program managers. There will be many opportunities for developing new friendships with colleagues, getting coaching and mentorship, interacting with other DWR divisions and groups, and participating in monthly Branch meetings and team building activities.

DWR is headquartered in California’s capital city of Sacramento. The area is known as the City of Trees and as a Farm-to-Fork Capital. It is rich in fresh produce with nearby agriculture, an abundance of natural recreation areas for hiking, camping, and boating, and also 2-3 hours away from Napa/Sonoma, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the Santa Cruz/Monterey Peninsula. 

Host Partner: Yolo County
Partner Location: Woodland, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Community Outreach, Flexibility/Mobility

THE PROJECT

In September of 2020, the County Board of Supervisors adopted a Climate Emergency Resolution that declares climate change “a crisis requiring urgent and immediate mobilization of public and private resources to develop and implement a climate and sustainability plan that identifies and integrates current and future actions needed to achieve a just economic recovery and transition to a countywide carbon negative footprint by 2030.” 

This new target will require the County to prepare a new Climate Action Plan must incorporate the principles of equity and justice. The Board’s resolution also called for the establishment of a broad-based advisory body to guide the preparation of the plan which will incorporate participation of indigenous and underserved communities. The plan will aim to address the effects of climate change by making the County carbon negative with a social equity lens. 

The Fellow will assist Yolo County staff in the preparation of a new Climate Action Plan. Additionally, they will support the Climate Action Plan Advisory body, and perform public outreach and engagement regarding the Climate Action Plan.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

We are looking for a Fellow that can work fairly independently with good facilitating skills, public outreach and community engagement, sharp research skills, and a good sense of humor. They will be mentored by working directly with the Department Director and will have the opportunity to interact with elected officials and members of the public. 

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The Yolo County Department of Community Services is a place where collaboration is part of our culture. We are a county with limited resources and therefore we help each other out as much as we can. Our office is normally (pre-Covid) a dynamic and fun place to work. While we take our work seriously, we try not to take ourselves too seriously and have fun whenever we can. 

Yolo County prides itself in its policies that focus on protecting farmland and open space, leaving urban development to incorporated areas. This allows the County to have many recreational opportunities in different types of natural environments and farmland. At the same time, these policies leave the County with limited resources and therefore every project completed comes with a significant sense of professional pride and accomplishment. 

Host Partner: California High-Speed Rail Authority
Partner Location: Sacramento, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Alternative or Multimodal Transportation, Urban Greening, Social Equity and Community Resilience
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Stakeholder Engagement, Communication

THE PROJECT

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) has the financial capacity to complete an interim and functional high-speed rail line between Merced and Bakersfield by 2029. As Central Valley communities prepare for the interim line, and the future connections to San Francisco and Los Angeles, these Central Valley cities are shaping how new high-speed rail stations will fit into their communities in collaboration with the Authority. We hope to continue to foster relationships with communities to emphasize the need for transit-oriented development (TOD) that connect jobs, housing, shopping and recreational activities. The Fellow will primarily work alongside the Authority Communications and Sustainability and Planning Departments stationed within the Sacramento office. They may also work alongside our Title VI staff focused on equity and inclusion, and Authority staff in the regional office in Fresno. 

Project 1: Environmental Justice and Equitable Outcomes Gap Assessment 

• The Environmental Justice and Equitable Outcomes Gap Assessment will highlight a set of recommended strategies for the Authority to take to meet the needs of the Central Valley’s disadvantaged and/or underserved communities. 
• The assessment would begin with a review of existing Authority policies, procedures, and goals that are focused on environmental justice, equity, and positive outcomes for station communities. Areas of improvement will be identified, in part, through international, national, and state research on best practices. 
• The gap assessment will also identify areas of improvement where the Authority should focus its attention to better serve the Central Valley station communities. The Fellow would also collect stakeholder and community input through surveys and interviews.
• The Fellow will act as a third-party reviewer of Authority practices, providing an outside perspective to identify recommended strategies the Authority should take to ensure high-speed rail station planning is focused on community needs.
• The Fellow will provide a final Environmental Justice and Equitable Outcomes Gap Assessment Report which outlines the research compiled and highlights a set of actionable strategies for the Authority to ensure it is prioritizing and meeting the needs of the Central Valley’s disadvantaged resident communities.

Project 2: Early Fresno Station Site Activation Plan

• The Fellow will assist with the creation of an Early Site Activation Plan that includes comprehensive research on the current layout of the station and surrounding areas, and includes suggestions for early site activation to provide to the Authority and city leaders in Fresno.
• The Fellow will work with Authority communications, sustainability and planning staff to identify start up goals at the Fresno station site. In addition, the Fellow will work with staff to identify public outreach needs for the community of Chinatown during active construction.
• The Fellow will become familiar with existing Authority station area planning requirements through a literature review and planning staff interviews.
• The Fellow will support building partnerships with local city officials in Fresno and to collaborate on a proposal for early site activation of Authority and city-owned properties in and around the future high-speed rail station.
• The final Early Fresno Station Site Activation Plan will identify strategies for how the station site can support Fresno and Chinatown community goals and ensure that benefits of high-speed rail are provided equitably before the high-speed rail system is operable. The plan will incorporate findings of the Environmental Justice and Equitable Outcomes Gap Assessment.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The ideal Fellow should have a Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, business and economics, communications, environmental sciences, environmental studies or any interdisciplinary studies that touch on social equity, community development, and sustainability. 

This project would be supported by a Fellow with great communication skills, specifically experience breaking down technical concepts (such as economic impacts, sustainability, climate change, Transit-Oriented Development, and/or urban planning principles) and communicating the information to the general public and local governments. It would be beneficial, though not required, if the Fellow generally understands local, state and federal government departments and how they interact with one another; generally understands current demographics and community needs in the Central Valley; has experience and/or an interest in stakeholder and community engagement; has previous experience with community development or transportation related work. Though we value previous experiences, we also know that Fellows may not have all the experience listed above and they can learn many skills during the Fellowship year. 

The Authority can cover travel costs between Fresno and Sacramento if the Fellow needs to travel on behalf of the Authority. The Authority will also cover some conference and educational opportunity costs if approved ahead of time. In addition, the Fellow will have access to a desk, laptop, and state-based email account. 

The Fellow would be based in Sacramento with some travel to Fresno for on-site work, as it is safe to do so given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The Authority’s Communications and Sustainability and Planning Departments are led by dynamic and experienced leaders that have fostered a healthy environment of collaboration, respect, and serve a larger mission to bring high-speed rail to California in a way that is sustainable and encompasses community needs and voices. The teams are welcoming of Fellows, interns and student assistants and will integrate them into the team. 

Building the country’s first transformative high-speed rail system requires a team of passionate professionals that have worked in the transportation, government, and community development sectors for many years. Leaders on this team bring curiosity, innovation, and strong work values to this project. The Fellow will be able to coordinate with this diverse team of staff and Fresno stakeholders including local governments, nonprofits, and transit agencies. These interactions will develop experience and help the Fellow broaden their professional network and build mentorship relationships. 

The Fellow will have the opportunity to work independently and take ownership over their projects, while also feeling supported by a range of staff who will help and mentor them.

Our Sacramento office is downtown near multiple transit stops for ease of access and the downtown grid is also easily walkable and bikeable. Our office has a variety of restaurants, parks, and museums nearby. Even beyond the downtown core, Sacramento has a lot to offer. There are outdoor recreation opportunities along the American and Sacramento Rivers, Yolo Bypass, at Folsom Lake, and further east into the Sierra Nevada foothills. Sacramento is also just a two-hour drive to the San Francisco Bay Area to the west and Lake Tahoe to the east. 

Our Fresno office is based downtown across from Chukchansi Park. Like our Sacramento office, the Fresno location is near transit stops, restaurants, coffee shops, and other destinations. Fresno is a growing Central Valley city with a vibrant urban core. Nearby attractions include Woodward Park, the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, and of course Yosemite National Park.

Host Partner: Placer County
Partner Location: Auburn, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Wildfire Resilience
Desired Skills: Project Management, Data Collection, Communication

THE PROJECT

Placer County faces a number of challenges over the coming years as it aims to reach ambitious state-mandated targets for GHG emissions reduction. Additionally, because of a growing body of legislation around wildfire risk reduction, a work effort centered on reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire, as it aligns with Placer County’s adopted Placer County Sustainability Plan. Placer is seeking a Fellow to work with the Planning Department and provide critical community outreach and engagement, conduct research and data collection, and implement local and regional programs identified in the recently adopted Placer County Sustainability Plan.    

This position will focus on development and implementation of programs in the recently adopted Placer County Sustainability Plan. The Fellow would work in close collaboration with staff to implement five to seven greenhouse gas reduction measures and climate adaptation strategies throughout their tenure.

Project 1: Implement key GHG reduction programs within the Placer County Sustainability Plan

• Assist with the development of a local GHG offset program that supports and funds programs and projects that demonstrate sustained GHG emissions reductions and climate adaptation, primarily in the unincorporated county and the region.
• Support work to develop regional VMT and GHG mitigation programs, including development of program monitoring. 
• Support implementation of electric vehicle readiness guide (outreach, marketing, presentations, etc.). 
• Research incentives and other resources to support and promote renewable energy generation, battery storage, and increasing energy efficiency. 
• Launch a public outreach and education campaign to increase awareness and resources on energy efficiency, alternative transportation modes, reducing waste, and other GHG reduction efforts.     

Project 2: Implement key climate adaptation strategies in Placer County Sustainability Plan

• Integrate the results and adaptive policies of the climate vulnerability assessment into County planning documents, including the General Plan Safety Element, zoning ordinance, building code, and other relevant efforts. 
• Assist with the development of programs for wildfire protection and standards to streamline opportunities for high-density  residential and affordable developments for infill locations within high fire severity areas. 
• Conduct a gap analysis of the codes and standards in the County’s zoning ordinance and design standards documents to identify the need for zoning ordinance and building code amendments. 
• Coordinate climate resiliency efforts with the California Tahoe Conservancy, Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative, the Sierra Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Partnership to assess climate change impacts and to develop and implement strategies. 
• Coordinate resiliency efforts with Placer County Resource Conservation District and Placer County Fire Safe Alliance to identify projects and promote programs to reduce wildfire risk.

The Placer County Planning Services Division is seeking a Fellow who is analytical, creative, and collaborative. The ideal Fellow is ambitious and resourceful and has knowledge and interest in sustainability planning and policy. Strong communication and outreach experience are also desired skills. Those with an interest in climate adaptation, sustainability planning, and public service are encouraged to apply.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The Fellow’s working space will be provided in the Planning Department office in Auburn, California, or tele-conference work is currently allowed during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

Placer County comprises over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, westward through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County’s jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. The County has a diverse environmental, social, and economic landscape. The Fellow would be part of a progressive team of planners that believes in close collaboration, empowering our peers, and having fun in the workplace.

Host Partner: Placer County
Partner Location: Auburn, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Affordable Housing, Alternative or Multimodal Transportation
Desired Skills: Facilitation, Data Collection, Critical Thinking
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote or On-Site

THE PROJECT

Placer County faces several challenges over the coming years as it aims to reach ambitious targets for housing construction and for GHG emissions reduction. Placer is seeking a Fellow to 

• Work with the Planning Department and provide critical community outreach and engagement, 
• Conduct research and data collection, 
• Identify land use planning tools and implement land use planning programs that can help the County meet state goals related to achievable housing, and 
• Enhance efforts to develop its multi-modal and active transportation networks.

This position will aid in strengthening the linkages between housing development and transportation planning. This position will focus on housing program communication and marketing support, housing infill strategy, outreach/research/project support for the Mobility and Infill Acceleration Study and Regional Early Action Program (REAP) program, and strengthening the bridge of work between housing, transportation, and sustainability programs.

Project 1: Support Transportation Planning Policy Research  

• Research and develop land use and transportation implementation programs related to various programs within the Placer County Sustainability Plan. Programs for example include: Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies, such as commute reduction programs and other ongoing TDM pilot programs, potentially in the Tahoe Basin. 
• Support development of regional VMT and GHG mitigation programs in Western Placer County and potentially in the Tahoe Basin.
• Project outcome includes the implementation and preliminary assessment of a Placer County Sustainability Plan GHG reduction measure related specifically to transportation.  

Project 2: Support Housing Initiatives

• Support meeting the regional housing needs, in collaboration with other Placer County cities/towns and neighboring counties/cities/towns by the implementation of the Housing Strategy and Development Plan in close collaboration with staff.
• Collect and analyze relevant new housing laws, reports, policies, plans, codes, ordinances, design standards and other background materials.
• Provide contextual information from the analysis that is necessary to revise housing policies and codes that are tailored to the needs and conditions within different areas of Placer County and neighboring jurisdictions when needed.    

Project 3: Develop and Execute Public Outreach Strategy for Mobility & Infill Acceleration Study, Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) Grant, and other HCD funded programs

• Coordinate outreach on various virtual outreach platforms, create templates for presentations to local municipal advisory councils and key stakeholder meetings, execute virtual town hall meetings and other community workshops on housing related needs and solutions.
• Convene stakeholders, focus groups, and develop surveys to identify community preferences that will  inform decision-making. Stakeholders include but are not limited to: property owners, business owners and associations, school districts, fire districts, community leaders, and others. 
• Reach community-based stakeholders, including engagement with disadvantaged communities and those with limited English proficiency. 
• Develop outreach materials (e.g., videos, fact sheets, presentations) pertaining to land use alternatives to use in communication with stakeholders and decision makers.
• Develop content for web-based platforms (e.g., county website, social media, survey sites) to engage, educate, and survey community stakeholders.

The Placer County Planning Services Division, Long Range Planning Team, is seeking a Fellow who is analytical, creative, and collaborative. The ideal Fellow is ambitious and resourceful, and has knowledge and interest in land use and transportation planning and policy. Strong communication and outreach experience are also desired skills. Those with an interest in implementing state and County goals related to affordable housing, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting efficient land use patterns that reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) are encouraged to apply.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The Fellow’s working space will be provided in the Planning Department office in Auburn, California, or remote work is currently allowed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

Placer County comprises over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, westward through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County’s jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. The County has a diverse environmental, social, and economic landscape. The Fellow would be part of a progressive team of planners that believes in close collaboration, empowering our peers, and having fun in the workplace.

Host Partner: City of Elk Grove
Partner Location: Elk Grove, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Food Waste Recovery
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Marketing, Self-Motivated
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote available

THE PROJECT

The City of Elk Grove is working to be a regional leader in addressing climate, resilience, and sustainability. In February 2021, the City adopted a Community Mobility Resilience Plan outlining strategies to mitigate and adapt to the local impacts of climate change. In addition, the City is working to implement organic waste reduction and recycling to support climate change goals outlined in our CAP and in compliance with California law. The Fellow would have ownership over developing two projects to support the City in these efforts:

• One is to support the implementation of one strategy outlined in the Resilience Plan, related to training and education for local communities related to the heat-related impacts of climate change. This project would have a focus on working to reach minority and disadvantaged communities in our City. The goal during the fellowship would be to identify and work with local community organizations to develop the educational and training materials, work on a plan for how the education and training would be conducted and by whom and, potentially if time allows, conduct one session with local community members.  
• The second is to develop a framework for an ongoing marketing campaign related to organic waste reduction and recycling that targets both residential and businesses. The goal of this activity would be to identify the most successful method to influence individual behaviors so that residents and business owners are both compelled and motivated to comply with the organic waste requirements.

The Fellow would be working with two departments within the City of Elk Grove: the City Managers department, with the Strategic Planning and Innovation team and the Public Works department, with the Recycling and Waste team. The outcome would be specific implementation plans, and potentially the start of implementation, for these two projects. The Fellow would support the development of implementation plans, to include information on how the projects will continue into the future.

The position would be a good fit for someone who is detail-oriented, motivated and a self-starter. The staff who will support the work are looking for someone who can bring vision and creativity. While guidance will be provided, someone who is looking to run with an idea is welcome. The degree field is flexible, but someone who has a commitment to the environment and equity is important. Having good people skills is also helpful, and understanding the value of listening, and the learning that can come from failure. Skills with data and or infographics is a bonus.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

While we are not able to provide housing or transit subsidies, there are opportunities to work remotely and parking is free when needing to come to the office.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The City of Elk Grove is a collaborative and welcoming organization that encourages innovation and creativity. The organization is both small enough to get to know staff across the organization, and large enough to have interesting and exciting activities to work on. This experience can provide professional development in project management, community engagement, and innovation. The City of Elk Grove is the second largest city in Sacramento County. While COVID has required that many City events have had to change, the City has still worked hard to hold safe, interesting, engaging and fun activities. Elk Grove is also a very diverse community that embraces how the uniqueness of each of us can make a better community.

Host Partner: City of Sacramento Department of Utilities
Partner Location: Sacramento, CA
Openings: 0 of 2
Project Focus: Research, Communication, Project Management
Desired Skills: Project Management, Data Collection, Self-Motivated
Remote or On-Site Preference: X

THE PROJECT

Originally named Sacramento City Water Works, the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities (DOU) has been providing high quality water, storm drainage and wastewater services to the City of Sacramento residents since 1873. The Department has a deep commitment to the community with a sense of pride in this stewardship responsibility and is committed to making Sacramento sustainable.  City of Sacramento Department of Utilities (DOU) works in concert with other City departments, as well as numerous regional, state, and federal agencies to develop and maintain urban utility infrastructure and formulate long-range financial plans to ensure the sustainability of the services provided.  The City of Sacramento Department of Utilities (DOU) is seeking support of CivicSpark Fellows to assist the sustainability team with 1) the City of Sacramento Utilities’ Infrastructure Sustainability Rating Assessment and 2) the City of Sacramento Utilities’ Sustainability and Climate Action Strategy.

• DOU Infrastructure Sustainability Rating Assessment – In this project, Fellow will assess the feasibility of complying and certifying eligible DOU utilities’ infrastructure projects with sustainability rating systems (like Envision, CEEQUAL etc.). These rating systems provide a consensus-based framework for assessing and benchmarking the sustainability and resilience of infrastructure projects. The efforts will include researching the different frameworks, conducting a gap analysis on the frameworks, assisting with pilot project assessment and developing a pathway for adoption of a rating system.
• DOU Sustainability and Climate Action Strategy – Utilities’ Sustainability Policy has identified goals and tactics to achieve carbon neutrality, climate resiliency, energy efficiency and equity and environmental justice. The Sustainability and Climate Action Strategy is the strategic plan to achieve these goals in a timely manner. The Fellow will provide support to DOU’s Sustainability Analyst with stakeholder engagement, data collection, pathway analysis, action item identification and prioritization, tracking of implementation of action items and documenting the outcomes.

The ideal Fellows will have a passion for sustainability and climate action; are reliable and have strong communication skills to engage with various stakeholders; have intermediate knowledge of Excel; experience researching and analyzing data and organizational skills; and have proficiency with Microsoft products. We are looking for motivated and go-getter Fellows with written, communication, analytical and project management skills. Tasks include research and collaboration with multiple units and departments; facilitating meetings, presentations and workshops to guide discussions, identifying roadblocks and challenges as well as ability to prioritize tasks to accomplish the projects in determined timelines. Desired qualifications range from knowledge of climate change policies, greenhouse gas inventories to general knowledge of sustainability principles, concepts and practices.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

Home to 500,000 residents and known as the River City or City of Trees, the City of Sacramento has a long-standing commitment to foster sustainability in government operations and community activities. It is said that living in Sacramento can feel like living in a park as Sacramento is the greenest city in the States and ranks third in the world on tree canopy coverage. The City is just a few hours from San Francisco and Lake Tahoe with a Mediterranean climate and well known for its local farms that cater to the area chefs providing farm-to-table delights.    The Department of Utilities has more than 500 employees with a focus on resource stewardship, community involvement, employee and trust development as well as innovation in the utility field. The Department values collaboration, transparency and accountability to the community it serves. The Fellow will be situated and working with the 11-person Sustainability and Water Conservation team. The diverse and deeply committed team prides in the day to day work that we do; and serving, helping and educating City residents with addressing climate change impacts, sustainability and water efficiency.

Host Partner: City of Alameda Community Development Department
Partner Location: Alameda, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Affordable Housing
Desired Skills: Project Management, Data Analysis
Remote or On-Site Preference: Hybrid / Local Remote

THE PROJECT

In this role, the Fellow will be to provide support for the City’s housing programs, including but not limited to, Inclusionary Housing, HOME Investment Partnerships, the Rent Program and several grant programs that the City administers. In addition, the Fellow will work to address Goal #3 from the Homelessness Strategic Plan – Secure a housing future for all Alamedans. The Fellow may work on one or two projects that will result in creating new transitional housing for the City’s unsheltered residents.

The scope of work may include some or all of the following duties:

• Conduct research and analytical studies on transitional housing creation in the Bay Area with an eye for learning and implementing best practices;
• Confer with other departments, public officials, consultants and citizens; may make presentations on assigned projects and programs;
• Assist in budget preparation and administration;
• Procure contractors, materials, and service providers and works with these professionals in project development and implementation;
• Plan, organize and coordinate the work of contractors and service providers;
• Assist in determining financial methods, procedures and costs pertaining to a departmental service or City program; conducts cost benefit analyses and reviews and prepares financial and statistical reports; coordinates contract arrangements with other agencies and private parties;
• Monitor project development through the construction or installation phase;
• Organize a celebration to acknowledge the collaborative efforts required to create the housing;
• Coordinates with staff and service providers to ensure that new tenants are moved in respectfully and efficiently while also minimizing vacancy; and
• Serve as the lead for the implementation and launch of newly created transitional housing.

The capstone project will be the creation of transitional housing for 18-20 previously unsheltered households. Through the project, the Fellow will gain valuable experience that will prepare him/her for a potential opportunity as an affordable housing analyst in a public sector role. The City will house 18-20 formerly homeless households.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

There is great need for a Fellow to provide input and leadership in addressing the City of Alameda’s (City) social equity challenges due to a growing need for affordable housing, especially for the City’s unhoused residents who tend to be lower income and persons of color. The Fellow will be placed in the City’s Community Development Department and will be under the supervision of staff who work on all aspects of affordable housing development – from entitlements through construction to lease up and/or sale.  The Fellow will gain insight and knowledge of the challenges and process involved in bringing housing and supportive services to City residents.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The ideal Fellow is a passionate, creative, critical thinker who has a strong understanding of the root causes of social inequity and is dedicated to inclusive community engagement and creating solutions that achieve equitable outcomes. Interest in data analysis, policy development, public outreach, clear communication, marketing, policy analysis, and the ability to juggle multiple projects at once will all be important. Basic project management skills, such as scheduling and procurement, as well as presentation skills are useful. This position has the rare opportunity to work closely with multiple department heads; therefore, high-quality work products will be expected. In turn, the Fellow will have the opportunity to work on interesting and complex problems and can expect high quality mentorship and experience with a city on the frontlines of housing the City’s unhoused residents.

Host Partner: City of Antioch
Partner Location: Antioch, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Affordable Housing
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Communication, Community Outreach
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote/Flexible

THE PROJECT

Our Environmental Resources and Housing & CDBG Divisions within the City of Antioch’s Community Development Department will be working together with this year’s CivicSpark Fellows to continue to bring equity and resilience to underserved communities. This year’s project focuses on removing obstacles for our underserved residents by providing assistance with navigating housing and sustainability programs and to help roll out the new post-COVID rental assistance programs. 

Antioch has a lot of older housing stock and a sizable population of lower income, elderly, and disabled households. All of these groups need deeply affordable housing and access to the various programs and services provided by City government and nonprofit partners.  The projects will focus on engaging and supporting a diverse population, providing a variety of housing and environmental services, and helping to modernize our housing programs and housing stock. 

The Fellow will:

• help Antioch residents access affordable housing of their choice,
• assist lower income renters to access critical rental assistance post-COVID,
• engage lower income households to inform them of money-saving programs to make housing more affordable (e.g home/apartment weatherization and energy saving programs, waste prevention programs, drought friendly landscaping), and
• research develop a replicable outreach plan for the City to continue engaging with residents. 

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

Antioch is looking for a candidate that: 

• is able to take ownership of their deliverables,
• can be proactive and willing to come to staff with questions or when assistance is needed,
• has strong writing and verbal communication skills,
• is able to  interact with the general public and reach out to community groups,

• has an interest in the challenges and issues faced by disabled and lower income residents and communities,
• is empathetic and open to learning,
• possesses basic Excel skills (WordPress or other web design skills would be a plus, but not required) and good writing and analytical skills,
• is available to work some variable hours, including occasional weekends for outreach at community events or workshops, and
• be able to work in a fairly structured environment, develop work plans, stick to schedules and deliverables, and receive feedback on their performance. 
• Bilingual/Spanish speaking is a plus. 
• All abilities welcomed.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The City of Antioch provides a friendly and welcoming work environment with the opportunity to interact directly with all levels of staff and outside agencies. Working here will give the Fellow a basic understanding of the way local government works but not frustrate them with lots of bureaucracy. There is a real ability to move things forward and work with a team that is motivated and able to implement change. The City Council is currently engaged in many aspects of equity and resilience by working to increase youth engagement, police reform and address homelessness.

Due to the success of remote working during the pandemic, we anticipate that as long as working from home is still allowed in the CivicSpark program, it will be encouraged by the City, schedule permitting. The City is currently working to provide city vehicles to be used for field work and is flexible with work hours to adjust for public transit schedules.

Host Partner: Bay Area Regional Collaborative
Partner Location: San Francisco, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation
Desired Skills: Project Management, Community Outreach, Communication
Remote or On-Site Preference: Hybrid/Flexible (ideal candidates would be able to work on-site between 1-3 days per week)

About the Bay Area Regional Collaborative (BARC)

The Bay Area Regional Collaborative (BARC) was created by the California state legislature to coordinate the research, planning and policy-making efforts of the major state and regional regulatory and planning agencies of the 9-county San Francisco Bay Area, with a primary focus on addressing climate change and advancing racial equity. The BARC member agencies include the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), with non-voting members that include the California State Coastal Conservancy, the San Francisco Bay Area Water Quality Control Board and Caltrans District 4. BARC has established itself as a regional leader on climate adaptation and resilience in the Bay Area by advancing local climate adaptation planning projects; helping to build productive relationships across agencies and organization to establish the governance structures necessary to address climate change at the regional scale.

BARC’s offices are located in the Bay Area Metro Center at 375 Beale Street in downtown San Francisco. The Bay Area Metro Center is a newly-renovated, historic 8-story building a short walk from numerous transit options and amenities, including the Embarcadero BART station, the Salesforce Transit Center, and the Ferry Building. Four of BARC’s member agencies are located in the Bay Area Metro Center, allowing for in-person collaboration and networking opportunities.

THE PROJECT

The Fellow will assist BARC staff in multiple efforts to enhance climate resilience and decarbonization through a variety of regional-scale and local projects. Given BARC’s role as a consortium of regional agencies, the Fellow will have the ability to gain exposure to a wide variety of networking and learning experiences across an array of projects based on their interests and emerging expertise, including housing and transportation planning, air quality, greenhouse emissions reduction strategies for buildings and transportation, and climate adaptation and resilience. The Fellow will have the opportunity to work closely and develop relationships with cross-agency staff and with stakeholders working on climate change issues around the Bay Area. 

The Fellow’s main activities will include:

• Assisting the BARC Executive Director and Program Coordinator in leading and facilitating multi-stakeholder climate change mitigation and adaptation planning processes for specific projects across the region. Current BARC priority projects span the region, including an advanced adaptation planning project in the communities of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park at the west approach to the Dumbarton Bridge;  a 4-county sub-region in the North Bay focused on implementation of climate adaptation strategies along the  State Route 37 and the adjacent community of Vallejo; and advancing a multi-stakeholder community emissions reduction effort in West Oakland;
• Enhancing collaboration among BARC’s member agencies on key climate change-related activities and initiatives. Assisting BARC staff in leading and facilitating cross-agency working groups on specific topics, attending internal agency meetings and conferences on behalf of BARC;
• Assisting with day-to-day administrative activities, including scheduling meetings and drafting and distributing meeting agendas and materials. Assisting in maintaining the BARC website, including drafting and posting content. Helping to plan, run and develop promotional materials for BARC-led outreach initiatives to enhance communication of climate change initiatives across the region, including webinars, newsletters and websites.  

Desired qualifications/characteristics:

• College degree and work experience in one or more of the following topics is desirable: climate change adaptation or mitigation, transportation or land use planning, public policy, environmental equity or community engagement. Other relevant experience is considered (internships, volunteer experience etc.)
• Self-starter with the ability to excel in an entrepreneurial and highly collaborative work environment
• Excellent organizational, writing, interpersonal, and speaking skills are highly desirable
• Community outreach and/or communications experience is desirable
• Proficiency with the following software is desired: Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook), Zoom.  

Program Region: San Francisco Bay Area, South Bay
Project Host: Valley Water
Position Location: San Jose, CA (part time on site, part time remote)
Openings: 0 of 1
Time requirements: 40 hours/week; minimum 1700 hours during eleven-month term, Monday through Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm (start and end times flexible)

About Host Partner Site

Valley Water is a special district in Santa Clara County with a mission to provide water supply, flood protection, and environmental stewardship. We serve the county’s approximate 2 million people; manage 10 reservoirs, 142 miles of pipeline and over 800 miles of creek; and partner with 15 cities and 13 water retailers. We are in the process of completing our first Climate Change Action Plan, updating governance policies to demonstrate our commitment to equity, and continue to work on ways of integrating work across our mission.

Description of duties:

Valley Water faces the challenge of delivering reliable water supply, maintained and improved flood risk reduction, and preserved and enhanced environmental stewardship with finite resources. To best prioritize actions, Valley Water needs a decision-making process to strategically allocate limited resources towards actions that most effectively achieve its mission and service to the community. This process is developed through Valley Water’s integrated water resources master plan (i.e. One Water Plan). This position will support the One Water Plan by:

• Conducting data collection and analysis
• Developing an equitable stakeholder engagement strategy and methodology to highlight detailed priority actions across the watershed for Valley Water and other organizations to implement
• Coordinating with other Valley Water plans such as the Water Supply Master Plan and Climate Change Action Plan
• Supporting water resource specialists and engineers in long-range planning for flood protection and environmental stewardship

Desired qualifications/characteristics:

• Practices of researching water resources issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective and technical reports.
• Apply water resources principles, practices, concepts, and standards to planning
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present technical information and data in an effective manner.
• Conduct water resources and natural resource research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical reports.
• Organize and prioritize multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• College degree and/or work experience in environmental policy, science, or planning with an emphasis on energy or climate are preferred, but other relevant experience is considered (internships, volunteer experience etc.)
• A solid foundation of math and science coursework 
• Classroom experience in energy and environmental policy
• Community outreach and communications experience
• Comprehension of energy systems, climate change science, California environmental policies, water conservation, and/or waste reduction
• Excellent organizational, writing, interpersonal, and speaking skills
• Volunteer or community service experience

Fellow Experience

• Develop sustainability skills, implement impactful climate change resiliency projects, and build partnerships in your community
• Participate in a team environment with access to multiple science and engineering disciplines

Program Region: Bay Area
Project Host: Marin Economic Forum
Position Location: San Rafael, CA (on-site/remote)
Openings: 0 of 1
Time requirements: 40 hours/week; minimum 1700 hours during eleven-month term, days and hours of the week members expected to serve (i.e., Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm)

About Marin Economic Forum

The Marin Economic Forum (MEF) is a 501c(3) public benefit organization located in Marin County, CA. The mission of the organization is to improve the county’s economic vitality, while enhancing social equity and protecting the environment. The organization produces original data, research & analysis, and strategy development to support decision making for the local economy. Operating like a think tank, MEF collaborates with public and private sector leaders and organizations to implement its work, including the County of Marin, area chambers of commerce and higher education institutions among others. The organization is led by a CEO and Chief Economist and has a Board of Directors composed of community leaders including elected officials, business leaders and the non-profit and academia sectors.

Description of duties:

The Economic Strategy Project Assistant (PA) will be responsible for supporting MEF to produce an economic strategy for the County of Marin. In this role the PM will perform the following duties:

• Manage logistical demands of the strategy including: organizing meetings of the strategy Steering Committee, preparing and disseminating project documents, communicating with project stakeholders and updating key project documents;
• Support strategy technical staff with background research on economic matters that influence the strategy;
• Assist, as required, County of Marin staff and elected officials with information requests on strategy developments and milestones;
• Provide project updates to staff for the purposes of social media or press; and
• Support strategy technical staff with the organization of focus groups for the purpose of soliciting input to the strategy.

In addition to supporting the strategy effort, the PA will have the opportunity to support technical activities of MEF including:

• • Conducting background research on economic issues for the use of MEF communications;
  • Supporting collaboration efforts between MEF and other Marin-based on-profit organizations supporting economic development in the county; and

• Contribute to MEF social media platforms for the purpose of updating stakeholders on organizations activities and products (reports, briefings, webinars, etc)

Desired qualifications/characteristics:

• College degree and/or work experience in policy, or planning with an emphasis on community engagement are preferred, but other relevant experience is considered (internships, volunteer experience etc.)
• A solid foundation of math and science coursework; experience in economics appreciated but not necessary 
• Research capabilities including ability to read and create Excel spreadsheets and other database use
• Community outreach and communications experience
• Understanding of public sector agencies
• Excellent organizational, writing, interpersonal, and speaking skills
• Volunteer or community service experience is appreciated

Host Partner: State Coastal Conservancy
Partner Location: Oakland, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Communication, Stakeholder Engagement
Remote or On-Site Preference: In-person & travel required

 THE PROJECT 

The Coastal Conservancy is a state agency that funds planning and construction of projects that protect and restore natural resources, and increase public access to California’s coast, ocean, and coastal watersheds. The Coastal Conservancy’s vision is a beautiful, restored, and accessible coast for current and future generations of Californians. The management of natural resources, including the California coast, has been fraught with exclusion, displacement, injustice, and extractive practices. The environmental burdens of development and industry are often borne by under-resourced communities, while environmental preservation and restoration primarily benefit the affluent. The Coastal Conservancy recognizes its role in a history of inequity along the California Coast and commits to addressing injustices and moving forward in an equitable, inclusive manner. In April 2020 the Coastal Conservancy  approved its Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Guidelines. The Fellow will help the Coastal Conservancy initiate many of the actions identified in the JEDI guidelines and will be the first JEDI-focused staff person that the agency employs.

]In addition to helping with internal, agency-wide JEDI initiatives, the Fellow will help the Conservancy’s local partners, the Cities of Watsonville and Santa Cruz and the Central Coast Climate Collaborative (4C), increase their capacity to conduct meaningful community engagement in their environmental justice and climate resilience projects. 4C is a network of 35 organizations throughout six Central Coast counties that engages with communities to help ensure a resilient and low-carbon Central Coast prepared for the impacts of climate change.

• Project 1: Community engagement efforts for 4C Strategic Planning
  • The Fellow will support the identification of local objectives related to climate mitigation and adaptation, environmental justice and equity, COVID-19 recovery, and community-engaged planning to create a community engagement plan, implementation strategy, and capacity building roadmap to achieve objectives defined as part of the strategic planning process.
  • The Fellow will also develop content for 4C communication platforms (website, newsletters, webinars, databases, social media, etc.), plan and implement an annual symposium, update governance and other foundational documents and share case studies with 4C from the specific work with Santa Cruz and Watsonville
• Project 2: Outreach and engagement efforts for Climate Resiliency in Santa Cruz
  • The Fellow will support the City’s Climate Action Program and assist the Sustainability Manager by organizing community-driven meetings and virtual activities, volunteer service opportunities for residents, and supporting other engagement modes and advisory groups associated with the project  

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

 The Conservancy is offering an exciting opportunity for a passionate, self-directed individual to assist our local and regional partners on the Central California Coast through a regional climate collaborative, and specifically by  developing capacity to engage in meaningful community engagement on climate resilience and environmental justice projects. We are seeking someone with a keen interest in environmental and social justice, climate change adaptation (particularly sea level rise adaptation), community engagement, and natural resources management to join our team. Effective writing and verbal communication skills and the ability to work both independently and as a team member are critical

Pending the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, the Fellow needs to be willing to travel to the Central Coast (travel costs will be reimbursed). A driver’s license would be very helpful.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

 Love the California coast? This might be the Fellowship for you! The Coastal Conservancy is known for being an engaging, fun, and dynamic workplace.  We value work-life balance and are an energetic, passionate group of people who genuinely care about the work we do and are dedicated to protecting the coast and ensuring all Californians can enjoy the coast. 

Our office is located in vibrant downtown Oakland and we are planning to be back at the office by late summer or fall of 2021, with flexibilities for hybrid schedules and teleworking opportunities. Downtown Oakland is well served by BART and AC Transit. We partially reimburse employees for transit or bike commuting. Oakland and the Bay Area are full of cultural and natural opportunities, great food, and a wide diversity of people. 

The Fellow’s site supervisor is a caring and committed person who will provide intentional professional growth opportunities. The broad mission of our agency will give the Fellow experience in an array of topics including sea level rise adaptation, coastal policy, conservation, habitat restoration, trails and public access, and implementing equity policies. The Conservancy Fellow will benefit from meeting and building relationships with multiple local, State, and Federal agencies and organizations and will have opportunities to travel throughout the State (dependent on Covid-19 restrictions). 

Host Partner: San Francisco Department of the Environment (SF Environment)
Partner Location: San Francisco, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation| Affordable Housing| Alternative or Multimodal Transportation| Urban Greening| Food Waste Recovery
Desired Skills: Project Management, Data Collection, Communication
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote/Hybrid

THE PROJECT

Housed within the SF Department of the Environment’s (SF Environment, or SFE) Climate Program, the Fellow’s primary responsibility is to coordinate closely with a wide range of city and non-city data providers to conduct the annual Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory, and share information with a large and diverse local and global audience; the emissions inventory is the scientific backbone for all of the City’s climate action planning. Additionally, the Fellow will support comprehensive cross-sector climate-related activities for the City, including but not limited to: collaborate on projects with SFE’s globally-recognized green building and environmental justice programs; support a range of community climate engagement activities with diverse community stakeholders; and be a part of a multidisciplinary team working to deliver integrated solutions for our most pressing environmental challenges while advancing improved quality of life and human dignity for all. As time and opportunities permit, the Fellow will also support the SFE climate team in developing and implementing early actions and strategies as identified in the CAP update.Since we are part of a robust network of thought leaders and practitioners, our tools and approaches are evolving constantly to get at best practices, but we are mindful to reflect the real needs, desires, and concerns of our community, manifest our highest shared values and ambitions, and show what’s possible.

1. Under the supervision of SF Environment’s Climate team staff, the Fellow will lead in conducting San Francisco’s GHG inventory and improving upon the process in which it is conducted based on previous Fellows’ recommendations and a needs assessment. The Fellow will learn how to learn how to conduct database administration, processing, and an analytical workflow using sophisticated data processing and visualization tools. The Fellow will engage internal SF Environment, partner City Agencies, and Global City Networks to refine and report out emissions as well as San Francisco’s climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.
2. Under the supervision of SFE’s Climate team staff, the Fellow will build upon the knowledge gained during the GHG inventory project and support implementation of the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) monitoring and evaluation framework. The Fellow will develop ways to collect, calculate, track, visualize, and report key performance indicators identified during the development of the City’s 2021 Climate Action Plan update.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

SFE’s cross-functional Climate Program engages a variety of partners and stakeholders, other City departments, community-based organizations, private sector and the general public to mitigate climate change impacts, green the built environment, and enhance equitable access to services in San Francisco.

SFE is the steward of climate action in San Francisco and is responsible for leading mitigation efforts to meet GHG emission reduction targets, and also collaborates with other city departments on climate resilience and adaptation. This requires ongoing maintenance of and reporting on the GHG inventory; performing critical analysis of sector emissions; and engagement with internal and external stakeholders. Through these efforts, the Fellow will learn how to use industry leading analytical tools and learn about the wide breadth of mitigation and adaptation policies unique to San Francisco’s climate action efforts. The Fellow will aid efforts to reduce emissions across the municipal, commercial and residential building sectors.

SFE engages with over 50 city departments on climate action planning and is working in close collaboration with the Office of Resilience and Capital Planning, Department of Emergency Management, Planning and the Mayor’s office on integrating climate mitigation and adaptation into strategic plans and policies. SFE also engages with regional partners such as Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD); state agencies such as the California Energy Commission, California Public Utilities Commission, and Strategic Growth Council; as well as national and global partners such as Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), and C40.

We are flexible regarding on-site vs. remote service. However, please note it is likely that the Department will be returning to the office in the latter part of the year and therefore it would be ideal if the Fellow was able to be local for some in-person time to support collaboration, work culture-building, and professional development opportunities. 

Host Partner: City of Cupertino
Partner Location: Cupertino, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation
Desired Skills: Research, Data Analysis, Critical Thinking
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote OK

THE PROJECT

A next-generation Climate Action Plan (CAP 2.0) is currently under development to enhance and build upon the successful implementation of the original CAP, which was adopted in 2015. The Sustainability Division is a small team based in the City Manager’s Office that is taking on a major effort with full support of the City Council and the community to develop a CAP 2.0 that is envisioned to follow a process inclusive of equity, innovation, urgency, resilience and adaptation (Cupertino City Council Study Session, December 1, 2020). Draft goals adopted by Council direct staff to build out a roadmap and seek public engagement towards a plan that brings Cupertino to a carbon neutral City by 2040, a zero-waste City by 2035, and also foundational planning work for climate adaptation.  

The City faces significant challenges today including a lack of affordable housing, a lack of regional transit connections, and increasing fear of anti-Asian violence that immediately impacts the 66% of the residents that identify as Asian. These challenges are exacerbated by climate-related risks which could manifest in any number of ways of unknown magnitude. The 2021 CivicSpark Fellow will become a member of the Cupertino Green Team at a very interesting and critical time for both building capacity in the City and a unique time for the fellow to develop professional skills and experiences. The beginning of the Fellow’s term in September 2021 will line up with the closing processes of our CAP 2.0 development which culminates over a year of public engagement and technical study. The timing is great for a CivicSpark fellow to experience the public adoption of the major plan and help staff to put the plan into effect.

We envision at least two tasks and up to four tasks total in both internal operations capacity-building and in activating relationships between City Staff and the community stakeholders: 

Embedding CAP 2.0 Short Term Plan into City Operations: The core of the Fellow’s work during FY21-22 will be in supporting staff to build out the systems and institutionalize the CAP 2.0 short-term plan into City operations. This task will require interdepartmental teamworking. This may include such tasks as researching the best way to track progress on the new CAP and report progress to internal City staff and community members.

Stakeholder Relationship Building Plan: For this project, the Fellow will become familiar with the CAP 2.0 pathways to a zero waste and carbon neutral City, and help create an internal plan for staff to build up and maintain relationships beyond the CAP update planning process. The community-facing work might include tasks such as generating methods for staff to stay engaged with the stakeholders that have been activated during the CAP 2.0 process, and developing further relationships among non-profits and businesses.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The City of Cupertino (population 60,000) is located against the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains at the west end of Silicon Valley. Home to high-tech companies like Apple, Cupertino has a highly educated and culturally diverse City, more than half of the population was born outside of the United States. The City of Cupertino is known throughout the world as a center of innovation. Rich in diversity, Cupertino is committed to becoming a model multicultural community for the 21st century. Quality schools and proximity to high-tech jobs and beautiful open spaces make Cupertino a desirable location for a highly educated and culturally diverse population. 

The Fellow will be a key part of our Sustainability Team, which consists of two full time staff members and works closely with the Environmental Services team. Our team has a collaborative and supportive work culture and a friendly office. As we are a small city and a small team, the Fellow will have a lot of autonomy and room to be creative in their role. The Fellow will be supported in pursuing career and personal development opportunities and we will bring them to networking meetings with staff and encourage them to attend networking events, and receive personalized career coaching above and beyond the resources provided by the LGC. 

We can likely provide the option for the Fellow to be fully remote with occasional travel to Cupertino. We would desire a Fellow that can travel to Cupertino occasionally.

Host Partner: StopWaste
Partner Location: Oakland, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation
Desired Skills: Project Management, Data Analysis, Critical Thinking
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote OK

THE PROJECT

StopWaste is a joint powers agency of the local governments in Alameda County. We have supported our member jurisdictions with climate action since 2008, including conducting GHG inventories for the jurisdictions. Over this time, we have seen how much local government capacity is spent on inventories, and the limitations of using only MTCO2e as a metric of successful climate action. We convene a monthly meeting of the sustainability staff in the jurisdictions, and see the potential for this group to greatly enhance the effectiveness of each others’ efforts. This project seeks to improve our role as a regional entity to support this network within our county, as well as Bay Area networks in which we participate. Specifically, the project will include streamlining GHG inventories and supporting member jurisdictions with CDP reporting, supporting a collaborative network sharing platform, and supporting the development of data dashboards that feature additional climate action metrics beyond GHG emissions. The goal of the project is to enable our member jurisdictions to focus more on implementation and benefit from more robust collaboration. Our agency culture is dynamic, aiming to continuously develop our capabilities to empower and equip staff to do their best work; balance storytelling, data-informed decision making and responsible risk taking; and improve the lives of those we serve. The fellow will be part of a small team of staff that directly support member jurisdictions, and will actively participate in meetings with the jurisdictions. They will be engaged in the development of the project components, and their input will be routinely requested by the team. 

The fellow will directly serve StopWaste, in our capacity of serving our member jurisdictions (the 14 cities and Alameda County). The fellow will support a small team of StopWaste staff members that work directly with member jurisdiction staff on three projects:

1. GHG inventory support. The fellow will do data analysis – following established protocols for sourcing, copying, entering, and calculating – to produce GHG inventories for the jurisdictions, and comparison jurisdictions (elsewhere in the Bay Area) as available. The fellow will directly support a subset of StopWaste member jurisdictions with Climate Disclosure Project reporting pursuant to the Global Covenant of Mayors requirements. Desired outcomes include completion of CDP submission for applicable jurisdictions, a comprehensive GHG inventory tool that contains the data for Alameda County jurisdictions and serves as a template for other counties. Taking on this time-consuming task will free up capacity of jurisdictions to focus more on implementation of climate and resilience strategies.
2. Network platform development. StopWaste is seeking to launch an online space for inter-jurisdictional communication and collaboration. The content will be generated by member jurisdictions as well as StopWaste. The platform is TBD, but likely will be determined prior to fellow’s start date. The fellow will support use of the platform, including monitoring its usefulness and sharing tips for how the jurisdictions can best utilize the platform. If StopWaste has not yet determined the platform, the fellow will research platform options and present findings to the StopWaste team. Desired outcome is successful and robust use of the networking platform. The platform is intended to increase jurisdictions’ implementation capacity by leverage each other’s work products, knowledge, and strategies; and pooling resources to accomplish more.
3. Climate action metrics. The fellow will support StopWaste staff to research and recommend alternative meaningful metrics to demonstrate the impacts of jurisdictions’ climate action efforts. The data sources may be publicly available, available via request from regional or state entities, or may need to be collected and supplied by the jurisdictions. The team will also explore more qualitative and milestone-based progress tracking in addition to quantitative metrics. The fellow will research platforms for data visualization and display to the jurisdictions and/or the public. Desired outcomes include a list of recommended alternative metrics, an example of using storytelling as a climate action metric, and a live data visualization dashboard. A more nuanced picture of resilience, climate action, and its impacts on the lives of constituents will increase jurisdictions’ ability to design effective and beneficial programs, as well as communicate the importance of their work to the public, elected officials, and other stakeholders.

Host Partner: City of Dublin
Partner Location: Dublin, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Alternative or Multimodal Transportation, Urban Greening, Food Waste Recovery
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Technical Writing, Flexibility/Adaptability
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote OK

THE PROJECT

The Fellow will serve in the Environmental Services Division (ESD) in the Public Works Department. ESD has responsibility for implementing the City’s Climate Action Plan, stormwater pollution prevention programs, and solid waste programs. It is likely there will also be CAP or waste related projects not listed in this job description that the Fellow may have the opportunity to lead. The overarching goals of the project include fostering meaningful community engagement and advancing climate and solid waste programs.

Roles include: 

• Community engagement and education for the implementation of SB 1383, which establishes targets for edible food diversion from the landfill, compost procurement rates, and enforcement of three-stream waste sorting and diversion. The new and extensive SB 1383 requirements go into effect as of January 1, 2022.
• Develop workshop and training templates on topics and actions in the new CAP, waste reduction, edible food recovery, composting related to SB 1383, and/or other City sustainability initiatives. the City of Dublin has recently adopted a new Climate Action Plan (CAP) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045
• Facilitate at least two of these workshops during their Fellowship with the City. 
• Update the City’s electronic and printed material relating to SB 1383 and CAP implementation programs to make them easy to understand and motivational.  
• Research grant funding opportunities to fund CAP implementation or other grants of City interest.
• Create an excel spreadsheet of each CAP implementation measure, corresponding funding opportunities, and grant application deadlines. 
• Develop a social media plan to promote engagement around City sustainability initiatives and assist with coordinating events such as Dublin Pride Week and Bike Month Activities. 
• Update and enhance social media posts including language and images on the topics of waste reduction and greenhouse gas reducing actions in the areas of energy, waste, transportation, and consumption. This effort will primarily support the Environmental Services Division, but will also work with the Public Information, Transportation, and Parks and Recreation Departments.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS
The ideal Fellow will be outgoing, a good communicator, and excited to motivate the community around climate action and sustainability. The Fellow will have knowledge and skills in stakeholder engagement, public speaking, professional writing, and have a good attention to detail. The Fellow should also be comfortable working somewhat independently with limited guidance, be motivated, and take ownership of their work. The applicant should be flexible and have a willingness/ability to try to figure out how to approach a project from start to finish. Experience specifically with the principles of Community Based Social Marketing (CBSM) is a plus.

Work can be conducted remotely, however in person work is encouraged and preferred if possible.  Some telecommuting will likely be available, even after the pandemic is under control.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The City of Dublin is a suburban community in eastern Alameda County, approximately 35 miles southeast of San Francisco. Relatively affordable housing (for the Bay Area), a low crime rate, and award winning schools make Dublin a great community in which to live and work. Dublin prides itself on its parks and recreational opportunities. Two local rapid transit stations (BART) connect Dublin with the rest of the Bay Area. 

The incoming Fellow would work on and be exposed to many different subjects and departments since the number of full-time city employees is relatively small (approximately 80) for a city of Dublin’s size and growth. The benefit of this is that staff here are engaged on many different projects and interact with people throughout the organization.  The City Council and City Manager’s Office are supportive of the CAP goals and initiatives and funding is available to implement programs, so the Fellow will be able to participate in helping to move policy and programs forward. Since staffing is so lean, the Fellow would be expected to work independently a fair amount of the time, with guidance from the Site Supervisor.

The Civic Center provides free parking to the public. The site has 3 EV charging stations available however these are not free. Though the City cannot provide transit subsidies, the Civic Center is located conveniently close to public transit.

Host Partner: City of Alameda
Partner Location: Alameda, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Marketing, Communication
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote OK, Some in-person work desired

THE PROJECT

The City of Alameda, a low-lying island city of 78,000 is one of the most climate-vulnerable cities in California, facing a future of rising seas and neighborhoods permanently under water. At the same time, the City’s infrastructure is well beyond its useful life and designed for a much less threatening past. These and other climate risks factors are complicated by social, economic, and governance challenges, such as socioeconomic inequity, high housing costs, the expense of sustainability and resilience projects, and silos within government and between government and community. The City of Alameda strives to be a regional and national leader in climate action and resilience. The City’s first Sustainability and Resilience Manager was hired in 2021, new programs are being launched, and new policies are being adopted. Through adoption of its award-winning Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP) in 2019, Alameda has set an ambitious goal of reducing emissions by 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 and becoming carbon neutral as soon as possible. The CARP charts a course to achieve this goal through improvements to transportation, buildings, energy use, and waste management. If we are successful, we will reduce Alameda’s greenhouse gas emissions, increase quality of life on the island, and build a resilient, thriving city. 

As the breadth of work expands to meet the plan’s milestones, there is great need and opportunity for a Fellow to provide creative input and leadership to shape future programs and initiatives. The Fellow will report directly to the Sustainability and Resilience Manager and will be supported by staff and department heads in many departments, as well as engaged community groups who will all be eager to support and mentor the Fellow as they do their work. The role of the Fellow will be to expand the capacity of the sustainability and resilience program to take bold action, rooted in equity and community resilience, to reduce our GHG emissions and adapt to future hazards.

The Fellow will focus on three specific projects:

• Inclusive community engagement and education (50%). Inclusive community engagement means supporting authentic and deep engagement of Alameda’s diverse population with a focus on segments of the population who are disproportionately impacted by climate hazards and who have not always been part of the conversation. The education campaign will focus on increasing awareness of the climate hazards affecting Alameda as well as actions residents can take to adapt to increasing hazards and to reduce their GHG emissions. This campaign will serve as an opportunity to increase awareness of the many incentives available through Alameda Municipal Power and BayREN.  Depending on the course of COVID-19, community engagement may include social media, website, surveys, zoom or in-person events, and partnership with local community groups and schools. The Fellow may present at community events and public meetings.
• Policy development for equitable electrification of existing buildings (30%). The Fellow will be responsible for policy research and development to equitably electrify existing buildings in Alameda. Policies may include a mix of additional incentives, mandatory actions during time of sale or major renovation, and community education and outreach. The Fellow may explore optimal alternatives through policy research, surveys, community meetings, and outreach to key community organizations, with a focus on ensuring that low income populations also benefit from electric conversation policies.
• Metrics, dashboard, and visual storytelling to track accomplishments and progress of the CARP (20%). The Fellow will identify appropriate metrics for key CARP actions and equity indicators, identify available and easily updated data sources, and develop methods for displaying the data on our OpenGov website in a visually pleasing and understandable way that clearly tells the story of Alameda’s climate work. The Fellow will also be responsible for developing a process for regularly updating the data. This work will require close collaboration across a number of departments and may require developing new data sharing tools. The CARP dashboard will also be a key communication tool for our climate communications and education efforts.

The Fellow will also have the opportunity to contribute to additional initiatives of interest across the city, including updating the urban tree master plan, identifying climate smart strategies for the Housing Element update, sea level rise adaptation projects, and creation of a pilot resilience hub.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The ideal Fellow is a passionate, creative, critical thinker who has a strong understanding of the root causes of social inequity, is dedicated to inclusive community engagement and is motivated to create sustainability and resilience solutions that achieve equitable outcomes. Interest in data analysis, policy development, public outreach, clear communication, marketing, policy analysis, and the ability to juggle multiple projects at once will all be important. This position has the rare opportunity to work closely with multiple department heads and high-quality work products will be expected. In turn, the Fellow will have the opportunity to work on interesting and complex problems and can expect high quality mentorship and experience with a city at the frontlines of climate impacts.

Many City of Alameda staff are working fully remotely at this time, however that may change by fall depending on the course of the pandemic. If it is safe to do so, our preference will be to conduct at least some in person community events and some in-office work.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

As a microcosm of the Bay Area’s resilience and sustainability challenges and a leader in climate action, Alameda is a fascinating place to work. The island city is both small enough that a motivated Fellow can make a meaningful impact in 10 months and large enough to be dynamic and exciting.

Alameda’s relatively flat geography, and compact urban form make it particularly conducive to biking and walking. Some of the city’s highlights include a 3-mile beach, stunning views of San Francisco, and lots of sunshine tempered by a cooling Bay breeze. Alameda has a strong sense of community connection and local pride. Alamedans are enthusiastic about climate action and focused on adapting to the rising seas threatening the city. Many community organizations are actively involved in a variety of aspects of climate action and adaptation.  Alameda’s livability, access to recreation, compact urban design, and central location make it an ideal place for a Fellow to live and serve. Previous Fellows have also stayed in nearby Berkeley and Oakland during their service year. Alameda is easily accessible from those cities by bike, ferry, bus, and train. Alameda is in the center of the 9-county Bay Area, meaning that a wealth of recreational and professional development opportunities, including many that are free or inexpensive, are easily accessible. 

Host Partner: San Francisco Department of the Environment
Partner Location: San Francisco, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Waste Management/Reduction
Desired Skills: Project Management, Data Collection, Communication

THE PROJECT

San Francisco Department of the Environment (SFE) is the steward of the City’s zero waste and green building goals. The Fellow will support SFE in also advancing building decarbonization throughout San Francisco, expanding on building electrification policies, and implementing projects from Mayor London Breed’s Zero Emissions Building Task Force. Additionally, they will support cross-sector, green building-related activities for the City by participating on projects alongside a multidisciplinary team with SFE’s globally-recognized Green Building, Climate, and Environmental Justice programs. 

Under supervision of SF Environment’s Green Building and Zero Waste team staff, the Fellow will:

• Evaluate emerging building industry trends that account for the life cycle impacts of building products
• Reduce the embodied carbon of our urban fabric
• Optimize the potential for material reduction, recovery, and reuse

Under supervision of SF Environment’s Green Building team staff, the Fellow will:

• Assist with the development and deployment of initiatives to support building electrification
• Track and analyze green building trends in the design, construction, and operation phases
• Coordinate outreach, public meetings, training, and events
• Increase awareness, learn from our communities, and support with developing climate action policy that is responsive to their need

Sample tasks include conducting research on local, regional, state and national policy as well as industry best practices; assisting with efforts to create new and evolve existing policy recommendations as well as tools for implementation oversight; coordinating special projects and communications with stakeholders; and preparing written project materials.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The ideal Fellow will possess: 

• Enthusiasm for and education in sustainability, climate action and/or green building
• Demonstrated ability to self-start and initiate projects
• Responsible, motivated, and able to work independently and in a team 
• Experience researching and analyzing data
• Excellent writing, time management, and organizational skills
• Proficiency with word processing database management, and Google and Microsoft products.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

San Francisco is recognized as a progressive city taking bold steps for climate action. At SFE, our fun and fast-paced workplace culture can be summarized in our values:

• Credibility: a trusted source of information, drawing on deep expertise 
• Collaboration: an engaged member of the SF family, working with business and community stakeholders to advance shared goals
• Innovation: a think-and-do tank that experiments and prototypes to identify the best solutions to address environmental challenges, setting examples for other cities to follow
• Equity: a commitment to inclusiveness and accessibility so programs benefit all residents and businesses in San Francisco and focus on supporting those communities most in need 
• Impact: a demonstration that a resilient environment is possible    

The Fellow is a core team member, and is offered many opportunities to learn, grow, and lead. They attend weekly meetings for the Climate Team, as well as for the building materials management group – the Fellow is expected to facilitate the latter. There are also 1:1 weekly meetings with their supervisor to talk through any tasks or challenges, or have an in-depth session on a topic of their choosing (could be related to professional development, technical topics, etc). Opportunities for networking and interacting with others is prioritized whenever possible – peers, other coworkers, subject matter experts, and we’re always happy to make introductions to folks that the Fellow has an interest in meeting.

The Fellow will gain a distinct perspective about material use and discarded urban resources; opportunities for tracking and reducing embodied carbon; construction, deconstruction, and demolition practices; and the policies and industries that inform these areas of impact. 

Host Partner: RecycleMore
Partner Location: Richmond, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Food Waste Recovery
Desired Skills: Project Management, Data Analysis, Detail-Oriented

THE PROJECT

RecycleMore, West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority, is a Joint Powers Agency that manages the waste stream from the cities of Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, Hercules & El Cerrito. They promote and facilitate recycling, composting, waste reduction and household hazardous waste programs in West Contra Costa County through outreach, education and technical assistance. 

This year’s Fellowship will focus on implementation of their SB 1383 Mandatory Organics Program. This is an opportunity to be part of a team and to learn about the waste industry from RecycleMore’s decades of industry knowledge. Not only will the project facilitate the diversion of organic waste from landfill, but it will also assist in the recovery of edible food through regional partnerships. The project goal is to engage the community and facilitate the diversion of organic materials in order to actively reduce local & global climate impacts. Newly established goals and agreements between our haulers and our member cities make this an exciting time to be involved in the reduction of climate changing waste in the West County.

The Fellow will bring creativity and attention to detail to specific projects, including: 

• Research & learn about the upcoming legislation
• Assist in development of the implementation plan and coordination among key stakeholders 
• Assist in the development of a local enforcement ordinance which will be adopted by our five member cities  
• Create engaging outreach materials for print, social media and a new website
• Conduct waste audits and learn how to provide on-site technical assistance  
• Work with new data tracking software to monitor and manage waste account data and assist with annual reporting  
• Help coordinate a regional edible food recovery program
• Work with the school district to implement cafeteria composting and waste reduction programs.  •Assist with community outreach events and presentations
• Attend seminars and conferences to network and foster professional development

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

Our ideal candidate is someone who is creative and environmentally conscious with a desire to inspire others to act. Great written, email and oral communication skills and basic computer, email and data management skills are required. Proficiency in Excel and a second language is desirable, but not required. 

Some remote work is possible and a personal vehicle is not required.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

RecycleMore is a local government agency with 4 dedicated employees from whom the Fellow will learn about the complex solid waste industry and the operations of a local government agency. We work collaboratively with our internal team and with our key stakeholder member cities and haulers. It is a casual office environment, where everyone’s opinion is valued. Our office is in a beautiful new building in Richmond, near the Hilltop Mall, with free, safe parking and an indoor gym. The West Contra Costa community is diverse, and has a strong environmental ethic.

This year’s Fellowship will offer the following supplemental professional development opportunities: Attend waste industry seminars and conferences; and utilize graphic arts software and any necessary classes.

Host Partner: City of Richmond
Partner Location: Richmond, CA
Openings: 0 of 2
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation
Desired Skills: Project Management, Data Analysis, Communication

THE PROJECT

The CivicSpark Fellow would be supervised by staff in the Environmental and Health Initiatives Division which is located in the City Manager’s Office, Economic Development Development Department. The primary focus for this service project is the implementation of the Climate Action Plan through the development and implementation of specific programs. Such programs include: the City’s clean air programs, open data initiative, low-income solar, and zero-waste programs. This position will engage with the public and decision-makers.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The Fellow should be interested in working with diverse populations and have good communication skills. The Fellow should have an interest in: public policy and smart governance , climate change, community resilience, and adaptation strategies.   

Desired/preferred skills include: Ability to draft and edit technical reports; Strong math background with experience and coursework in statistics; Understanding of how to clearly present and communicate information; and Experience or a strong interest in working with Excel, SQL, Python, GIS, or Google Earth Engine. 

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

Our approach to professional development is to help AmeriCorps members achieve their goals over the service term. We encourage members to attend conferences, regional meetings and trainings, and help connect Fellows to informational interviews. We practice radical candor within the Environmental Initiatives Division. We strive to be good mentors, challenge each other, and discuss ideas openly and freely. 

The City of Richmond is the only city in the CivicSpark program to have had two members stay for two program years as Senior CivicSpark Fellows. Additionally, the City of Richmond is home to diverse neighborhoods, intermodal transit hubs, pristine marinas, shopping, recreational and cultural amenities, and 32 miles of trail-lined shoreline. This all contributes to making Richmond among the most desirable up-and-coming communities in California.

Host Partner: City of Berkeley
Partner Location: Berkeley, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Water Management and/or Policy, Urban Greening
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Marketing, Communication

THE PROJECT

The City of Berkeley’s Department of Public Works supports many city-wide environmental initiatives and is the largest department in the City of Berkeley. Public Works comprises six divisions including the Office of the Director, Zero Waste, Transportation, Engineering, Operations, Fiscal and Administration. 

The CivicSpark Fellow will support the Department of Public Works by modernizing the Adopt-a-Spot program for the community that creates volunteer opportunities to support green infrastructure, stormwater pollution reduction and pollinator friendly/drought tolerant traffic circles.

• The CivicSpark Fellow will provide outreach and education to Berkeley residents to inform them of volunteer opportunities. The Fellow will be responsible for developing a recruitment mailing list, sending out volunteer recruitment blasts, sending mailers, holding virtual meetings and participation (tabling) at events. 
• The CivicSpark Fellow will create a web-based volunteer registry (with support from our IT Department) that allows for easy online registration for volunteer opportunities, a webpage that showcases an interactive map showing which “spots” are available for adoption, and create a system to track volunteer efforts and outcomes. The Fellow will lay the groundwork for a future city-wide Adopt-a-Spot program, and overall contribute to the modernization of the City’s internal systems. 
• The Fellow will also support volunteer-based aspects including getting liability forms signed, sending safety vests and other personal protective equipment to Adopt-a-Spot volunteers, and other activities in compliance with the City’s stormwater discharge permit. 
• The CivicSpark Fellow will also be able to assist Public Works in taking full advantage of other volunteer events such as Berkeley Project Day through UC Berkeley and Coastal Clean Ups. 
• This Fellow will hold stormwater outreach events and share environmental compliance information with residents and business owners in conjunction with the Alameda County Clean Water Program. The CivicSpark Fellow will focus on segments of our community that have not historically been able to engage or have not been recognized for existing engagement including renters, people of color, and low-income residents. The outreach efforts will be supported by current Public Works staff. 
• They will also be responsible for working with the Public Works Commission, City Council, and City social media managers regarding environmental volunteer efforts, with an emphasis in lower-income and underserved neighborhoods (which tend to be in more industrial areas).

The ideal candidate is passionate about community outreach regarding environmental issues and equity in a diverse community. They should have strong communication and project management skills. They should have the desire to learn more about green infrastructure and stormwater impacts and mitigation in an urban environment. Additional interest in drought tolerant / pollinator friendly landscaping would be helpful. Additional desired but not required skills include: second language proficiency (e.g. Spanish or Chinese languages) to ensure outreach to non-English speaking communities, graphic design, GIS, and web content management.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS 

The City provides commuter benefits and bike share to City staff. Living in or around Berkeley is amazing and expensive. There is ample public transportation (BART, bus, bike share) and access to some of the best produce in the world. The cost of living is high, but due to the pandemic, competition for housing with the large student population will likely not be as difficult as in previous years.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

Public Works’ mission is to provide quality services to the Berkeley community with pride, courtesy, and excellence. Public Works staff are dedicated to making that mission a reality through their hard work and their ongoing efforts to improve the community. Serving the City of Berkeley, and specifically the Public Works Department, would be an excellent professional development experience because of the incredible breadth of types of projects and programs within the Department. The Fellow will participate in meetings, webinars, and other training opportunities to develop subject matter expertise and understanding of the policies, programs, to support community outreach, engagement and volunteer opportunities in all parts of the City.

Berkeley, located in the East Bay across from San Francisco, is known for its community activism and engagement. It currently has 37 commissions representing a wide array of community interests and concerns. Berkeley is often the first in the Country to pass groundbreaking legislation. The City has prioritized living wages, equal rights, and a community where truly everyone is welcome. Berkeley is home to the University of California, which was the birthplace of the 1960’s Free Speech Movement, as well as many other educational institutions. Berkeley currently struggles with a large population of unsheltered individuals and large disparities in disparities in educational attainment, wealth, transportation and housing. The community remains dedicated to improving both the social and environmental problems that are present now and in the future.   

Host Partner: Metropolitan Transportation Commission – Housing
Partner Location: San Francisco, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Affordable Housing, Alternative or Multimodal Transportation, Urban Greening, Social Equity
Desired Skills: Research, GIS Mapping, Flexibility/Adaptability

THE PROJECT

In fall 2021, MTC and ABAG will adopt Plan Bay Area 2050 (Plan), an integrated 30-year vision centered on equity and resilience. Built on unprecedented public participation, the Plan’s 35 strategies advance the region toward a more affordable, connected, diverse, healthy, and vibrant future. The fellow will work collaboratively with MTC/ABAG staff and a broad cross-section of stakeholders to accelerate implementation of the Plan’s highest impact housing strategies and deliver replicable tools to local governments.

Projects One and Two: Plan Bay Area 2050 Housing Strategy Implementation—The fellow will orchestrate the implementation of two transformative Plan Bay Area Housing Strategies that together are anticipated to meet as much as half of the region’s long-term affordable housing need.

The first strategy–Transform Aging Malls and Office Parks into Neighborhoods—aims to turn declining quintessential 20^th century land uses into 21^st century centers of community with a large share of affordable housing. The second strategy–Accelerate the Reuse of Public and Community-Owned Land for Mixed-Income Housing—would establish a regional network of cities, affordable and mixed-income housing developers, financial institutions, and community-based organizations that collaboratively make efficient use of limited public land and funding, with a coordination role played by MTC/ABAG. Both strategies prioritize locations proximate to frequent transit with limited vulnerability to natural hazards. 

In addition to being centerpieces of Plan bay Area, these strategies are critical to the Housing Elements Bay Area local governments must adopt to plan for their near-term housing needs. In the geographically constrained Bay Area, redeveloping declining commercial sites and leveraging public land are two of the most promising avenues for delivering homes at the scale commensurate with the need.

The CivicSpark fellow’s workplan for each Housing Strategy Implementation project will follow a similar structure that is anticipated to include: a) A gap assessment that clarifies specific needs of local jurisdictions and stakeholders, and frames the implementation challenge for working groups; b) Convening and coordinating a working group made up of local government staff, key stakeholders including community-based organizations, topic area experts, and MTC/ABAG staff; c) Conducting analysis, developing policies, and presenting findings and recommendations to support the working group; and d) Producing a set of written and electronic resources as guidance to local governments, as well as a report recommending regional actions to facilitate implementation in coordination with local governments and stakeholders.

Project Three: Surplus Public Lands Inventory Toolkit—The fellow will create a toolkit to assist local governments in identifying and prioritizing public land for affordable housing, ensuring that they comply with the Surplus Land Act (AB 1255, amended in 2019 by AB 1486). The toolkit will include a guidance document and electronic resources, including GIS data, template reports, and a menu of model policies for advancing the reuse of surplus land to help identify local government actions to prioritize potential sites for affordable housing. The toolkit will be developed in close coordination with HCD, which is developing a statewide inventory that the submissions of each individual jurisdiction will feed into, as well as with local staff—providing the fellow exposure to planners across the region.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The Fellow will possess:

Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, including the ability, or willingness to learn, to complete analyses of large datasets using Excel and potentially data science applications such as Python, as well as the ability to summarize and present findings; 

Written, oral, and graphic communication skills, including the ability, or willingness to learn, to utilize graphic design applications such as Adobe Creative Suite, and to distill multiple sources of information into presentation-quality PowerPoint presentations; and 

Spatial planning and analysis skills, including the ability, or willingness to learn, to use ArcGIS Pro and potentially other spatial analysis tools,    

In addition to these skills, the ideal fellow will possess an understanding of racial equity principles, and knowledge of urban planning history, particularly in the Bay Area.

Assuming in-person work returns at some point during the Fellowship, the Fellow will enjoy the Bay Area Metro Center in downtown San Francisco, a 2016 renovated building with ample co-working space which supports the collaborative work of the agency. Whether it is in the many Metro Center conference rooms or virtual ones, Fellows can expect to spend a good portion of the week problem-solving with other planners.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) are deeply engaged in core planning challenges facing the San Francisco Bay Area region. The agency supports the Bay Area region on a range of planning topics like housing affordability, climate resilience and emerging mobility. Most efforts led by the agencies require strong partnerships with local jurisdictions and other regional and state agencies.

This partnership-based approach provides ample exposure into different levels of government and the opportunity to plan in a variety of different contexts and scales. The work led by MTC and ABAG is award-winning and is often at the cutting edge of the state of planning practice in California. This position will provide ample exposure into the data, analytics and visualization component of regional planning. For those interested in growing technical skills the Fellowship will provide an opportunity to learn by doing with mentorship and support from a supervisor and staff across the regional planning department.

Host Partner: Metropolitan Transportation Commission – Resilience
Partner Location: San Francisco, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Wildfire Resilience
Desired Skills: Research, Data Analysis, Self-Motivation

THE PROJECT

THE PROJECT

In fall 2021, MTC and ABAG will adopt Plan Bay Area 2050, the next 30-year vision for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area that outlines 35 specific strategies to advance the Bay Area toward a more affordable, connected, diverse, healthy, and vibrant future. With adoption of the Plan, MTC/ABAG will pivot fully toward action in fall 2021 to drive progress on 35 strategies. The Fellow will work on three resilience and environmental initiatives outlined in Plan Bay Area 2050:

1. Sea Level Rise Funding Plan. The Bay Area region’s long-range plan, Plan Bay Area 2050, identified a $19 billion dollar need to adapt the Bay Area shoreline for just the first two feet of sea level rise. The planning process identified financial resources as the main requirement for implementation success for this strategy that has broad public and elected official support. The Fellow will support staff in preparing data and analyses that study the equity impacts & benefits of different revenue generating measures applied at varying geographic scales (neighborhood, city, county, or region). The Fellow will have an opportunity to grow technical skills and be exposed to equity analysis methodologies and resilience financing tools. The project will have many interim deliverables, likely culminating in a report and presentation to MTC and ABAG committees. This product will help inform next steps for the Bay Area in raising needed revenue to address sea level rise.
2. Advancing Resilient Building Retrofits. Plan Bay Area 2050 recognized a long-standing need to retrofit many homes in the Bay Area to be safer in wildfires and earthquakes, as well as to achieve growing goals for decarbonization and water resilience. MTC and ABAG have been working with structural engineering consultants to develop a regional-level methodology for classifying homes in the region using county assessors data. The Fellow will work with MTC staff to apply a new methodology for inventorying building deficiencies to inform local ordinances and retrofit programs. The Fellow will work to improve MTC’s understanding of the regional parcel data completing quality assurance checks, improving data when necessary, and verifying the analytical model outputs. This project is likely to result in data packages that are shared with local governments and possibly state agencies working to expand seismic and wildfire hardening retrofit programs.
3. PCA Program Reform. The Bay Area has protected and invested in many key natural resources in the nine-county region. Open space districts, city, regional, state, and federal parks, as well as a range of easements and other conservation lands, make up nearly 30 percent of the land in the region. More than a decade ago, MTC and ABAG created the Priority Conservation Area program as a means to recognize areas in the region that are already set aside, or should be set aside in the future. Since then, the framework has not changed, leading to a “patchwork” map with inconsistencies across the diverse nine-county region. The Fellow will support staff and partners in organizing the various conservation data that exist in the region and explore new Priority Conservation Area frameworks that focus on core issues of access, equity, and resilience. The project is likely to result in a working paper or a draft report that would be shared with partners and policy makers to consider possible reforms to the PCA program.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

Assuming in-person work returns at some point during the Fellowship, the Fellow will enjoy the Bay Area Metro Center in downtown San Francisco, a renovated building with ample co-working space which supports the collaborative work of the agency. Whether it is in the many Metro Center conference rooms or virtual ones, Fellows can expect to spend a good portion of the week problem-solving with other planners. As a physical and virtual coordinating hub for the region, MTC/ABAG is often in the host role for regional conversations where staff and elected officials gather frequently to discuss planning challenges. Fellows can expect to participate in workshops, committee meetings, and networking events relevant to the projects they work on as well as others that interest them.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) are deeply engaged in core planning challenges facing the San Francisco Bay Area region. The agency supports the Bay Area region on a range of planning topics like housing affordability, climate resilience and emerging mobility. Most efforts led by the agencies require strong partnerships with local jurisdictions and other regional and state agencies. This partnership-based approach provides ample exposure into different levels of government and the opportunity to plan in a variety of different contexts and scales. The work led by MTC and ABAG is award-winning and is often at the cutting edge of the state of planning practice in California. This position will provide ample exposure into the data, analytics and visualization component of regional planning. For those interested in growing technical skills the Fellowship will provide an opportunity to learn by doing with mentorship and support from a supervisor and staff across the regional planning department.

Host Partner: City of Antioch
Partner Location: Antioch, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Affordable Housing, Food Waste Recovery, ADA Accessibility
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Marketing, Self-Motivated

THE PROJECT

The City of Antioch is the second largest city in Contra Costa County, located on the banks of the San Joaquin River just off of Highway 4 in East county. Residents enjoy beautiful river views with kayaking, boating and fishing, as well as some of the most affordable housing in the Bay Area. As one of the first cities in the county, Antioch has a lot of older housing stock and a sizable population of lower income, elderly and disabled households. All of these groups need affordable housing and access to the various programs and services provided by City government and nonprofit partners. 

In 2020, Antioch City Council approved a Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP) that includes actions to address energy efficiency in low income housing as well as outreach and engagement to disadvantaged communities. The projects proposed for the Fellow focus on 1) ensuring equity in access as the local government 2) engaging and representing a diverse population, 3) providing a variety of housing and environmental services, and 4) modernizing our housing programs and housing stock. Two divisions within the City of Antioch’s Community Development Department will be working together for this project. Our Environmental Resources and Housing/CDBG Divisions have been working closely over the last few years to bring equity and resilience to underserved communities. In support of this project, the Fellow will:

• Learn how affordable housing is subsidized and funded.
• Assist staff in implementing Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity requirements identified in the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. 
• Help ensure fair and equal access to City government services by persons with disabilities and limited English proficiency by augmenting and implementing an Access plan created by prior Civic Spark  Fellow.
• Design and implement effective outreach strategies to residents in lower income census tracts to promote a variety of new and existing housing programs and all environmental programs to lower income and disabled renters and homeowners.
• Assist local organizations and food generators to increase food security in our communities as part of the implementation of SB1383.
• Analyze Actions in the CARP for possible implementation given current climate in the community.
• Implement Actions in the CARP as selected and deemed feasible.

Antioch is looking for a candidate that is able to take ownership of their programs, be proactive and willing to come to staff with questions or when assistance is needed. Strong writing and verbal communication skills are a must as the primary focus of the program year will be interacting with the general public and reaching out to community groups. The Fellow we choose will have an interest in the challenges and issues faced by disabled and lower income residents and communities. They will be empathetic and open to learning. They will possess basic Excel skills and good writing and analytical skills. WordPress or other web design skills would be a plus, but not required. Virtual meeting platform familiarity would also be helpful. They will be willing to work some variable hours, including occasional weekends for outreach at community events or workshops. They must be able to work in a fairly structured environment, develop work plans, stick to schedules and deliverables, and receive feedback on their performance. Bilingual/Spanish speaking is a plus. All abilities welcomed.     Given the above, this Fellow will learn the satisfaction of making real contributions to better the lives of thousands of residents for many years to come.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

Due to the success of remote working during the pandemic, we anticipate that as long as working from home is still allowed in the CivicSpark program, it will be encouraged by the City, schedule permitting.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The City of Antioch provides a friendly and welcoming work environment with the opportunity to interact directly with all levels of staff and outside agencies. Working here will give the Fellow a basic understanding of the way local government works but not frustrate them with lots of bureaucracy. There is a real ability to move things forward and work with a team that is motivated and able to implement change. City Council is currently engaged in many aspects of equity and resilience for all members of the community. Currently working to increase youth engagement, police reform and address homelessness, the City has been taking steps to change how things are done.

With every CivicSpark program year completed, we expand the horizons of the Fellows and open up the capacity of our agency. The above project work will provide the City with the additional attention that launching new efforts requires.  There is a great opportunity for the right Fellow to adapt and expand the project work and to influence future projects and plans for the community. The City provides opportunity for the right Fellow to adapt the project work to their abilities and interests, and to grow, expand, or influence the project scope and design.

Host Partner: City of San Leandro
Partner Location: San Leandro, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, Self-Motivated

THE PROJECT

The City of San Leandro is a municipal public agency serving the community of San Leandro, which comprises 15 square miles between Hayward, Oakland, and the San Francisco Bay. Despite a population of over 90,000, San Leandro is known for its small town atmosphere and diverse neighborhoods with over 32% Asian, 27% Latinx, and 12% Black representation across the City. Like many other Bay Area cities, San Leandro faces immediate climate impacts from annual wildfire smoke and extreme heat days, as well as long-term impacts from sea level rise, yet is limited by a small staff and resources to address the issues. With the Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2.0 update expected to be approved by the City Council in spring 2021, the City is ready to transition into climate action implementation and start addressing some of the short-term impacts. Implementation will center on building community capacity, power, and infrastructure, and incorporate both climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. San Leandro is at the beginning stages of cultivating community champions and partners that can take up key responsibilities and actions that supplement the work of the City. By strengthening community leadership in resilience hubs and other spaces, this will center climate equity, build a pipeline for climate champions, and ensure the sustainability and momentum of climate action beyond the City office. Overall the Fellow will be supporting CAP implementation through public education, resiliency technical assistance, and data tracking/reporting.

Climate Action Plan – Community Engagement: The Fellow will be working under the Sustainability Office in the Public Works Department of the City of San Leandro for the CAP implementation. They will primarily conduct outreach and public education on the climate crisis through a community partner train-the-trainer capacity building program and the Resilience Hubs program. With the first cohort of San Leandro sites in the Resilience Hub program enrolled this year, the Fellow will provide technical assistance to those sites as they determine climate resiliency projects they want to work on. This work will be complemented by the train-the-trainer program, a new program for San Leandro partners that builds awareness of climate topics and resources available to residents and businesses. The Fellow will support in partner recruitment, curriculum building, and presentations, using the Resilience Hub program as a model template. Robust technical assistance follow-up for Resilience Hubs will get community partners ready for wildfire and heat events, and the train-the-trainer program will deepen knowledge and resource access around topics like energy efficiency, transportation, and permaculture. At the end of the  Fellowship, the desired project outcomes are to successfully identify and install resiliency elements to San Leandro Resilience Hub sites and launch the train-the-trainer program to continue education of community partners.

Climate Action Plan – Data Analysis: The second capacity building project will involve data collection and analysis for other City initiatives in the CAP, such as SB1383 edible food recovery, reach codes, and building permit analysis for targeted outreach on home retrofits. These are designed to address the long-term climate impacts by reducing GHG emissions and strengthening resilience to future climate events. The Fellow will coordinate with Green Team members, analyze and compile targeted stakeholder outreach lists, and set up processes for ongoing enforcement or data collection. Desired project outcomes may include written documentation of project methodology, stakeholder outreach successes and opportunities to help institutionalize best practices for future outreach work in San Leandro.

Climate Action Plan – Reporting: Finally, the third project will focus on collecting data and documenting progress for the annual CAP implementation report. This will involve coordinating with Green Team members on their projects, collecting information on the indicator metrics identified in the CAP, and compiling them into a written implementation progress report. Such a report will allow staff to demonstrate to the City Council and the community, via a PowerPoint presentation, what has been accomplished in the first year of the CAP and to adjust methods if necessary. This will also be utilized in annual reporting for the Global Covenant of Mayors.

An ideal Fellow has an interest in climate/environmental justice, community engagement, and climate education. The project will primarily focus on building strong relationships with community partners, presenting about climate topics (e.g. energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, permaculture), and connecting people to the right resources. Essential skills and experience include communication, workshop presenting, teaching/education, and community organizing. The ability to work independently, be flexible and adaptive in new circumstances, and project manage are also key. The Fellow will also be expected to do technical data analysis, so should feel comfortable navigating Excel, collecting data, and formatting. Ability to speak Spanish, Mandarin, or Cantonese would be ideal, but not necessary.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

Computer on site, access to existing community partners database and relationships.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

San Leandro provides a small community setting set against the urban backdrop of the San Francisco Bay Area. Many residents have lived here for generations and are persisting despite regional gentrification and displacement. Sustainability staff can provide in-depth history for San Leandro as their hometown and current workplace. The growing Asian and Hispanic populations have shifted the community needs over the years as well as corresponding outreach approaches that can best serve the public.     

With the small geographic area, there are not as many climate-focused community groups specific to San Leandro as in other parts of the Bay Area. However, with the existing relationships between the Sustainability Office and community partners, it is possible to have more community-driven efforts and build the infrastructure for community members to step into leadership. Budding organizing efforts are emerging around social justice movements and can be fostered for stronger leadership presence by Black, Indigenous, and people of color.     

In acknowledgement of past and current systemic racism and inequities, the City of San Leandro recently launched a process with an equity consultant to develop a city equity plan with staff and community members. This presents a unique opportunity for Fellows interested in climate and environmental justice to observe and participate in the process.

Host Partner: City of Albany
Partner Location: Albany, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Urban Greening
Desired Skills: Project Management, Environmental Justice, Communication

THE PROJECT

Known as the “Urban Village by the Bay,” the City of Albany is a small city with big sustainability goals. The City aims for 70% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 and net zero emissions by 2045. Despite its size and density, Albany is home to a diverse natural environment, which includes 5,000 publicly owned trees, 5 creeks, 9 acres of research farmland, a sandy beach and wetlands, as well as 112 acres of parkland, including Albany Hill and the Bulb. The Sustainability Division strives to protect this critical habitat from the effects of climate change, while also ensuring social equity, a resilient community, and a thriving local economy.

In December of 2019, the Albany City Council unanimously adopted a new Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) that focuses on innovative policies and programs to meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets, while also prioritizing actions that provide other benefits to the community, such as opportunities to enhance public health, environmental conservation, and social equity.

With Albany’s limited staff capacity and varied projects, the work of a CivicSpark Fellow is crucial to move climate action and community resilience efforts forward, so that the City can meet its goals. The Fellow will be responsible for implementing measures from the recently updated CAAP and engaging with the public on matters related to the CAAP. The Fellow will leverage the Climate Action Committee, various Albany community groups, as well as the Carbon-Free Albany online social engagement platform, to engage the community in greenhouse gas reduction and climate adaptation efforts. Ultimately, the City of Albany cannot achieve its ambitious climate action goals without the support and active participation of the community. The CivicSpark Fellow will be an essential liaison between the City, the community, and the natural environment.

The Albany CivicSpark Fellow will do a combination of research, analysis, planning, and community engagement to help the City of Albany’s Sustainability Division implement actions from CAAP. The Fellow’s work will span both mitigation and adaptation, in both the public and private sectors. Although there are defined goals for projects, there is quite a bit of flexibility for project development and implementation, and the Fellow will have opportunities to take ownership of projects and develop strategies for implementation based on personal strengths and interests. 

Mitigation: The CivicSpark Fellow will work closely with City staff, regional partners, and the community to address key barriers to adopting low-carbon or no-carbon transportation options, and energy efficiency and electrification retrofits for existing buildings. In particular, the City would like to prioritize energy efficiency retrofits and decarbonization of existing multi-family housing, to ensure that efforts to decarbonize are done in a manner that is equitable. This may include organizing and leading workshops and webinars, developing and distributing targeted outreach materials, and compiling accessible resources to help the community overcome any cost barriers or misconceptions about all-electric or energy efficient technology.  ​The Fellow will also have opportunities to get involved with projects related to the circular economy, and composting and recycling outreach. 

Adaptation: The Climate Action Committee and Albany community members have expressed interest in policies and programs aimed at increasing climate adaptive landscaping and green infrastructure, particularly on private property. The CivicSpark Fellow would be the community engagement lead for these projects, tasked with researching best practices, organizing green infrastructure and climate-adaptive planting workshops, and developing guides and resources.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The City of Albany will offer non-monetary resources to the 2021-2022 CivicSpark Fellow, including networking opportunities, opportunities to attend conferences, and non-CivicSpark professional development opportunities. For example, the City of Albany Sustainability Division staff attends monthly regional meetings that provide opportunities for networking with neighboring city staff as well as with other Bay Area region CivicSpark (and Climate Corps) Fellows. Hosted by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority (StopWaste), Fellows may attend monthly Technical Advisory Committee meetings that focus on waste and recycling programming, and monthly Technical Advisory Group meetings that focus on energy efficiency and climate action. Attendance at both monthly meetings will allow the Fellow to network, learn new skills in two different sectors, and get involved in regional projects as appropriate.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

Albany, California is a small city of about 20,000 residents, located within the greater San Francisco Bay area. Albany today combines a small-town ambience with its central location in a major metropolitan region. Our city is beautifully located on the eastern shoreline of the San Francisco Bay, directly east of the Golden Gate Bridge. Surrounded by the San Francisco Bay to the west, the Berkeley Hills to the East, and the communities of Berkeley, El Cerrito, Kensington, and Richmond, Albany’s 1.7 square miles offer a fascinating diversity within a small-town community. Community events, the arts, and a vibrant commercial district cater to the needs of the community. Albany is a walkable and bike-able City that is also served by AC Transit, and located between the El Cerrito Plaza and North Berkeley BART stations.     

The City of Albany staff are all welcoming and willing to help. The City has hosted CivicSpark Fellows in the past, and City staff are familiar with and appreciative of the CivicSpark Fellows’ work. Previous CivicSpark Fellows have been able to work with nearly all City Departments, including Community Development, Public Works, Fire, Finance, and Administration. There are ample opportunities for CivicSpark Fellows to work with other City Departments as well as Albany’s active community groups. 

Host Partner: Reinvent South Stockton Coalition
Partner Location: Stockton, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Access to Opportunity
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Data Collection, Communication
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote

THE PROJECT

Reinvent South Stockton Coalition (RSSC) leads a collective impact project to revitalize South Stockton, an area that has been historically disinvested and is currently facing high rates of poverty, unemployment, housing insecurity, chronic disease, and social isolation (issues that have been exacerbated by COVID-19). RSSC serves as the ”backbone” organizer for the South Stockton Promise Zone, which brings together more than 60 partner organizations and represents a deep community project to break down silos, build trust, and transform the lives of South Stocktonians from cradle to career. We convene stakeholders and residents to identify community needs, determine strategies to address them, and align resources across dozens of partner organizations to implement those strategies. Our overall goals are to empower residents to transform their community, promote equity and opportunity through systems change, and break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. RSSC is seeking two CivicSpark Fellows to engage residents and develop/implement actionable policies in partnership with local government agencies. Each Fellow will focus on a specific result area within our collective impact model.
(See other posting for information regarding RSSC’s other position.)

RSSC believes that the people closest to the problem must be involved in creating solutions. The Community Engagement Fellow will work to jump-start our Community Safety and Trust result areas, which have been inactive for some time.  This Fellow will help create a stronger bridge between residents and government agencies in order to ensure that resources, services, and opportunities are equitably allocated and are responsive to community needs as identified by residents. This work will benefit residents by improving community safety, community trust and social cohesion, and overall health and well-being.     

Partners will include community trust-builders, Stockton Unified School District, City of Stockton Community Services, Stockton Police Department, health clinics and community centers, faith-based organizations, and community organizers. Solutions will depend on an assessment of gaps and capacity needs, but may include community events, volunteer service events, youth engagement activities, parent engagement activities, and civic engagement activities. Policy solutions may involve building the case for funding social services (as opposed to policing), using participatory budgeting processes, promoting trauma-informed processes, and other ideas that increase equity at the systems level.     

Project outcomes will include a robust community engagement process; an assessment of gaps in resources, services, and opportunities related to community safety, trust, and health; recommendations to address those gaps; and implementation of at least one recommendation.

RSSC is seeking Fellows who are committed to racial equity, social justice, and community building. We strive to create spaces and solutions that bring equity, justice, and healing to South Stockton. These values, along with trust, transparency, and accountability, are extremely important to our organization and our stakeholders.  The skills and traits we are looking for in a Fellow include: 

• Effective communication, active listening, research and writing, meeting agenda creation and facilitation, project management, organization, flexibility, follow-through, and being able to work both in a team and independently.
• Comfort in a collaborative and inclusive environment. 
• Ability to work closely with people of all backgrounds with respect and empathy.     
• Professional or academic experience such as Community Development, Social Work, Public Administration, Public Policy, Education, Public Health, Urban Planning, Community Organizing, and/or Business Administration.     
• Spanish, Cambodian, Tagalog or other language fluency is a plus.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

During the pandemic, our team is working remotely. We have regular team meetings and check-ins, and we use Slack to stay in sync. We hope to be back in our downtown Stockton office by the end of 2021. 

Fellows working with RSSC will benefit from serving alongside a large cohort of AmeriCorps Fellows who will also be active in Stockton during the same time period. The Stockton Service Corps (SSC) is a first-of-its-kind AmeriCorps initiative, funded for six years by CaliforniaVolunteers, that annually places 100 Fellows at local organizations supporting K-12 students.  In addition to the energy and social opportunities that come from having a critical mass of Fellows serving together, RSSC’s CivicSpark Fellows will also have the chance to participate in SSC training, service days, and professional development activities.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

One of Stockton’s greatest assets is its diversity. A recent US News report found Stockton to be the most racially diverse large city in the country. South Stockton, in particular, is the historic hub of Filipino, Latino, and African American communities in San Joaquin County and home to the oldest Sikh temple in the country. Today, more than 68 percent of residents are Latino. South Stockton is also young; nearly 39 percent of residents are under age 25. Stockton embraces innovation. The Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) is a universal basic income (UBI) pilot program first catalyzed at RSSC. SEED jump-started a national conversation on UBI and now other large cities are piloting their own similar programs.

Reinvent South Stockton Coalition is a nonprofit organization with a team of 6 staff members. Team members are focused on one or more result areas (health, housing, education, etc.) or work on fundraising, communications, and special projects. Because our work is intersectional and we use a collective impact approach, we are a highly collaborative team and we work together often. Working with RSSC is an opportunity for Fellows to get firsthand experience in neighborhood-based, collective impact models and results-based accountability.  RSSC’s primary role and activities are convening and facilitating cross-sector partner meetings, managing research and data collection to identify issue areas and monitor progress, engaging with residents through listening sessions and other events, and using communications tools to attract broader support and resources for South Stockton. The Fellows will have a chance to engage in all of these activities to build their own professional skill-sets. RSSC is also part of a larger “Reinvent Stockton Universe” that includes the Reinvent Stockton Foundation, Stockton Scholars, Stockton Service Corps, the universal basic income pilot program “SEED”, and the Edge Collaborative.

Host Partner: Reinvent South Stockton Coalition
Partner Location: Stockton, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Affordable Housing
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Data Collection, Communication
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote

THE PROJECT

Reinvent South Stockton Coalition (RSSC) leads a collective impact project to revitalize South Stockton, an area that has been historically disinvested and is currently facing high rates of poverty, unemployment, housing insecurity, chronic disease, and social isolation (issues that have been exacerbated by COVID-19). RSSC serves as the ”backbone” organizer for the South Stockton Promise Zone, which brings together more than 60 partner organizations and represents a deep community project to break down silos, build trust, and transform the lives of South Stocktonians from cradle to career. We convene stakeholders and residents to identify community needs, determine strategies to address them, and align resources across dozens of partner organizations to implement those strategies. Our overall goals are to empower residents to transform their community, promote equity and opportunity through systems change, and break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. RSSC is seeking two CivicSpark Fellows to engage residents and develop/implement actionable policies in partnership with local government agencies. Each Fellow will focus on a specific result area within our collective impact model.
(See other posting for information regarding RSSC’s other position.)    

South Stockton is facing a severe housing crisis, which is disproportionately impacting people of color. Many of our residents struggle to afford rent, live in overcrowded or substandard homes, have been evicted or are at risk of eviction, or are currently homeless. 

The Housing Policy Fellow will focus on research, data collection, policy development, and crafting an actionable plan to implement at least one new housing policy in Stockton. The Fellow will work with our housing advocacy partners, developers, government agencies, and residents to develop policy solutions and a roadmap for policy adoption and implementation. Policies will be determined with stakeholders, and are likely to include a housing trust fund and renter protections. 

The overall goal of this project is to lead research, planning, and partnership coordination to lay the groundwork for progressive housing policies at the city or county level. Project outcomes will include policy proposals, policy implementation plans, case statements, and outreach materials. 

RSSC is seeking Fellows who are committed to racial equity, social justice, and community building. We strive to create spaces and solutions that bring equity, justice, and healing to South Stockton. These values, along with trust, transparency, and accountability, are extremely important to our organization and our stakeholders.  The skills and traits we are looking for in a Fellow include: 

• Effective communication, active listening, research and writing, meeting agenda creation and facilitation, project management, organization, flexibility, follow-through, and being able to work both in a team and independently.
• Comfort in a collaborative and inclusive environment. 
• Ability to work closely with people of all backgrounds with respect and empathy.     
• Professional or academic experience such as Community Development, Social Work, Public Administration, Public Policy, Education, Public Health, Urban Planning, Community Organizing, and/or Business Administration.     
• Spanish, Cambodian, Tagalog or other language fluency is a plus.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

During the pandemic, our team is working remotely. We have regular team meetings and check-ins, and we use Slack to stay in sync. We hope to be back in our downtown Stockton office by the end of 2021. 

Fellows working with RSSC will benefit from serving alongside a large cohort of AmeriCorps Fellows who will also be active in Stockton during the same time period. The Stockton Service Corps (SSC) is a first-of-its-kind AmeriCorps initiative, funded for six years by CaliforniaVolunteers, that annually places 100 Fellows at local organizations supporting K-12 students.  In addition to the energy and social opportunities that come from having a critical mass of Fellows serving together, RSSC’s CivicSpark Fellows will also have the chance to participate in SSC training, service days, and professional development activities.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

One of Stockton’s greatest assets is its diversity. A recent US News report found Stockton to be the most racially diverse large city in the country. South Stockton, in particular, is the historic hub of Filipino, Latino, and African American communities in San Joaquin County and home to the oldest Sikh temple in the country. Today, more than 68 percent of residents are Latino. South Stockton is also young; nearly 39 percent of residents are under age 25. Stockton embraces innovation. The Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) is a universal basic income (UBI) pilot program first catalyzed at RSSC. SEED jump-started a national conversation on UBI and now other large cities are piloting their own similar programs.

Reinvent South Stockton Coalition is a nonprofit organization with a team of 6 staff members. Team members are focused on one or more result areas (health, housing, education, etc.) or work on fundraising, communications, and special projects. Because our work is intersectional and we use a collective impact approach, we are a highly collaborative team and we work together often. Working with RSSC is an opportunity for Fellows to get firsthand experience in neighborhood-based, collective impact models and results-based accountability.  RSSC’s primary role and activities are convening and facilitating cross-sector partner meetings, managing research and data collection to identify issue areas and monitor progress, engaging with residents through listening sessions and other events, and using communications tools to attract broader support and resources for South Stockton. The Fellows will have a chance to engage in all of these activities to build their own professional skill-sets. RSSC is also part of a larger “Reinvent Stockton Universe” that includes the Reinvent Stockton Foundation, Stockton Scholars, Stockton Service Corps, the universal basic income pilot program “SEED”, and the Edge Collaborative. 

Host Partner: Marina Coast Water District
Partner Location: Marina, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Water Management and/or Policy
Desired Skills: Project Management, Technical Writing, Critical Thinking
Remote or On-Site Preference: Hybrid

THE PROJECT

Marina Coast Water District faces a variety of climate action challenges, in particular a need to bring a unique, antiquated Army infrastructure, that was built in the first half of the last century, up to current standards for a broad scope of new communities, businesses, and residents.

Upgrading this aged, inefficient infrastructure and equipment with new, more efficient equipment and “green” practices will replace and alleviate historical, more harmful environmental, public health, and climate-risk disparities, bringing this part of our service area up to standards already found to be common in the surrounding communities.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The District would like someone to research green actions for implementation and analyze the deliverables. The Fellow would support the development of a solid Climate Action Plan to use as a tool for the District and the community. The Fellow will support the following activities:

• Develop a Climate Action Plan for the District.
• Project manage the creation of a Climate Action Plan.
• Create a report regarding Climate Action Plan deliverables.

The Fellow’s work will help the District reduce their carbon footprint.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The District’s culture and environment consist of a small organization, with long-term employees. There are 42 employees that are dedicated and passionate about water. The District is a union organization, therefore; employees must follow the employee handbook and MOU. There are five seasoned managers and one extremely knowledgeable General Manager that can provide the Fellow with the tools needed to create a Climate Action Plan.

Marina is a city in Monterey County, California. Marina was incorporated in 1975 and is the newest city on the Monterey Peninsula. Marina is a wonderful family suburb town. Marina has an extremely low crime rate and is an overall quiet town that is 10 minutes from Monterey.

Host Partner: Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
Partner Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Water Management and/or Policy
Desired Skills: Project Management, Communication, Data Collection

THE PROJECT

ABOUT/GOAL
The mission of the Central Coast Water Board is to develop and enforce water quality and implement plans that will best protect the area’s waters while recognizing differences in local climate, topography, geology and hydrology. To achieve climate change resiliency on the Central Coast, wastewater treatment facilities must identify and assess the viability of reusing wastewater system’s treated effluent to diversify community water supplies. In addition, waste water treatment plants must consider the location of new facilities in regards to flooding and temperature fluctuations exacerbated by climate change. 

ACTUAL PROJECT ACTIVITIES

The Fellow will assist Central Coast wastewater treatment facilities to conduct climate adaptation planning in accordance with new climate adaptation planning requirements. The role of the Fellow is to: 1) research climate adaptation planning requirements 2) prepare a template or other similar technical assistance resource for Central Coast wastewater treatment plants conducting Climate Adaptation Planning and 3) prepare a checklist of standards and/or expectations for climate adaptation planning to help ensure consistency and adequacy.  The resources prepared will serve as technical guidance to serve multiple facility categories (e.g., coastal, inland, including facilities serving disadvantaged communities).  Furthermore, the Fellow will help with data analysis by the following methods: 1) compiling information and data included in local agency Climate Adaptation Plans and 2) preparing a regional summary of various Climate Adaptation Plans to serve as a resource for multiple local agencies.

SKILLS NEEDED

The ideal Fellow will have a degree in Engineering or a related field. The Fellow should have strong analytical skills, and the ability to review technical documents. The Fellow should have strong writing and verbal communication skills, be detail oriented, and well organized.  

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The Central Coast Water Board includes approximately 75 employees who are passionate about water quality and protecting public health and the environment. We prioritize continuous leadership and professional development for all staff, including our student assistants. The office is located in San Luis Obispo, California. Local resources include coastline and beaches, with great hiking and other outdoor activities. We value diversity at all levels of the organization and are committed to fostering an environment in which employees from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We believe the diversity of our employees and their unique ideas inspire innovative solutions to further our mission to preserve, enhance and restore the quality of California’s water resources.

Host Partner: City of Watsonville
Partner Location: Watsonville, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation
Desired Skills: Research, Science and Systems, Critical Thinking
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote – 75%

THE PROJECT

The City of Watsonville faces numerous challenges managing waste streams. The State of California has many current regulations that need to be met. More concerning for the City are possible future regulations, specifically around the management of biosolids (the solid end product of wastewater treatment). Currently the City trucks all of the biosolids produced by the wastewater treatment plant to the Central Valley where the biosolids are applied to non-food crop fields as a soil amendment. This process is energy intensive, expensive, and not ideal from an environmental perspective relative to greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, The biosolids potentially contain low levels of bacteria and pathogens, residual pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and possibly forever chemicals like PFAS and heavy metals.

It is anticipated that in the near future California regulations will become more stringent and the City will have to find an alternative disposal option to placing organics in a landfill. Fortunately there are better solutions to this problem, such as biochar – a charcoal like substance that is produced when organic matter (such as biosolids) are heated to a high temperature in the absence of oxygen (a process called pyrolysis). The process is typically energy neutral and has the added benefit of destroying pathogens and pharmaceuticals, removing microplastics, and making heavy metals less bioavailable.

The Fellow will serve as the project manager in exploring options and approaches to waste management, primarily biosolids produced by the wastewater treatment plant but also household organic waste (will soon be collected separately from garbage) and yard waste. The Fellow will research the possibilities for biochar usage and help to develop a more integrated approach to waste management. Ideally this new approach will fold all the organic waste streams into a local holistic system that could center around biochar but may include compost, biogas, and even fuel cells, all of which could ultimately lead to healthy soil and clean energy. The agency served is the City of Watsonville but the work done by the Fellow is applicable to most cities in California. 

The role of the Fellow is to research available technologies and techniques, feedstocks, and different ways to produce biochar. The Fellow will also coordinate the testing of the biochar (either at the city lab or send out for analysis). Based on the test results the Fellow will then explore intermediate and end uses of the biochar. The integration of other waste streams and other concepts will be explored and a comprehensive plan will be developed. A significant portion of the work is to analyze the concept from a climate perspective, specifically from a carbon balance perspective to ensure that the system has a net positive environmental impact.

The project outcomes are a report and a conceptual plan that includes a breakdown of the anticipated cost to implement at scale and the anticipated energy (and other inputs) required to operate. In addition, developing a clear understanding of the potential air pollution implications and a carbon balance analysis of the system as a whole are essential to ensure that the City’s pursuit of this technology is not a maladaptation (a solution that ends up having unintended consequences that are worse than the original problem).

The resources provided by the Fellow will have large impacts in the energy usage at the City and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste. Every truckload of waste that does not leave the City represents a huge saving in avoided tailpipe emissions and also represents a possible sequestration of carbon should the waste be turned into biochar. Conceptually the re-use of waste products, especially biosolids biochar as a soil amendment locally will ideally lead to a greater awareness of what is placed into the sewer system and lead to a more careful attitude to waste amongst residents.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The ideal Fellow will have an interest in and aptitude for technical problem solving, with a science background (biology, chemistry, ecology, civil or environmental engineering) and a willingness to explore new and unusual ideas. There will likely be some experimentation and testing involved in this project such as shipping samples for the pyrolysis of biosolids, and basic sampling for lab work to evaluate the resulting product. A willingness to learn and reach out for help are more important than past experience. The project will also require a big picture, creative approach to all of the waste streams at the City and the willingness to explore alternative approaches to the problem. Good communication skills are also required as there will also be a moderate amount of interaction with partners, equipment vendors, and engineering sales teams. An understanding of climate change science and chemistry is also important because this is the underlying basis for evaluating all of the work in this project. 

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

We are a small but mighty group of forward thinkers where data-driven “outside the box” ideas are encouraged.  We are public servants who work hard and play hard, striving for a healthy work-life balance. Watsonville is a small city optimally located on the Monterey Bay, between the cities of Santa Cruz and Monterey, and easily accessible from the South SF Bay Area.  Many of us enjoy the outdoor recreational activities the region offers such as surfing, trail running, mountain biking, and hiking and backpacking up in the redwoods and down in Big Sur.

Ideally this work will take place on site at the City’s Water Resource Center (WRC), although much of the work can be performed remotely.  The Fellow will report to and be mentored by the City’s Public Works & Utilities Wastewater Division Manager.  The WRC has a comfortable family-like culture where trust is built from honesty and teamwork. We also love our food-centric gatherings that will soon once again resume consistent with Cal/OSHA guidelines.

Host Partner: County of Santa Barbara – 3C-REN
Partner Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Affordable Housing, Energy Efficiency
Desired Skills: Project Management, Community Outreach, Communication

THE PROJECT

The 3 County – Renewable Energy Network (3C-REN) is a partnership among three California Central Coast local government agencies (Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties) working together to deliver regional energy efficiency programs that meet local needs and help reduce energy use, carbon emissions, and meet the goals of local climate action plans. This project aims to implement innovative outreach and engagement strategies to deliver energy education and services to tri-county residents, especially historically underserved communities. The Fellow will accomplish this by including energy as an important area of partnership between local governments, community-facing organizations, and residents; developing innovative education and behavioral change campaigns; and expanding access to energy education for tri-county renters and homeowners in a multilingual and culturally proficient approach. Specific duties are listed below. 

The Fellow will be placed with the County of Santa Barbara, Sustainability Division within the Community Services Department. In addition, they will work closely with staff from the County of San Luis Obispo and the County of Ventura. Lastly, they will interact with the residents of the three counties and building industry professionals.  

Project 1: Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Saving Toolkit Project.

• The DIY toolkits allow residents to learn about energy and make energy savings improvements in their homes. The toolkits are currently available at local libraries throughout the Tri-County
• Manage toolkits in coordination with library staff, including designing and implementing a follow-up process to engage users to take further action with HES program, and supporting program expansion (i.e. offering additional kits and incorporating electrification technologies like induction cooktops)
• Lead on outreach and education including, connecting with the community to share about the kits, energy efficiency, and electrification
• Investigate how to expand the toolkit program to other community-facing organizations in the region.

Project 2: Developing a Behavior Change Campaign for Home Energy Savings (HES) participants. 

• This effort will be aimed at helping participants avoid the “rebound effect” and get the most out of their energy efficiency upgrades by providing education, and encouraging action
• Support the development of materials that will be left with participants at the time of a HES install that can be replicated in communities throughout the region
• Design and implement engagement and education efforts within communities. For multifamily participants the Fellow will launch “Building Challenges” to encourage energy saving success through competition. Similarly, for single-family participants, they will design and launch neighborhood or block-level challenges, perhaps with the support of the Cool Blocks program
• Provide support with outreach and building relationships with community organizations that serve customers that are Spanish speakers, moderate income households, and/or within Disadvantaged Communities

Project 3: General Energy Efficiency Training and Education for Tri-County Residents

• Leveraging resources from 3C-REN’s Building Performance Training (BPT) and the Home Energy Savings (HES) programs, the Fellow will coordinate with both Program Managers to develop an education curriculum around electrification and heat pump technologies

• Support coordination with new partners to offer homeowner trainings and demonstrations (e.g. Community Environmental Council, libraries, community-based organizations). Additionally, the Fellow may support the development of an introduction-level training that appeals to those new to the construction trade

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

A successful CivicSpark Fellow should have good communication skills (both written and verbal) and be able to work in a group setting as well as independently. The Fellow should have a strong interest in energy efficiency. A few important traits the Fellow should possess include: willingness to conduct community outreach via phone, in person meetings or presentations; taking initiative and bringing creative ideas to the table; and being proactive in researching and identifying solutions when leading tasks. Additionally, while not required, a Fellow who speaks Spanish would be very beneficial to the 3C-REN.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The County of Santa Barbara is located in the southern region of the State of California. The County is unique in that it has two main administrative locations, one in the City of Santa Barbara (South County) and the other in the City of Santa Maria (North County). The Fellow will be based in the County Administration Building, which is located in the downtown area of the City of Santa Barbara. Mainstays of the County’s economy include oil and natural gas exploration, winemaking, agriculture and education. Santa Barbara’s picturesque beaches, mountains and proximity to the Channel Islands also make it a popular tourist destination.

The Sustainability Division is part of the Community Services Department, which also includes Parks, the Office of Arts and Culture, Libraries and Housing and Community Development. The Sustainability Division is a small but extremely motivated group of five staff members. The Division operates through a shared leadership model that values open communication. The Division was created approximately 5 years ago and is therefore still in “start-up” mode with an often changing landscape. While staff works hard, the division’s culture also believes in the value of having fun and being playful.

Because of 3C-REN’s collaborative nature, the Fellow will also get to work closely with staff from the Counties of San Luis Obispo and Ventura to develop and implement projects across the entire Tri-County Region. The opportunity to help deliver energy efficiency programming across a wide and diverse area will be an exciting challenge for the right candidate.

Host Partner: County of Santa Barbara
Partner Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation| Alternative or Multimodal Transportation| Urban Greening
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Outreach, Communication

THE PROJECT

The Sustainability Division of the County of Santa Barbara is seeking a Fellow to lead and support several projects:

Santa Barbara County Regional Climate Collaborative – The County of Santa Barbara supports the Santa Barbara County Regional Climate Collaborative, a growing multi sector network working to address the region’s climate change challenges.

• Stakeholder engagement and interviews from various communities to develop community profiles that identify community needs, prospective partners and potential grant opportunities.  
• Assistance in the development and launch of a data platform to visualize the County’s and cities’ greenhouse gas emissions.
• Development of a community climate strategy for an unincorporated community

Department Sustainability Strategy – The Sustainability Division seeks to establish a department-wide sustainability strategy across the other divisions within the Community Services Department. 

• Interview divisions, prepare a report on current efforts and recommendations for new actions and opportunities.

Integrating Equity – The Sustainability Division seeks to further integrate equity into its policies, programs and projects.

• Research and compile historical resources and interview stakeholders to prepare a brief racial history of the County to bring context to the current landscape and sustainability challenges. 

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS 

Desired skills include Spanish fluency, equity-training/experience, emotional intelligence, and Excel. The ideal Fellow would be local to Santa Barbara County. 

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The Sustainability Division is a division within the Community Services Department, which includes Parks, Libraries, Arts & Culture and Housing & Community Development. We are a small team focused on delivering innovative and collaborative programs and projects. We try to foster an open and fun environment, even while working remotely. As the supervisor, I am available for daily check-ins and weekly meetings. I offer as many opportunities to learn from others, participate in different events and activities and network. I encourage Fellows to practice their soft skills, like public speaking.

Santa Barbara County is blessed with beaches, mountains and an eclectic culture. There is an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities. The County is a microcosm of the country; there is a dichotomy between the more affluent, liberal south coast and the more industry-friendly north county. The structural and political challenges of climate change and climate policy are intriguing and complex. 

Host Partner: County of Monterey
Partner Location: Salinas, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Data Analysis, Communication
Remote or On-Site Preference: X

THE PROJECT

In 2020 Monterey County re-initiated the Sustainability Program, after several years of dormancy. The Program is grounded in the three pillars of sustainability and is designed to support a healthy and vibrant economic, social and environmental future for the residents of Monterey County. The County contains two of the most important natural treasures to the nation, the vast and striking open wilderness of Big Sur and the Monterey Bay, and some of the most fertile and prime farmland in the Country. As such, its resources are both highly sought after and in need of protection and conservation. The Sustainability Program seeks to preserve and restore the County’s environmental resources in a way that supports the well-being of our residents and uplifts our economic anchors of tourism and agriculture. The Program does that through 3 main activities: Climate Action Planning which outlines the plan for reducing and sequestering emissions in County operations and County-wide, a Board of Supervisors chaired Committee known as the Alternative Energy and Environment Committee, and interacting with and engaging the community to discover Community Priorities. This project is focused on Climate Action Planning and seeks a Fellow to assist the County in implementing strategies for reducing it’s operational emissions that were identified in the Municipal Climate Action Plan. 

The goals of this project include: 

• Transitioning our County fleet to an electric or hybrid fleet and subsequently reducing our emissions from our fleet by at least 25% over the next 10 years; 
• Conducting research, education and outreach to employees to reduce emissions from employee commute by at least 25% (but hopefully greater!) over the next 5 years; 
• Improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions from our buildings through energy benchmarking and measurement, reducing emissions from our facilities by 15% through efficiency only over the next 10 years; and 
• Creating a plan to reduce County waste through understanding of our purchasing habits and devising recommendations for technology, policy or behavioral changes.

Fleet Electrification Analysis:  

This effort involves creating a plan by evaluating the current County fleet and identifying near-term, medium-term and long-term vehicle replacements and feasible electric vehicle (EV) replacement opportunities to allow the County to strategically transition away from fossil fuel powered vehicles while taking advantage of early adoption incentives and credits. 

Another aspect of this plan that needs to be managed is the integration of charging stations to County lots. This needs to be done in coordination with facilities management so that electrical work or trenching can be combined with planned maintenance or upgrades to reduce and consolidate cost and effort. The Fellow will lead the efforts to analyze data, create presentations, monitor the reduction in emissions as a result of any transitions as well as any cost savings.   

Green Purchasing and Zero Waste Analysis:  

The Sustainability Program has begun to plan for reducing waste with a Green Purchasing evaluation in conjunction with Environmental Health and purchasing staff. In 2021/22, this work will continue to better understand the waste streams we have to manage as a County. The zero-waste initiative will: 

• Ensure that janitorial staff is disposing properly of waste and that all our haulers are providing the appropriate service levels for the County in conjunction with facilities staff. 
• Look at our reuse program for more heavy-duty items and will explore opportunities for including battery packs and hazardous waste events. 
• Analyze and assist in revising purchasing policy and creating a Zero Waste Plan for the County.  

Employee Commute and Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: 

Employee Commute represents almost 30% of County emissions. The last time a County-wide employee commute survey was conducted was in 2005.  This work needs to be updated with a new survey and plan for installation of charging stations and monitoring utilization and proposing financing options. Some of this work may include research for incentives and grants as well as communication campaigns to employees such as promotion of the GO831 Challenge.  

Energy Benchmarking and Net Zero Buildings efforts: 

The Fellow will also have an opportunity to be involved in efforts to reduce County buildings emissions and may learn how to use any energy benchmarking and measurement software the County employs.  

Without a Fellow, the electrification plan, zero waste and employee commute efforts will likely not receive any staff time this year.

The County is looking for a candidate who is:

• Highly organized and self motivated.  
• Has skills in data collection and analysis via Excel, including an ability to utilize formulas and implement pivot tables 
• Has ability to research technical issues,
• Has knowledge of decarbonization tactics in transportation (can train on the job). 
• Has knowledge of zero waste strategies (can train on the job).  
• Has project management skills including the ability to prioritize tasks and juggle multiple projects at once.
• Has presentation skills and the ability to communicate technical and financial information in a visually appealing way.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

Monterey County is full of natural beauty, has some of the most diverse ecosystems and microclimates and has a history of controversy between environment and industry. Sustainability in Monterey County is extremely important and therefore extremely challenging and requires dedication, innovation and diplomacy. Working for the County will provide numerous opportunities to think critically about complex political situations and to learn about the tradeoffs between implementing environmental policy and supporting economic and social well-being. Working on the Climate Action Plan in particular will give the Fellow a chance to network with a vast array of stakeholders in the climate space and will prepare the individual for a career in sustainable agriculture, transportation, buildings and/or energy. Often as sustainability professionals, we must learn the ins and outs of all of these and this Fellow will learn how to balance the needs of multiple stakeholders while deeply engaging in the existing policy and technologies of all of these sectors. 

The workplace culture of the County is well-balanced between personal and professional interest and time, relatively relaxed compared to the private sector, and embraces employee education and career development. There are definitely some challenges to working across multiple departments and ensuring widespread consensus on issues, but this is a positive career-development skill the Fellow will obtain by working with the County.

Host Partner: County of Monterey
Partner Location: Salinas, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Data Analysis, Communication

THE PROJECT

The County of Monterey is both a coastal and agricultural community including spectacular environmental oases and farmland that is responsible for large quantities of the rest of the nation’s fresh vegetables and fruits. This region faces diverse and serious impacts from a changing climate. 

The County of Monterey is embarking on an effort to develop its Qualified Community Climate Action Plan for 2030 with a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 in line with the targets set by the state of California. The Climate Action Plan is intended to be an opportunity for robust stakeholder engagement to select strategies that are the most cost-effective and beneficial for the County in meeting its emissions reductions goals.  Through evidence-based research and expertise, deep stakeholder engagement, identifying private sector and nonprofit champions and a focus on inclusion and diversity, the Climate Action Plan efforts will incorporate meaningful and customized solutions and inspire strategic programmatic action. 

County of Monterey Climate Action Plan – Stakeholder Engagement:  

In this task the Fellow will assist with facilitating meetings between the County and interested stakeholders, such as technical advisory committees, sector working groups, and other engagement meetings. The Fellow will be expected to help prepare for meetings, have a general understanding of each strategy and why it will result in a reduction of emissions, and conduct marketing work associated with the project, including social media campaigns, blogs or maintaining the website. 

County of Monterey Climate Action Plan – Research and Data Analysis:  

This task will go hand in hand with the task above. Although the County is planning to hire a technical consultant and a facilitator to assist with both analyzing strategies and communicating those strategies, the Fellow will be expected to assist with data collection such as contact information for various industries and stakeholders, cost to implement strategies, status quo of certain strategies and information that may be needed to respond to stakeholder questions. The data will ultimately be used to determine the feasibility of implementing Climate Action Plan strategies in the County. In addition, the Fellow may be asked to organize this information and identify gaps in resources and data.  

County of Monterey Climate Action Plan – Drafting and Review of Plan:

This part of the project will require the Fellow to synthesize the results of the stakeholder engagement process and the technical analysis from the consultant. The Fellow will need to conform to CEQA requirements in drafting the plan and a template will be provided. The Fellow will be expected to work alongside the Sustainability Program Manager and technical consultant/facilitator in drafting and reviewing the plan and will gain valuable technical writing experience.

The ideal Fellow will be 

• A well-balanced individual with both good communication skills as well as strong technical skills.  
• Is able to write technical information in an approachable style.  
• Is able to balance the interests of multiple stakeholders and respond diplomatically to conflicting perspectives.  

Desired but not required skills include: 

• bilingual in Spanish and English, 
• background or interest in smart agriculture or clean transportation, 
• background or understanding of CEQA and County or land use planning, 
• technical understanding of GHG emissions and California policy regarding emissions reductions, 
• understanding of strategies to reduce and sequester emissions, 
• the ability to complete or understanding of cost-benefit analysis and life cycle analysis.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

Monterey County is full of natural beauty, has some of the most diverse ecosystems and microclimates and has a history of controversy between environment and industry. Sustainability in Monterey County is extremely important and therefore extremely challenging and requires dedication, innovation and diplomacy. Working for the County will provide numerous opportunities to think critically about complex political situations and to learn about the tradeoffs between implementing environmental policy and supporting economic and social well-being. 

Working on the Climate Action Plan in particular will give the Fellow a chance to network with a vast array of stakeholders in the climate space and will prepare the individual for a career in sustainable agriculture, transportation, buildings and/or energy. Often as sustainability professionals, we must learn the ins and outs of all of these and this Fellow will learn how to balance the needs of multiple stakeholders while deeply engaging in the existing policy and technologies of all of these sectors. The workplace culture of the County is well-balanced between personal and professional interest and time, relatively relaxed compared to the private sector, and embraces employee education and career development. There are definitely some challenges to working across multiple departments and ensuring widespread consensus on issues, but this is a positive career-development skill the Fellow will obtain by working with the County.

Host Partner: County of Ventura, Resource Management Agency, Planning Division
Partner Location: Ventura, CA
Openings: 0 of 2
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Water Management and/or Policy, Affordable Housing, Agricultural/Climate Resilience
Desired Skills: Research, Data Collection, Self-Motivated

THE PROJECT

Ventura County adopted a new General Plan in September 2020 which addresses a myriad of important complex issues facing counties and cities across the state, including: environmental justice, climate resilience, greenhouse gas reduction, energy and water resources, agricultural land conservation, healthy communities, and many others. Devised to tackle these issues, there are over 700 goals, policies and programs included in the County’s 2040 General Plan. In addition to implementing these many innovative substantive policies and programs in the General Plan, the County has committed to annually report back to the public on the progress we are making on program implementation and greenhouse gas reduction efforts.   

The Fellows will participate on projects within the General Plan that focus on the development of several important new programs related to sustainable agricultural lands conservation, energy reach codes, water supply assessments, research related to oil and gas operations, farmworker housing regulation updates to increase the production of this housing and assistance with community outreach. It is anticipated that Fellows will assist with data gathering and reporting, research and report writing, (including maps, tables, graphs, etc.), stakeholder outreach (e.g., fact sheets, web page updates), and meeting organization and logistics as part of the above activities. Several of these projects will include the support of consultant technical experts. As such the Fellows role will be to provide assistance to Planning staff and consultants on these efforts.  

Some specific examples include:

• Establish an Agricultural Conservation Easement Program to address the loss of important farmland resulting from development projects. Tasks associated with this program may include identifying appropriate land, potential easement holders, (such as an agricultural land trust), and developing required reporting procedures;
• Assist with the implementation of a grant focused on keeping agriculture resilient and economically viable in the face of climate change, development pressure, and other factors. Assist in the implementation of the Sustainable Agricultural Conservation Program to protect critical agricultural lands from conversion to urban or rural residential development;
• Assist in the development of the County Tree Planting Program requiring that the County plant 1,000 trees annually through 2040;
• Support staff in researching energy codes that limit the use of natural gas in residential and commercial development as part of the County’s GHG reduction measures. Develop a mandatory Energy Reach Code requiring that the building code “reaches” beyond the state minimum requirements for energy use in building design and construction;
• Develop the County’s protocol for reporting to decision-makers and the public on the progress of the 2040 General Plan Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Strategy;
• Attend Climate Emergency Council meetings composed of community representatives tasked with providing the Board of Supervisors on additional recommended Climate Action Plan programs for the 2040 General Plan;
• Assist in the adoption of zoning ordinance updates regulating the time limits on the operation of new oil wells and the safe and permanent plugging of idle oil wells to protect the environment.
• In addition to the above, Fellows may also have the opportunity to work on Housing program implementation.

One overarching goal of these projects is to assist County staff with the development and implementation of new and innovative General Plan programs which support in creating a resilient Ventura County. A second important goal is to develop robust reporting procedures that will allow the County to accurately capture the progress made to implement GHG reduction programs and to report this progress to the public using a variety of techniques to reach all interested stakeholders. 

The ideal Fellows will be skilled in research methods, writing, and be comfortable interacting with and assisting the public. Project management skills are also desirable. Fellows will also possess a strong ability to synthesize and summarize technical information for the public and decision-makers and feel comfortable working both as a team member and independently. Additionally, experience with, knowledge of, and an interest in climate action programs, agricultural issues, and resilient development are desired. It is anticipated that some portion of community engagement may be bilingual (English/Spanish) and ability to speak Spanish is a plus. The ability to use GIS software is a plus, as is experience using Excel and PowerPoint.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

Currently (as of February 2021), most employees in the Planning Division are working remotely due to Covid-19. As of now, no date has been established when Planning Division employees will resume work at the County’s Government Center.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The County of Ventura is the second largest employer in the county with more than 9,000 employees in 25 agencies and departments. The County provides various safety, social and health care services to the public. The Fellows will be serving in the Resource Management Agency’s Planning Division, composed of dedicated, hard-working individuals and teams. Overall, the Agency’s Planning Division provides land use and planning services to the public within unincorporated areas of the County. The Fellows would work in the General Plan Section, which is focused on implementing programs approved as part of a recent comprehensive update to the County’s General Plan. The Fellows would report directly to the General Plan Section manager.   

The Division has a history of providing a supportive environment with a strong foundation for mentoring Fellows. By the close of the service year, Fellows will be given the tools to highlight their developed skills in interviews and on resumes through practice interview and professional support when deciding next steps. Also, depending on an individual’s skill and interest, Fellows are encouraged to lead projects through initial project development, implementation, problem-solving, and reporting.     

Ventura County is situated along the central Pacific coast between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. It has a population of approximately 850,000, yet many of the cities within the County retain a small-town feel. While there are ample “big city” cultural opportunities in neighboring Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, Ventura County offers a wide range of fun and interesting destinations. For example, Ventura County is the gateway to the Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary which is home to endangered species, sensitive habitats, and historic shipwrecks. Half of the land within Ventura County lies within the Los Padres National Forest with hiking and camping. A portion of the Santa Monica Mountains are also within Ventura County and offer mountain biking and hiking trails, and amazing ocean views. The County is also the strawberry capital of the state and is home to some of California’s top beaches, championship golf courses, world-class dining, year-round whale watching cruises, hiking, scuba diving, kayaking, biking and more.

Host Partner: City of Goleta
Partner Location: Goleta, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Alternative or Multimodal Transportation, Wildfire Resilience
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, Flexibility/Adaptability

THE PROJECT

The Sustainability Program within the Planning & Environmental Review Department supports efforts to create and implement a long-term sustainability vision for the City and incorporates sustainability into core processes and decision-making. Along with the Sustainability Coordinator, the Fellow will have the opportunity to substantially contribute to and build capacity in a variety of projects, including equitable public outreach, to help the City address climate action and community resilience challenges related to energy and transportation. Specific projects will be prioritized based on City Council direction following review of the Department’s annual work plan and time available but address the following overarching goals: 

• Implementation of the Strategic Energy Plan to support the City’s 100% Renewable Energy goals; 
• Plan comprehensively for Electric Vehicle Readiness for City facilities; 
• Strengthen regional coordination with other jurisdictional staff and CivicSpark  Fellows through the Regional Climate Collaborative and Clean Energy Assurance Subcommittee; 
• Advance issue area-specific pilot programs, and
• Gather data and track key indicators in support of the City’s designation as a LEED City.

The City of Goleta Planning & Environmental Review Department’s Sustainability Program will be the primary department served for all projects identified below: 

• Strategic Energy Plan Implementation (SEP): The SEP was developed as a roadmap to identify how the City could reach its adopted 100% Renewable Electricity goal by 2030. The SEP identifies barriers to renewable energy development and recommends strategies to overcome the barriers. As part of plan implementation, the Fellow may support Energy Assurance Planning in coordination with other departments and agencies, including Santa Barbara County. The Fellow could become proficient at using NREL’s Technical Resilience Navigator tool to identify resilience gaps and prioritize solutions that reduce risk from energy service disruptions. The Fellow could assist with outreach, particularly with underserved portions of the community. 
• In order to position the City to take advantage of major funding opportunities in 2021, and to further prepare for the deployment of EV infrastructure, the Fellow could also support EV Readiness Planning. This process would evaluate the potential for and developing EV charging station infrastructure at City facilities and support outreach and education efforts related to ZEVs. 
• As the City prepares to roll out the Community Choice Energy launch in 2021, the Fellow could build capacity by assisting with the significant outreach effort in support of the Community Outreach Plan. This would provide an opportunity to work with the community as well as staff from 3CE and our partnering jurisdictions. 
• Other opportunities could include support for the Regional Climate Collaborative, analyze policies and approaches for adoption and operation of bikeshare programs, address waste reduction, and utilize the LEED Arc platform tool to track metrics to support the future development of a Sustainability Plan.

With the achievement of two significant milestones in 2019 – the adoption of a Strategic Energy Plan (SEP) and the commitment to move forward with community choice energy (CCE) by joining 3CE – the Sustainability Program has shifted from plan development in these areas to implementing projects identified in the SEP. The Fellow would address a significant capacity need for equitable community engagement in particular, and their contribution to the projects identified will help the City to implement specific actions that achieve the identified goals within the Sustainability Program.

The ideal Fellow will have excellent interpersonal skills and be open to interacting and collaborating with staff from different City departments, as well as members of the public and other agency staff. Curiosity, flexibility, as well as strong written communication and analytical skills are key. The Fellow should be comfortable asking for assistance when needed, but also be able to take initiative, work independently, and conduct self-directed research with some direction. Being comfortable conducting outreach and community engagement, a high attention to detail when performing data collection, and project management skills are all beneficial.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The City of Goleta, California is located on the south coast of Santa Barbara County, approximately 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles; adjacent to the University of California, Santa Barbara, and ten miles west of the City of Santa Barbara. Home to 30,000 residents, the City of Goleta stretches approximately eight square miles along a narrow coastal plain between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The City has the warmth and charm of a small town. Beaches and well-maintained parks and open spaces add to its attraction. The City incorporated in 2002, and contributed to the community’s outstanding quality of life are the City’s low crime rate, mild coastal climate, and desirable location. The City of Goleta is a great place to work, with close to 100 employees. Our diverse group of staff members are dedicated to serving our citizens and enhancing the functions of public administration through innovation and partnerships in the community. Serving as a Fellow with the City of Goleta Sustainability Program provides the opportunity to learn about and work on a myriad of sustainability issues as well as collaborate regionally with other jurisdictional staff and CivicSpark Fellows to positively address complex issues that cross jurisdictional boundaries. Please see also: https://goletachamber.com/

Host Partner: City of Riverside
Partner Location: Riverside, California
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation, Transportation
Openings: 1 of 1

THE PROJECT

The City of Riverside is working to implement a sustainable carshare program which will offer point-to-point use of a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. The project will provide a reliable “last and first mile” transportation solution for public transit riders at locations within disadvantaged communities where residents experience higher impacts from air pollution and reduced access to travel options.

The Fellow will be working with the City of Riverside and its project partners to assist in the planning and implementation of a hydrogen fuel vehicle share program. They will be active in determining the exact location of Parking Hubs as well as play a frontline role in public engagement and promotion of the program. Lastly, the Fellow will help develop community engagement analytics, shared transportation network plans, and public engagement/publicity plans.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The City of Riverside offers an opportunity for a Fellow to work in a professional level position located within the City Manager’s Office. The Fellow will be working with a diverse, interdepartmental team of professions with varying expertise.

The City is an exciting and forward-thinking community that values its residents, businesses, and visitors. A strong ethic of community service overrides all activities. Over the last year, the City Council adopted a new Strategic Plan that incorporates sustainability under a triple-bottom line paradigm that includes environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic prosperity into all city priorities and activities.

Finally, the City is the County Seat in Riverside County and offers the opportunity to learn about working with City Councils, local elected officials as well as City staff and the community, as well as focusing on the assigned project work.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The City is seeking an organized individual with strong interpersonal and communication skills
who is comfortable working independently. Knowledge of data analytics, GIS, and community engagement tools is highly desired.

Project Host: City of Riverside
Position Location: Riverside, California (possibility for remote)
Term of Service: Full-time, September 13, 2021 – August 12, 2022
Time requirements: 40 hours/week; minimum 1700 hours during eleven-month term, Monday-Thursday 7:00am-5:45pm)
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Urban Greening, Food Waste Recovery, Other Food systems
Desired Skills: Project Management, Data Analysis, Self-Motivated
Remote or On-Site Preference: Hybrid
Openings: 1 of 1

About Project

The City of Riverside has launched a citywide sustainability and resiliency initiative. The CivicSpark Fellow will support the deployment of the new City Office of Sustainability and develop programs for community sustainability events including but not limited to Earth Month, Green Summit, Clean Air Day and the Grow Riverside initiative.

The Fellow will support the development of the climate and environmental efforts and provide capacity for implementing food systems, urban forestry, and organic waste management programs.

The Fellow will assist with the development of a robust community outreach strategy that will reach all sectors of the Riverside community with a specific focus on reaching hard-to-involve stakeholders in low-income, minority, or disadvantaged communities. The focus of this outreach will be the development of a sustainability vision that encompasses the environmental, social, and economic goals and desires of the community.

Desired skills:

Self motivation and initiative, organizational and research experience, public speaking, standard office software (MS Office), project management, community engagement

Fellow Experience

The City of Riverside offers an opportunity for a Fellow to work in a professional level position located within the City Manager’s office of the City organization. The Fellow will be working with a diverse, interdepartmental team of professionals with varying expertise.

The City is an exciting and forward-thinking community that values its residents, businesses, and visitors. A strong ethic of community service is ingrained in all activities. Over the last year, the City Council adopted a new Strategic Plan that incorporates sustainability under a triple-bottom line paradigm that includes environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic prosperity into all city priorities and activities.

Finally, the City is the County Seat in Riverside County and offers the opportunity to learn about working with City Councils, local elected officials as well as City staff and the community, as well as focusing on the assigned project work.

Program Region: Orange County
Project Host: City of Irvine
Position Location: Irvine, California (possibility for remote)
Term of Service: Full-time, September 13, 2021 – August 12, 2022
Time requirements: 40 hours/week; minimum 1700 hours during eleven-month term, Monday-Thursday 7:00am-5:45pm)
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Food Waste Recovery
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Stakeholder Engagement, Communication
Openings: 0 of 1  

About Project

The City of Irvine will be rolling out its implementation plan to comply with California Senate Bill 1383, which mandates a community-wide organic waste recycling program. This comprehensive State program, which includes the adoption of organic waste recycling, edible food recovery and purchasing policies ties in with the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) Greenhouse Gas reduction goals. Support is needed to effectively educate the residential and business community to facilitate a fundamental shift in organic waste recycling. This role would conduct extensive outreach in a community-facing role, working to develop engagement programs to increase awareness and compliance, and going beyond the mandate to develop a successful program that ties in with the City’s long and short term climate goals.

Description of duties:

Host and attend workshops for residents and businesses on matters related to organic waste recycling, including accessibility, composting and edible food recovery.

Track and conduct outreach with business entities that are out of compliance within the City, educating them to bring them into compliance.

Work to understand the community pain points in adopting the practice, and seek to form partnerships with Community Based Organization (CBO’s) to create a supportive and collaborative environment between the City, residents and businesses on this policy.

Desired qualifications/characteristics:

The City of Irvine is seeking a Fellow that is engaging, outgoing and proactive with respect to community outreach. Responsibilities will require interfacing with the public, and engaging different public groups around climate action. The Fellow should also have advanced writing skills, as they will be developing internal and external communications. The Fellow will focus on including equity principles in engagement around climate action, seek out underrepresented groups and weave them into the climate planning process. It is also important that the Fellow have organizational skills in scheduling and familiarity working in databases.

Fellow Experience

The City of Irvine, California is the largest City in Orange County, with over 250,000 residents and a bold vision for the future. In the past 5 years, the City has taken steps towards climate action, including developing the first Community Choice Energy program in Orange County. At this juncture in time, several key climate programs are emerging at once, including the development of the City’s first ever Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, a resolution committing the City to carbon neutrality, and the roll out of a community-wide organic waste recycling policy.

In the center of all of this exciting change is the City’s Environmental Programs Division, a small but mighty team consisting of four full-time and one part time staff. This small team has a close-knit, dedicated and driven workplace culture that is held together by a shared vision to create a sustainable future for Irvine, and the world. The Fellow will benefit from this small group environment, where mentorship and leadership development will be a critical piece of the experience. The Fellow will work closely with their Supervisor, and will have weekly one on one meetings to receive feedback and mentorship.

The City of Irvine is an award-winning City, consistently voted one of the safest cities in America. A third of the City’s area is permanently dedicated to open space, providing a variety of world class hiking and biking trails. The City is also notably diverse, with a wide range of global cultures represented in the arts, dining and cultural activities.   With the size of the City’s geographic footprint, its leadership role in the region and the landmark climate policies currently being developed and implemented, this is a promising opportunity for a Fellow seeking into implement meaningful change at the local level.

Program Region: Los Angeles County
Project Host: Los Angeles County Public Works
Position Location: Alhambra, California (on-site, possibility for remote)
Term of Service: Full-time, September 13, 2021 – August 12, 2022
Time requirements: 40 hours/week; minimum 1700 hours during eleven-month term, Monday-Thursday 7:00am-5:45pm)
Openings: 0 of 1  

About Los Angeles County Public Works

The Los Angeles County Public Works (PW) is the largest Public Works agency in the country, with approximately 4,000 employees working in hundreds of different job classifications across seven major business areas. PW builds and maintains a wide range of infrastructure related to water resources, transportation, waste management, public buildings, and emergency management. PW has made a commitment to becoming the most trusted agency in the region by operating with integrity to deliver affordable and reliable services for our communities. PW also serves an important role as a steward for sustainability, while striving to meet the high expectations of PW Business Priorities and Los Angeles County’s OurCounty Sustainability Plan. These commitments reflect a culture of operational excellence, high ethical values, cost effective spending, and transparent risk management. They also demonstrate PW intention to lead responsibly with an emphasis on the environment, equity, and cost efficiencies.

Description of duties:

The Los Angeles County Public Works Strategic Planning and Sustainability Office (SPSO) is developing a Sustainability Report and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory that will highlight PW sustainability efforts to address environmental, social, and economic impacts due to PW operations and conduct a GHG inventory assessment. This report is intended to illustrate the effectiveness of PW sustainable practices, impacts to the local economy, community benefits, and responsible spending of government funds. The GHG inventory will identify sustainability metrics, PW emissions, and evaluate the adverse effects of climate change. This reporting will allow PW to identify opportunities to incorporate more sustainable practices and emissions reduction opportunities.

The CivicSpark Fellow will support the development of the GHG Inventory and establishment of the reporting framework for the Sustainability Report, which will be led by PW and partnering consultant. The framework will establish sustainability data metrics and GHG emissions that should be tracked and reported, as well as identify potential data management solutions that can be utilized to track and facilitate the annual reporting process. The streamlined data analysis process will expedite annual reporting, support a quick evaluation of the sustainability benefits of PW operations, and consistently illustrate the annual changes of PW sustainable practices and GHG emissions.

The Fellow will perform research and provide input to identify data sources for annual reporting purposes, address data gaps, work with PW Business Branches to identify key data metrics to be incorporated into the annual reporting framework, and evaluate data management solutions to effectively track data. The Fellow will also support efforts to identify and quantify avoided emissions leading to GHG reduction opportunities. The Fellow will gain experience in working for a large government agency and learn about PW operations.

Desired qualifications/characteristics:

• Strong interest in the infrastructure impacts due to climate change, as well as Sustainability and GHG reporting. 
• Experienced with data collection, management, and analysis of data sets; identifying GHG emissions; familiar with GHG levels of scope, GHG inventory, and reporting tools. 
• Critical thinker able to provide innovative ideas and creative solutions to inform Sustainability and GHG reporting.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, data management, research, and writing skills. 
• College degree and/or work experience in environmental policy, science, or planning with an emphasis on energy or climate are preferred, but other relevant experience is considered (internships, volunteer experience etc.).
• A solid foundation of math and science coursework 
• Classroom experience in energy and environmental policy.
• Community outreach and communications experience.
• Comprehension of energy systems, climate change science, California environmental policies, water conservation, and/or waste reduction.
• Excellent organizational, writing, interpersonal, and speaking skills.
• Volunteer or community service experience.

Fellow Experience

• Great opportunity for a Fellow to experience working for a large professional government agency. 
• Working with the Strategic Planning and Sustainability Office, the Fellow will have the opportunity to understand the entire agency, including the broad range of services Public Works (PW) provides and infrastructure PW manages. 
• Gain experience working in local government, collaborate with professional engineers, and build subject matter expertise on Sustainability and GHG inventory reporting. 
• Learn real-world climate adaptation actions and enhance other skills like translating data into tangible and meaningful results that will lead PW to become a more sustainable organization.
• Exposure to or willing to research global issues and Federal, State, and Local policies related to sustainability, climate change, equity, and social justice.
• Develop sustainability skills, implement impactful climate change resiliency projects, and build partnerships in your community

Host Partner: City of Long Beach
Partner Location: Long Beach, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation| Affordable Housing
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Graphic Design, Self-Motivated

 THE PROJECT

The Fellow will support various aspects of CAAP implementation, in particular 1) performance metric tracking, GHG monitoring, and CAAP Dashboard development 2) CAAP zoning code and policy updates with a focus on outreach and engagement 3) incorporating climate resilience considerations into the City’s housing efforts through research and outreach/engagement. The Fellow will collect and analyze data pertaining to CAAP metrics, assist with the GHG inventory, and develop the CAAP Dashboard that was initiated in 2021. Data collection and analysis will span the areas of energy, transportation, and waste, and potentially others, and the Fellow may conduct related community outreach to increase participation in various related programs such as solar installation and waste diversion. The Fellow will support various zoning codes and policy updates required as part of the CAAP, such as in building energy, flood zones, and urban agriculture, including assisting with researching and drafting code update language and conducting outreach to increase participation in community meetings. Finally, the Fellow will support the Planning Bureau’s efforts to increase the production of affordable housing, with a focus on climate resilient housing. Overall, project activities will support engaging the broader population as well as targeted communities in CAAP efforts. The Fellow may conduct research about various climate action plan and sub-sector best practices and assist with other duties as assigned.

The City of Long Beach has confirmed its first Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) to reach target greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) levels and help the City to adapt to climate impacts. Climate stressors anticipated to impact Long Beach are extreme heat, poor air quality, drought, flooding, and sea level rise. Implementation of the CAAP will help ensure that Long Beach meets the State’s GHG reduction targets while guiding development that is sustainable, prepare and increase resilience for current and future climate threats, and help ensure equity and benefits to communities most impacted by climate change.

The City of Long Beach Planning Bureau develops long-range plans for the City, reviews and approves developments, helps ensure historic preservation, and provides essential community services. The recent update of the General Plan, Long Beach 2040, will help Long Beach achieve the vision of the community and guide the future development of the City. The Planning Bureau is working on the General Plan Housing Element Update, which will lay out the plan for removing barriers to housing production and help ensure that the City is planning towards creating affordable housing units to help alleviate the significant housing shortage.

The Fellow will support early stage implementation of the CAAP which will span tracking performance metrics and development of the CAAP dashboard; CAAP code and policy updates; planning for affordable, resilient housing; and outreach and community engagement. Implementation of the CAAP will touch on various areas including building energy, transportation, mobility, waste, urban heat, urban greening, air quality, flooding, and sea level rise. The goals of the project are to support the City of Long Beach’s capacity building in the early implementation stage of the CAAP, improve the connection between climate resilience and housing, and raise community awareness and engagement in climate action.

 SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS 

 The ideal Fellow is excited to work on a nimble, adaptable team that makes a meaningful impact on the environmental sustainability of Long Beach and the Greater Los Angeles region. The ideal Fellow will be passionate about engaging a diverse population and seek to innovate community outreach strategies. The ideal Fellow will approach community members as local experts, seeking to learn about their experiences and be of service. The ideal Fellow will have a desire to ensure that a diverse City population, with attention to those most impacted by climate change, can benefit from climate solutions. The ideal Fellow will have good writing skills and an interest in data collection and analysis. The ideal Fellow is interested in working at the nexus of climate and urban planning. The ideal Fellow will have a good design eye and have working knowledge of graphic design and tools for developing engaging community outreach and communications materials. The ideal Fellow is excited about climate action and adaptation, community outreach and engagement, and implementation of climate programs.

 PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

 Home to approximately 470,000 people, the City of Long Beach offers the amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods. The city has 11 miles of coastline and beaches, a host of cultural and recreational amenities, and transportation options that include the Metro rail, ample bus service, and bicycle network. The City of Long Beach has been recognized as a leader for its efforts in civic innovation and sustainability. The City of Long Beach, Department of Development Services, Planning Bureau offers a collaborative, fast-paced environment with opportunities to work on a variety of high-impact projects affecting the city and region. Staff is committed to helping Fellows achieve their professional development goals by providing regular feedback and mentorship, encouraging project leadership,and providing connections to informational interviews to learn about various aspects of local government. The City of Long Beach Planning Bureau is a rewarding place to work for individuals looking to gain broad experience and contribute to meaningful impact.

Host Partner: California Department of Housing & Community Development, in partnership with Gateway Cities Council of Governments
Partner Location: Los Angeles, CA
Openings: 1 of 1
Project Focus: Affordable Housing
Desired Skills: Project Management, Data Collection, Flexibility/Adaptability
Remote or On-Site Preference: Hybrid 

THE PROJECT

The Housing and Community Development (HCD) Fellow will be placed with the Gateway Cities Council of Governments (COG), a joint-powers authority located in southeast Los Angeles, to guide HCD and local programs and initiatives as part of the housing-related COVID-19 response. The COG engages in policy and planning efforts to improve the lives of its 2.1 million residents in the areas of air quality/climate, economic development, housing and homelessness, and transportation. The COG recognizes the significant housing challenges the subregion is facing in providing adequate and affordable housing for its diverse and growing population, and the added urgency to address these challenges due to the widespread social and economic impacts of COVID-19. With the dissolution of redevelopment in 2012, communities across the State have lost their most significant funding source for affordable housing, and affordable housing production has come to a standstill in many communities. Alternative mechanisms to facilitate housing development and particularly affordable housing need to be explored, with the primary effort to identify cities’ economic impacts and plan a recovery effort for the subregion that will facilitate housing development. The overarching goal of this project is to encourage and promote the development of affordable housing and affirmatively further fair housing in the overcrowded, economically disadvantaged, and environmentally impacted Gateway Cities subregion. 

The overall goal of this project will be to engage directly with local governments in the Gateway subregion to promote innovative housing strategies and inform policymaking at the local level related to pandemic response and recovery. The Fellow will conduct outreach, provide technical assistance, identify and implement appropriate response and recovery efforts related to housing, support interagency coordination, conduct research and data collection, assist the COG’s member cities in accessing HCD planning grant funds, and support policy and program development and planning document preparation. Some example activities include:

• COVID-related housing funding outreach, coordination, and technical assistance for 27 member jurisdictions

• Continue expanding COG’s communications strategies to provide a variety of affordable housing resources to member jurisdictions 

• Develop subregional tools, inventories, and resources to inform housing and economic development policymaking

• Research and analyze data on housing development in the Gateway Cities to identify housing-related trends and best practices in the subregion

• Assist jurisdictions in accessing Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) funds for the construction of affordable homes, to build on previous efforts that funded planning documents for housing

• Coordinate with other agencies to develop services and strategies to expedite pandemic response, and assist and reduce the cost of preparing housing elements

• Support COG’s research on innovative housing finance strategies for the Gateway Cities subregion, including studies of inclusionary zoning and subregional housing trust funds

• Help jurisdictions with analysis needs related to COVID-19 recovery, including identifying areas with severe COVID-19 economic impacts with related housing market impacts

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The ideal Fellow should have an interest in learning about land use, zoning and housing laws, housing policy and programs, development at a local and subregional level, economic development, and commitment to equity in pursuing innovative policy solutions. The ideal Fellow will have previous work experience with research, data collection and evaluation, and report writing. Strong written and verbal communication skills, flexibility, and ability to collaborate and multitask effectively are key skills.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The Gateway Cities COG, based in the City of Paramount in southeast Los Angeles, has a membership of 27 cities as well as the Port of Long Beach and unincorporated areas of the County of Los Angeles. The COG engages in long-range planning and policy development to improve the quality of life for our 2.1 million residents.

Our office is centrally located in a highly dense, diverse and urban environment. The Fellow will gain experience working directly with local governments and gain knowledge of policy- and tool-development for increasing affordable housing at the local and subregional scale and addressing pandemic-related impacts to the economy within our subregion. Working at the COG provides a unique opportunity to learn and engage with various diverse and vulnerable communities across the subregion and impact change at both local and subregional scales. The Fellow will benefit from direct mentorship at the subregional level from Gateway COG staff, who focus on a broad range of planning issues, and at the state level from team members at HCD.

Host Partner: City of Santa Monica
Partner Location: Santa Monica, CA
Openings: 1 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation| Water Management and/or Policy| Urban Greening
Desired Skills: Project Management, Technical Writing, Self-Motivated
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote OK, On-Site Preferred

THE PROJECT

The City of Santa Monica Office of Sustainability & the Environment (OSE) has an ambitious work plan and set of objectives related to climate, energy, water, and resiliency and there are many opportunities for the CivicSpark Fellow to become involved depending on the level of interest and skill.  The OSE is tasked with getting the City to achieve water-self-sufficiency by 2023, zero-waste by 2030, and carbon neutral by 2050 or sooner. The CivicSpark Fellow will learn how the City of Santa Monica’s recently adopted Climate Action & Adaptation Plan provides a roadmap to achieving those goals and the work that goes into the implementation.  

The City of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment (OSE) is the agency a CivicSpark Fellow will serve and there are multiple projects for a CivicSpark Fellow to be involved in depending on interest and skill. OSE’s desired outcome is for a CivicSpark Fellow to assist with implementing programs and projects that will help the local community be more resilient in the face of extreme heat, grid outages, sea-level rise, air pollution, and drought.  To address extreme heat and the urban heat-island effect, a CivicSpark Fellow will have the opportunity to assist with the design and implementation of urban cooling strategies such as shade trees, reflective building materials, and heat-pump HVAC systems.  The Fellow can assist with preparing a community plan to reduce the urban heat island, with a focus on historically disadvantaged communities.  

To increase energy resiliency and prepare the community for potential utility grid outages, a Fellow can participate in the Solar Santa Monica Program and assist staff and consultants with outreach and education about peak energy events, zero-emission battery backup systems, and consumer expectations.  To encourage building upgrades in the private sector, a Fellow can assist the City with the development of a green leasing program to provide assistance and incentives for introducing leases that support investment in energy efficiency measures. 

The City has an existing Sea-Level Rise Assessment with adaptation recommendations.  A Fellow will have the opportunity to participate in the planning of a natural beach dune restoration project as well as other coastal hardening measures. To reduce air pollution, the City seeks to decrease the amount of fossil-fuel combustion in buildings and vehicles.  The practice known as “decarbonization” or “electrification” will be implemented through policies and programs.  A Fellow will have the opportunity to assist with electrification incentive programs and the development of policies that target both existing and new buildings. There are also opportunities to research innovative electric vehicle policies. 

To address the long-standing drought conditions in California and lead the City towards water self-sufficiency, the Fellow will have the opportunity to work on water conservation programs and research.  The Fellow may work on researching water “reach” ordinances and calculating Santa Monica’s water/energy nexus. The Fellow may also assist with educational campaigns and outreach on water conservation, leak detection, and success stories.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The City of Santa Monica seeks Fellows that can have basic knowledge of sustainability strategies and environmental justice issues. They must be proficient in research and have the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. The Fellow should be detail-oriented, self-motivated, and have the ability to adapt to varying levels of workload. The Fellow will be expected to conduct studies and prepare reports recommending appropriate courses of action and strategies in support of the goals and objectives of the Office of Sustainability and the Environment. Knowledge of green building, urban heat island, and water efficiency strategies is a plus.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

Working in the Office of Sustainability and the Environment is rewarding and collegial. Because the City of Santa Monica has been a leader in sustainability for over 25 years, it is considered a hub for innovation and collaboration. OSE staff are experts in their field, speak at conferences around the country, and frequently collaborate with other cities, universities, non-profits, and consultants that are driving cutting-edge sustainability policies in the region. 

Staff are friendly, supportive and approachable. There are opportunities for the fellow to meet one-on-one with supervisors, attend working meetings with various City departments, and to speak at community meetings. Working for the City of Santa Monica has been a catalyst for previous CivicSpark Fellows and they stay in touch, writing back with reports of landing rewarding jobs in their field of interest. 

Depending on the evolution of COVID and the City’s reopening plans, this year’s Fellow will likely have the opportunity to work in the new OSE offices which are located on the top floor of the recently completed City Hall East, which is Living Building Certified and attached to a historic City Hall. Santa Monica’s City Hall East is now known as one of the greenest municipal buildings in the world, achieving net-zero energy and net-zero water with no red-list materials.  

Walking or biking is the easiest way to explore the community. There are also extensive micro-mobility options and a public transportation network that includes bus lines operated by the City of Santa Monica, LA Metro, and  Culver City. In addition, Santa Monica has a rail line that connects the City to downtown Los Angeles and abroad. If the Fellow needs to get around during the workday, they may use public transportation and ride free of charge by checking out a TAP card or borrowing a “bike-at-work” bike. 

The ongoing COVID pandemic had led to the City accommodate teleworking for City staff.  By the time the service term begins, the Civic Spark Fellow will likely have the option to telework 1-5 days per week.  Having the ability to serve on-site or in the field is preferred, especially as we expect the City to open more fully late-2021. Living in Santa Monica or the surrounding neighborhoods is recommended.

Host Partner: South Bay Cities Council of Governments – CAP and GHG
Partner Location: Torrance, CA
Openings: 1 position(s) available
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation
Desired Skills: Project Management, Critical Thinking, Technical Writing
Remote or On Site Preference: Hybrid

THE PROJECT

The South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) is a joint powers authority located in the southwest region of Los Angeles County with a membership of 16 cities and the South Bay portions of Los Angeles County. Members share the goal of maximizing the quality of life and productivity of the South Bay sub-region. The sub-region is diverse in geography, population, ethnicity, industry, and climate zones – each with their own challenges. 

The SBCCOG developed a Sub-Regional Climate Action Plan (CAP) and Adaptation Plan. In addition, the SBCCOG worked with member cities in developing their own CAP and vulnerability assessments and worked with several cities on the next step to identify adaptation strategies. 

Working with the South Bay member agencies, the Fellow will engage stakeholders to assess activity and achievement towards meeting 2020 greenhouse gas targets and recommend revisions that incorporate best practices, current study and guidance, and adaptation. This work will include:  

• Facilitating and attending meetings with agencies and documenting activities and outcomes  
• Reviewing current studies, resources, and laws from sources such as Governor’s Office of Planning & Research, California Climate Assessments, Los Angeles Region Report, Utility Resiliency Plans, etc.  
• Identifying best tools for local governments to access to evaluate, monitor, and track achievement such as ICLEI ClearPath, Cal-Adapt, GIS data, etc.  
• Establishing a process for assessing city and subregional achievements  
• Recommending enhancements to city and subregional CAPs to incorporate current concepts/study as well as adaptation strategies and vulnerability assessments 
• Documenting and presenting  assessments of city and subregional achievements

At the end of the project period, South Bay cities and the SBCCOG will receive recommendations to enhance their CAPs. The Fellow will also have the opportunity to engage with agency and stakeholder groups involved in climate mitigation efforts including Local Government Commission, Southern California Association of Governments, Southern California Regional Energy Network, Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, West Basin Municipal Water District, Los Angeles County Metro, County of Los Angeles Sustainability Office, California Energy Commission, Los Angeles Community Choice Energy (Community Choice Aggregation/CCA), SoCalGas, and Southern California Edison, among others. The Fellow will attend meetings, review related documents, network, and report on actions.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The ideal Fellow will be adaptable, have the ability to work independently as well as with a team, and have knowledge of sustainability/climate action planning. The Fellow should be a self-starter, have strong written and verbal communication skills and basic knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and GIS. They should have an interest in learning about local and regional government and broad knowledge of current climate change and adaptation policies at the state and local government level.  Familiarity with local government structure, powers, and governance would be a plus but not required. 

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The SBCCOG has a small staff that work in a supportive environment on a range of projects including transportation, land use, technology, homeless, seniors, and environment.  Because of this diversity in topic areas, the SBCCOG is in a unique position to leverage program audiences and resources to help create a holistic approach to project delivery and achievement. The Fellow will also have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of local, state, and regional agencies to network and learn best practices.  The work environment supports independent work while providing guidance. The South Bay sub-region is bounded by the Pacific Ocean, providing opportunities for leisure activities along the coast and at the numerous walking and bicycle paths on the peninsula.  Inland communities provide entertainment venues including sports.  The sub-region is about 20 miles from downtown Los Angeles.

Host Partner: Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board
Partner Location: Los Angeles, CA
Openings: 1 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation| Water Management and/or Policy
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, Teamwork
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote OK

THE PROJECT

The Los Angeles Water Board is a State of California regulatory agency with the responsibility to implement California law and executive orders on climate change, including the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and California Executive Order B-30-15, which direct the state to continue its rigorous climate change research program and direct State agencies to integrate climate change into all planning. This project will address both resilience of wastewater treatment facilities throughout our region and improved access to the Board’s decision-making for underserved communities.  

The Los Angeles Water Board is tasked with preserving, enhancing, and restoring the quality of California’s water resources and drinking water and ensuring proper water resource allocation and efficient use, for the benefit of present and future generations. The predicted alterations to temperatures and precipitation due to climate change will significantly affect water resources and water quality in our region, and in turn affect ecological habitats, and recreational uses of water.  Moreover, in addition to environmental concerns, climate change poses major human rights, public health, and social equity issues, as communities that are socially or economically disadvantaged are especially vulnerable to climate change impacts. Efforts to address climate change have been pursued on an ongoing basis by the Los Angeles Water Board, however, a Fellow will help keep the momentum as the Los Angeles Water Board continues to implement actions to build resilience in our communities and our environment. The Fellow will work internally and externally. 

The internal goal of the project is to work across the various programs of the agency implementing an internal climate change group and assisting staff in developing an annotated outline for climate change vulnerability assessments and mitigation plans for facilities regulated by our agency. The external goal is to increase the participation of underserved communities in our programs and decision-making by reaching out to communities that will be most affected by climate change. Although some of the suggested measures have been implemented (such as the requirement in Board-issued permits that dischargers submit a climate change vulnerability assessment and mitigation plan), more work needs to be done to identify specific short- and long-term actions that will be implemented by the agency. The Fellow will help support the Board through the next planning phase of our efforts with the following two projects.

Internal Climate Change Group

To efficiently carry out efforts to address climate change across the agency’s various programs, the Fellow will help form an internal climate change group of staff spanning the agency. The fellow will coordinate and facilitate the group’s meetings, report on the discussions, and produce a report categorizing short and long-term programmatic priorities identified as an outgrowth of those meetings. The tasks of the group will include: 

• Sharing current efforts applied within our various programs
• Identifying priority needs and strategies to implement them
• Considering actions to align with and advance the California Water Resilience Portfolio
• Sharing information about stakeholders’ efforts, the latest available science and resources
• Discussing coordination with other agencies
• Considering training needs

In addition to those tasks, the Fellow will, in consultation with agency staff, review climate change vulnerability assessments and mitigation plans submitted to the agency and produce an annotated outline to be used for future submissions. This standardized format will help guide permittees in the creation of their reports and ensure that all climate change impacts are properly addressed in the assessments and mitigation plans.

Community Engagement

In addition to environmental concerns, climate change poses human rights, public health, and social equity issues. Socially or economically disadvantaged communities are especially impacted, due, for example, to limited access to clean and affordable water; lack of proper infrastructure to deal with extreme weather events and the economic resources necessary to prepare and respond to these events; proximity of environmental hazards; or lack of shade cover that heightens the risk of the urban heat island effect. In addition, beach erosion will affect disadvantaged communities for which public beaches are the most significant form of coastal access and recreation.  

To ensure that racial equity and environmental justice issues are properly considered in the Board’s efforts to address climate change, the Fellow will be tasked to engage with local communities. 

• Attend community meetings, especially focusing on disadvantaged communities and will reach 
• Connect with environmental justice groups and educate them the Water Board’s initiatives 
• Seek to understand the communities’ needs, and seek their input on how they think the agency can better serve them.

The Fellow will document the meetings and discussions, and produce a report outlining the steps the Board should further take to strengthen our engagement and provide communities a better access to the agency’s decision-making process. In addition, the report should include a list of specific stakeholders’ groups the agency should build stronger relationships with moving forward.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The ideal candidate will have strong written and oral communication skills as they will be facilitating meetings, conducting outreach, and producing reports. They will have the ability to take initiative and to work both independently and with others, and to manage a project and coordinate with individuals and organizations in developing a plan.They will also have experience with community engagement and an understanding of environmental justice and equity issues. Ideally, they will be bilingual in English and Spanish to support the outreach and engagement with community stakeholders.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The Los Angeles Water Board is a State of California regulatory agency with goals to preserve, enhance, and restore the quality of California’s water resources and drinking water for the protection of the environment, public health, and all beneficial uses, and to ensure proper water resource allocation and efficient use, for the benefit of present and future generations. 

The Los Angeles Water Board has a diverse staff of engineers, geologists, and scientists, working together to preserve, protect and enhance water quality. The staff are largely motivated by the environmental mission. A variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are represented and welcomed and can thrive at the Water Boards.The Board members and staff collaborate with local, state, and federal agencies, and engage with stakeholders, communities and members of the public who are impacted by the Water Boards’ actions and decisions. 

The position will offer significant professional development opportunities for the Fellow. The Fellow will develop a greater understanding of complex water-related technical issues. The fellow will broaden their understanding of the challenges of outreach and engagement. While the Los Angeles Water Board has established outreach procedures and has been strengthening outreach to underserved communities, this fellowship offers a real opportunity to establish new relationships and outreach methods and make a real and valuable change in the success of Water Board programs.  There is also the opportunity to learn from leaders in the fields of climate change, conservation, urban resilience, and environmental justice and community engagement, who serve as Board members of the Los Angeles Water Board.

The State Water Board’s Emergency Management Program (EMP), in conjunction with the Department of Administrative Services Health and Safety Office (DAS), will be leading and coordinating the Water Board’s response to COVID-19. EMP and DAS are continuously monitoring the COVID-19 situation and are meeting with California Water Board management regularly to discuss any new information or situations that may arise. 

Host Partner: South Bay Cities Council of Governments
Partner Location: Torrance, CA
Openings: 0 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation
Desired Skills: Project Management, GIS Mapping, Critical Thinking
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote OK

THE PROJECT

South Bay Cities Council of Governments developed a Sub-Regional Climate Action Plan and Adaptation Plan. In addition, the SBCCOG assisted member cities in developing their own CAP and vulnerability assessments and worked with several cities on the next step which was identifying adaptation strategies. One of the main focuses of both the CAP and Adaptation work is to implement energy efficiency at government facilities and other community buildings such as schools. These agencies require assistance in assessing, identifying, and implementing energy efficiency projects.  Due to limited time and resources as well as impacts of COVID-19, these agencies need significant support. To help address this need, the SBCCOG formed a partnership with the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN). Through this partnership, cities and school districts can access resources to help reduce energy use. 

The Fellow will support this partnership by engaging cities and school districts and help them access services.  As a result, cities will further their climate action activities, reduce greenhouse gases, and move closer to reaching their CAP and Adaptation goals. It is envisioned that the Fellow will help promote the accomplishments of the cities and school districts as they make strides towards greenhouse gas reductions.

The Fellow will work with 9 South Bay school districts and cities. They will work with these agencies and engage stakeholders by helping them access energy efficiency resources provided through the SoCalREN.  Engagement, with guidance from the SBCCOG staff, requires facilitating and attending meetings with agencies, helping to obtain energy data, reviewing and summarizing reports, presenting on work accomplished, and promoting training and educational opportunities. This work is implementation of city and sub-regional CAPs. Implementation supports local governments and school districts in reducing costs as well as greenhouse gases. 

The Fellow will also follow state and local energy policy and help guide local actions to meet directives and identify best practices.  There are several agency and stakeholder groups involved in these efforts including Los Angeles Regional Collaborative (LARC), Local Government Commission, California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, Los Angeles Community Choice Energy (community Choice Aggregation ‚CCA), SoCalGas, and Southern California Edison, among others. The Fellow will attend virtual meetings, review related documents, and report on actions.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The ideal Fellow will be curious, can work independently but also within a team, and have strong project management skills. The Fellow should have strong written and verbal communication skills; be an efficient multitasker; and have basic knowledge of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. They should have an interest in learning about local and regional government, energy efficiency, energy use, project development and delivery, climate and adaptation strategy, and state policy on energy efficiency. Familiarity with local government structure, powers, and governance and graphic design and GIS skills would be a plus but not required.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) is a joint powers authority located in the southwest region of Los Angeles County with a membership of 16 cities and the South Bay portions of Los Angeles County. Members share the goal of maximizing the quality of life and productivity of the South Bay sub-region.  The sub-region is diverse in geography, population, ethnicity, industry, and climate zones.  Residential areas include both disadvantaged and affluent communities ‚Äì each with their own challenges.  With much ethnic diversity, several languages are spoken. 

The SBCCOG has a small staff that work in a supportive environment on a range of projects including transportation, land use, technology, homeless, seniors, and environment.  Because of this diversity in topic areas, the SBCCOG is in a unique position to leverage program audiences and resources to help create a holistic approach to project delivery and achievement. The Fellow will also have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of local, state, and regional agencies to network and learn best practices.  The work environment supports independent work while providing guidance. The South Bay sub-region is bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the south and west and generally the City of Los Angeles on the north and east.  It is located between two major transportation hubs, Los Angeles International Airport and the Port of Los Angeles. The Pacific Ocean is at its backdoor providing opportunities for leisure activities along the coast and at the numerous walking and bicycle paths on the peninsula.  Inland communities provide entertainment venues including sports.  The South Bay has been home for the  aerospace industry and there are several public and private colleges and universities in the South Bay as well. The sub-region is about 20 miles from downtown Los Angeles.

The SBCCOG has an active volunteer program.  Fellows have the opportunity to work with the volunteers on service projects if desired. The SBCCOG supports remote work (telework) and had an aggressive telework program prior to COVID-19. The Fellow has the opportunity to either work in the office or remotely, dependent on Los Angeles County guidance for government office facilities.

Host Partner: City of Beverly Hills
Partner Location: Beverly Hills, CA
Openings: 1 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Food Waste Recovery
Desired Skills: Research, Data Analysis, Critical Thinking

THE PROJECT

The City needs assistance with various sustainability initiatives. To start, the City is in the process of developing its own Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. The plan will address various challenges the community is facing and will face directly related to climate change. Challenges include extreme heat, wildfires, and flooding to name a few. The plan will also address vulnerable populations and ways to soften the impact due to the challenges mentioned above. The project will be completed in Summer 2022. The overarching goal of this project is to set a roadmap that will help us implement policies and programs to achieve carbon neutrality.

The City is also developing a Food Recovery Program that will help address food waste in the City. Californians throw away nearly 6 million tons of food scraps or food waste each year. This represents about 18 percent of all the material that goes to landfills. For California to reach its goal of 75% source reduction, recycling, and composting, food waste must be addressed. California’s new Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling law requires businesses to recycle their organic waste. The goal of this project is to promote organics recycling within the community, including businesses and residents to reduce food waste. 

The City of Beverly Hills is planning to reduce single-use plastics and Styrofoam in the waste stream and consider banning such materials in foodservice establishments and hotels and encourage businesses to establish sustainability programs that would prohibit the use of single-use plastics and Styrofoam. This policy will minimize the use of single-use plastics which impact the environment. A draft policy has been developed, however, due to the economic impacts of COVID-19, the policy and stakeholder outreach have been stalled. The City will be starting the process in Spring 2021 and hopes to begin the stakeholder process and refine the process in Summer to Fall 2021.

Climate Action and Adaptation Plan  

• Assist in community outreach and stakeholder meetings to discuss the CAAP.   
• The overarching goal is to have the City Council adopt the CAAP which will provide a roadmap to carbon neutrality by the implementation of the programs identified in the plan.  
• The CAAP will help address the effects of climate change and assist in identifying vulnerable populations.     

Polystyrene and Single Use Plastics   

• Assist with research and community engagement to promote the elimination of single use plastics in the City.
• Develop and adopt a single use plastics ordinance.   
• This ban will help the City eliminate single use plastics from the waste stream which in turn will help the environment.     

Food Recovery Program  

• Develop analytical system(s) to measure waste types coming from the City of Beverly Hills and develop a program that would reduce overall waste production.  
• A program that will address food recovery in the City and that connects businesses to food recovery organizations.  
• Development of this food recovery program will assist with reducing the amount of organic waste being sent to the landfill, overall positively impacting our environment.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

We are looking for a candidate that has a sustainability background either through their education or prior work experience. The ideal candidate will work well in a team and independently, demonstrate strong community engagement skills, be a strong communicator, and bring new and fresh ideas to the table.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The City of Beverly Hills is an incredible organization that is dedicated to its business and residents and delivers great services to its community. With hundreds of employees, the City is also dedicated to employee development and fosters a positive workplace environment for all. Through the pandemic, the City provided telecommuting equipment to keep employees safe and maintain a high level of community service, which says a lot about the City and management. This is a great opportunity to support the City in its sustainability initiatives that will shape the future. The CivicSpark Fellow will have the opportunity to work directly with various managers who have unique sector experience in solid waste, water conservation, environmental compliance, and sustainability programs. The Fellow will have the opportunity to grow as a professional by having the experience to navigate through the public process of implementing programs and policy, and develop relationships with city staff and professionals from other organizations.

Host Partner: Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)
Partner Location: Los Angeles, CA
Openings: 1 of 3
Project Focus: Affordable Housing
Desired Skills: Project Management, Environmental Justice, Teamwork

THE PROJECT

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is a Regional Transportation Planning Agency and Metropolitan Planning Organization representing 191 cities and six counties within the Southern California region. SCAG leads development of long-range transportation plans, including sustainable communities strategy and growth forecast components, regional housing needs allocations, and regional transportation improvement programs. The centerpiece of that planning work is Connect SoCal, SCAG’s 2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS). For the 2021-2022 service year, SCAG looks to host three CivicSpark Fellows to help advance housing goals of Connect SoCal, primarily helping cities plan for and construct new affordable housing in order to meet state housing goals.

The project has three main components: Data, Research and Mapping for the Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) grant project development; Sustainable Communities Strategy Implementation Small Grant Program; Outreach, Training and Engagement. Three SCAG Housing Fellows are needed to help support this major 3-year SCAG effort. Fellows will research housing impacts on disadvantaged communities and identify best practices in affordable housing policies, programs, and practices. The project will address social equity, climate, affordable housing, resiliency, community outreach and work with local jurisdictions. 

• One Fellow will concentrate effort in outreach and education efforts in the new SCAG Housing Program. This Fellow will work on the Call for Collaboration project, where SCAG will partner with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), and philanthropic organizations to develop new ideas and innovative models to reduce the cost of affordable housing (e.g. modular housing, pre-approved architectural drawings, etc.). This Fellow will also work on a new proposed Leadership Academy project to help train housing advocates and elected officials to speak out in favor of affordable housing projects.      
• Two Fellows will concentrate their efforts on new Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) projects, Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) projects and new Priority-Growth Area (PGA) projects. This work will include research, data collection, GIS mapping, and creation of story maps, as well as the development of a series of tools and webinars for the use of housing advocates, city staff and other stakeholders interested in affordable housing in the SCAG region. 
• In addition, all three SCAG Housing Fellows will participate as members of the SCAG Housing Team and will work on and be included in all of the other housing projects, workshops and training being undertaken by SCAG staff during the CivicSpark service year.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The ideal Fellow(s) will have strong writing and communication skills to collaborate with staff both internal and external to SCAG. The Fellow(s) will be able to conduct organized and independent research, have strong time management skills, and have some knowledge or interest in GIS mapping and data collection. Ideal Fellow(s) will be interested in outreach and engagement, affordable housing, exploring the intersection of housing with environmental/sustainability issues, public health impacts of climate change, and health equity.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

SCAG is a regional planning agency, established as an association of governments and local agencies that voluntarily convene as a forum to address regional issues. Covering an area of more than 38,000 square miles, the SCAG region encompasses six counties (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura) and 191 cities. SCAG’s Main Office is located in downtown Los Angeles, easily accessible by commuter trains and buses serving surrounding areas. The agency occupies two floors in a professional high-rise building with approximately 180 employees working on housing, GIS, transportation, air pollution, climate change, public health and land use issues. 

Fellows have the opportunity to interact with all employees and attend all agency meetings, workshops, professional development, and training. In March 2020, SCAG successfully transitioned all staff to an entirely remote work environment and successfully onboarded the remote 2020-2021 SCAG cohort of CivicSpark Fellows. SCAG continues to explore and improve upon ways of helping staff remain engaged with their work, participate in professional development training, and feel connected with their colleagues in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. If staff and Fellows are willing and able to return to an in-person work environment, Fellows will have access to SCAG’s on-site kitchen and eating area with free coffee and tea. Fellows also get a transit subsidy when commuting to the main office.

SCAG is open to Fellow(s) serving either entirely in-person, remotely, or a mixture of the two. SCAG is continuing to monitor and evaluate the ability and willingness of staff (Fellows included) to return to an in-person work environment.

Host Partner: County of Los Angeles – Internal Services Department, Clean Transportation Program
Partner Location: Los Angeles, CA
Openings: 1 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Clean Transportation
Desired Skills: Research, Data Analysis, Critical Thinking
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote OK

THE PROJECT

The County of LA Internal Services Department’s (ISD) Clean Transportation Program oversees the implementation and management of the County’s electric vehicle charging stations. These stations service County staff, fleet operations and the public. These charging stations support the County’s efforts to provide clean mobility options to the community and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and negative health impacts from transportation. Approximately 350 stations were installed through 2014-2019 and were free to use. After the adoption of the County’s Sustainability Plan (August 2019) to install approximately 1,000 stations per year until 2035 and approval by the Board of Supervisors to charge users a fee (May 2020). 

The Fellow will assist with high-level analysis, research and planning to help ISD with its long-term approach to managing a more complex network of charging stations. Specifically, the Fellow will:

• Develop a long-term approach for the County’s EV charging station operations and user fees 
• Analyze the County’s EV charging station user data, Low Carbon Fuel Standard data, and building energy data researching long-term trends of California’s low-carbon fuel credit market
• Research and conduct surveys of user fee applications throughout the region
• Collaborate with PowerFlex and the County’s IT to develop an automated system for collecting monthly usage and financial reports and distributing reports to customers. 

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The potential Fellow should also have intermediate or higher skills using Excel or other data analytical tools. It would be helpful if the Fellow has had some experience working in or knowledge of the sustainability field. 

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The Fellow may have an opportunity to telework given current Covid-related work schedules. There is no plan yet to return to the office, but it is possible that staff will return on a part-time basis before the end of 2021. I would engage frequently with the Fellow over email and Microsoft Teams. Engagement with staff and partners would most likely happen remotely. Working for and living in Los Angeles County offers a vast opportunity to create solutions for complex challenges.

We can provide a laptop to enable teleworking and other office supplies. We cannot provide a cell phone, office furniture or other equipment, such as a printer. If the Fellow choses to work in the office, there will be a cubicle with a phone.

Host Partner: City of La Mesa
Partner Location: La Mesa, CA
Openings: 1 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Affordable Housing, Environmental Justice
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Self-Motivated, Environmental Justice

THE PROJECT

The City of La Mesa is centrally located in San Diego County and home to 60,000 residents.  La Mesa is a small city, 9 square miles, but has shown to be a leader in Climate Action Planning efforts.  In March 2018, the City Council adopted the Climate Action Plan (CAP), which establishes a long-range roadmap to drive down harmful emissions and support La Mesa’s vision of a community with a safe and healthy environment.  

The Fellow for the Energy and Environmental Justice project would serve the residents and businesses of La Mesa through Climate Action Plan implementation. The Environmental Program Manager has identified 22+ of the 146 key actions that the Fellow can support with completing. 

A few key actions that the Fellow would support include: 

• Identifying high priority (or hard to reach) neighborhoods for focused home energy retrofit outreach
• Hosting home energy upgrade workshops for community members
• Developing a comprehensive outreach campaign to increase participation in solar PV installation programs
• Writing a Residential and Commercial CAP Resource Guide that lists energy efficiency programs that residents and businesses can participate in
• Working with other city departments and outside partners to  identify opportunities for projects to implement, and networking with regional environmental groups and sustainability staff at other cities.

To highlight a few key actions that the Fellow would support include:

• Developing energy-efficient lighting program for parks that identifies outdoor lighting retrofit candidates among City-owned facilities and recreation areas and that identifies appropriate energy-efficient lighting technologies for sports fields/courts
• Documenting additional co-benefits of projects, such as improved building occupant comfort
• Establishing an operational framework for benchmarking, tracking, and reviewing municipal water use at meter level to allow identification of improper irrigation system use, leaks, or other wasteful water activities.
• Developing a Municipal Operations Plan that includes the key actions of the CAP.
• Benchmarking City facilities’ energy consumption and GHG emissions.
• Working with other city departments and outside partners to identify opportunities for projects to implement, and networking with regional environmental groups and sustainability staff at other cities.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The ideal Fellow will:

• be a motivated self-starter,
• have strong written and verbal communication skills,
• be organized and meet project expectations and milestones, and
• have knowledge of general environmental sustainability and climate action planning principles, concepts, and practices.

Experience in energy efficiency programs, stakeholder engagement, and program development are a plus but not required.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The City of La Mesa is located in San Diego County, just 10 miles east of Downtown San Diego. With only about 60,000 residents in 9 square miles, La Mesa definitely has that small town feel and values community, safety, affordability, and environmental sustainability. La Mesa Boulevard is constantly busy with open shops and restaurants that serve the local community and is walking distance from City Hall. There is also a farmer’s market every Friday that provides local produce and community connection.

This Fellowship would be based at City Hall. Due to COVID-19, City Hall is currently closed to the public, but a number of City staff are working in the office with safety measures in place. This will change as the State reopens. City Hall has a 9/80 work schedule, meaning the Fellows would work eight nine hour days (with 1 hour lunch), with every other Friday off and the working Friday is an 8 hour day. The City is also open to having the Fellow work remotely on a hybrid schedule (since some work will require municipal facility onsite scouting) and have consistent meeting check ins and guidance from the Environmental Program Manager and other key staff.

Host Partner: City of La Mesa
Partner Location: La Mesa, CA
Openings: 1 of 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Water Management and/or Policy, Alternative or Multimodal Transportation
Desired Skills: Project Management, Self-Motivated, Data Analytics
Remote or On-Site Preference: Remote/Flexible

THE PROJECT

The City of La Mesa is centrally located in San Diego County and home to 60,000 residents. La Mesa is a small city, 9 square miles, but has shown to be a leader in Climate Action Planning efforts. In March 2018, the City Council adopted the Climate Action Plan (CAP), which establishes a long-range roadmap to drive down harmful emissions and support La Mesa’s vision of a community with a safe and healthy environment.

The Fellow for the Energy Efficiency and Facility Operations project would serve the residents and businesses of La Mesa through Climate Action Plan implementation. The Environmental Program Manager has identified 22+ of the 146 key actions that the Fellow can support with completing.

To highlight a few key actions that the Fellow would support include:

• Developing energy-efficient lighting program for parks that identifies outdoor lighting retrofit candidates among City-owned facilities and recreation areas and that identifies appropriate energy-efficient lighting technologies for sports fields/courts
• Documenting additional co-benefits of projects, such as improved building occupant comfort
• Establishing an operational framework for benchmarking, tracking, and reviewing municipal water use at meter level to allow identification of improper irrigation system use, leaks, or other wasteful water activities.
• Developing a Municipal Operations Plan that includes the key actions of the CAP.
• Benchmarking City facilities’ energy consumption and GHG emissions.
• Working with other city departments and outside partners to identify opportunities for projects to implement, and networking with regional environmental groups and sustainability staff at other cities.

SERVICE PLANS AND NEEDS

The ideal Fellow will: 

• be a motivated self-starter,
• have strong written and verbal communication skills, 
• be organized and able to meet project expectations and milestones, and
• have knowledge of general environmental sustainability and climate action planning principles, concepts, and practices.  

Experience in energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emission inventories, and water conservation are a plus but not required.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE

The City of La Mesa is located in San Diego County, just 10 miles east of Downtown San Diego.  With only about 60,000 residents in 9 square miles, La Mesa definitely has that small town feel and values community, safety, affordability, and environmental sustainability.  La Mesa Boulevard is constantly busy with open shops and restaurants that serve the local community and is walking distance from City Hall.  There is also a farmer’s market every Friday that provides local produce and community connection.  

This Fellowship would be based at City Hall. Due to COVID-19, City Hall is currently closed to the public, but a number of City staff are working in the office with safety measures in place.  This will change as the State reopens. City Hall has a 9/80 work schedule, meaning the Fellows would work eight nine hour days (with 1 hour lunch), with every other Friday off and the working Friday is an 8 hour day.  The City is also open to having the Fellow work remotely on a hybrid schedule (since some work will require municipal facility onsite scouting) and have consistent meeting check ins and guidance from the Environmental Program Manager and other key staff.

Host Partner: City of Encinitas
Partner Location: Encinitas, CA
Openings: 1 of 2
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation and/or Adaptation, Food Waste Recovery
Desired Skills: Community Engagement, Data Analysis, Self-Motivation

THE PROJECT
In Encinitas, we have an active public that wants to participate in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, we are missing key staff that has allocated time to connect the Climate Action Plan to the public. By sponsoring two Climate Fellows we will be able to address this from multiple angles. The first Fellow will focus on CAP outreach and reporting. The second Fellow will support the Solid Waste Division with Zero Waste Initiatives, including the development of a Zero Waste Plan for the City, and will play a key role in providing education and outreach to Encinitas businesses and residents on organics recycling as the City begins a curbside organics recycling program in June 2021.

Climate Action Plan Implementation
City staff understands that we are not able to achieve our Climate Action Plan targets without the support of the community. It is essential to have residents and businesses take part in reducing emissions. One of the Fellows will lead this community engagement. The Fellow that would be working in the Environmental Services Division would be responsible for implementing the City’s Climate Action Plan. This includes initiating and completing the various actions prescribed in the plan: 

• Utilizing an Outreach Toolkit, the prospective Fellow will implement outreach activities throughout the service year and refine the toolkit as appropriate. Outreach will include both online and social media as well as in-person events to captivate residents and businesses and encourage them to be a part of the climate solution. The prospective Fellow will play a leading role in engaging the Encinitas community to become involved in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This year we would like the Fellow to conduct in-person outreach events, to the extent we are able post-Covid. Specifically, we would like the Fellow to focus on outreach related to green building.  This will require innovation and ingenuity on the part of the  Fellow to develop a green building program tailored to the City of Encinitas.
• Concurrently, to build capacity in the Environmental Services division, the Fellow will utilize the City’s CAP Monitoring Protocol to track and measure progress being made toward Climate Action Plan targets. The City’s Climate Action Plan has specific numeric targets which must be achieved by 2030. This  Fellow will support staff by assisting with data collection and tracking, as well as reporting progress on the City’s Climate Dashboard and helping to complete the annual CAP Monitoring Report. 

Zero Waste Program Development
One of the City’s CAP main goals is establishing a Zero Waste Program. The City has made great strides thanks to the upcoming implementation of an organics collection program, which diverts green waste and food waste from the landfill and significantly reduces the amount of GHGs emitted from landfills. The Fellow that would be working in the Solid Waste Division under the City of Encinitas Public Works Department will focus on zero waste projects:

• This Fellow will help with continued outreach and education as the City prepares residents and businesses to properly handle their organics waste. The organics program will be very new and extensive outreach and education will be important to the success of the program’s implementation, which the  Fellow will help with due to lack of organizational capacity.
• In addition to these efforts, the Fellow will develop a Zero Waste Plan for the City, which will include actionable steps and the formation and/or implementation of related programs such as a reusable takeout ware program at restaurants. The  Fellow will work with various City departments to coordinate the efforts and assign roles to various staff as needed. The  Fellow will receive guidance from the Project Contact and refer to other Zero Waste plans developed by other agencies. 
• The Fellow will also coordinate with CAP efforts and work on zero waste initiatives internally with City staff using the Employee Green Guide (developed by a former Fellow) as a reference. 

Encinitas is seeking Fellows with both technical skills and people skills, someone who loves to dive into data and someone who loves to strike up a conversation. Knowledge of web design and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a plus. The  Fellow will be expected to organize and host outreach events (with staff support), speak in front of large groups, as well as establish data protocols and manage large data sets (with staff oversight). A science degree in the climate or air quality field is preferred; however degrees in social science or computer science would also be supportive of the City’s needs. Fellows interested in the Solid Waste (Zero Waste) Program position should possess strong research and writing skills as well as a passion for zero waste initiatives.

PARTNER INFO AND FELLOW EXPERIENCE
The City of Encinitas is staffed by a 250-member team of hard-working individuals, committed to supporting each other and serving the community. The professional yet laid-back culture of the organization makes the City an ideal place to work. Working with the City of Encinitas would provide an invaluable experience for young professionals looking to develop their career in the environmental sustainability sector. Few other cities in the San Diego region prioritize and embrace climate action initiatives as vigorously as the residents and leaders of Encinitas.

Located along six miles of Pacific coastline in northern San Diego County, the city of Encinitas offers a unique blend of old-world charm and sophistication, and new-world culture. With a population of 60,000 people, the City of Encinitas has something for everyone. With its pristine beaches and rolling hills, famous Botanic Garden and vibrant downtown business district, the City of Encinitas attracts visitors from all over the world. The century-old Downtown 101 coastal shopping district features historic architecture, quaint shops, sidewalk cafes, specialty retail stores and upscale restaurants.     Encinitas is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in California and is known for its excellent surfing conditions. Each year, surfers from all over gather in Encinitas to compete in local surfing tournaments. The San Elijo Lagoon Reserve boasts the largest coastal wetland in San Diego County and is home to nearly 300 different bird species throughout the year. San Diego Botanical Gardens, complete with an Amazon Rainforest, showcases the largest display of bamboo in the world, while the gardens of the Self Realization Center offer spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean in a serene garden-like setting. The warm California sunshine provides for year-round enjoyment of our beautiful parks, beaches and trails and makes Encinitas a spectacular place to live, work, and visit.