Our climate is a wreck and it’s up to us to take back our dysfunctional political system.
For too long, the fossil fuel industry has bankrolled local and national campaigns, and the candidates they bankroll become the insiders who do the industry’s bidding. But the youth climate movement knows that when we organize the power of the people, we win.
We are pushing our universities to side with students, faculty and alumni, and not with perpetrators of the climate crisis and injustice. The fossil fuel industry’s influence is pervasive; their investors sit on University Boards and their lobbyists write legislation. We’re taking on one of the world’s most powerful industry on our campuses.
We need to connect our campus work directly to our political system. We deserve political power. Our vision for a better world, where we have agency and our voices and lives matter, is worth fighting for. Our lives and future is worth fighting for.
In 2016, several important presidential swing states are battling iconic fossil fuel fights. Organize with 350 Action to leverage the election to lift these flights and energize your campus work. There are many ways we can participate in our democracy; voting is an important part, but it’s not the beginning or the end.
This fellowship provides 6 students and 3 team leads in New Hampshire, Colorado and Virginia to organize youth and students on state ballot initiatives and on elections that will keep fossil fuels in the ground and ensure a just transition to 100% renewable energy. With organizing grounded in justice and long-term movement building, 350 Action fellows will organize actions, political education and skills-based trainings and work with partners on issue-based GOTV.
The State Team Lead will support fellows through the summer and fall.
Application for Fellows here.
Application for State Team Leads here.
Details:
- Current students in CO, NH and VA are encouraged to apply for the fellowship. 2 fellows will be hired in each state. Graduates and graduating seniors should apply to the statewide organizer position.
- Fellows will work full-time from June-August and 10 hrs/week from September- November 25th. Statewide organizers will work full time from June-November 25th. Applicants must commit to the full program.
- The program kicks off with an intensive week-long training.
- Organize actions on short notice, candidate calendars are updated frequently.
- Become skilled trainers on action planning, different organizing models and GOTV.
- Work closely with 350 Action staff and build and train a large base of student organizers.
- Share their work through various forms of media.
- Connect with student leaders and work with incredible local groups.
- Deepen their analysis of climate and electoral work through a movement lens.
- Have the State Team Lead be their primary support.
In Fellows, we are looking for:
- Current undergraduates studying in NH, VA or CO for the Fellowship.
- Involved in campus fossil fuel divestment organizing.
- Commitment to organize with a justice-based framework.
- Commitment to working on climate issues.
- Commitment to building a climate movement that is building strategic power with other movements and issues.
- Accountability for your work and project, excitement to take a project and run with it while also respecting leadership from those who you work with.
- Experience in climate or progressive political organizing on or off campus.
- Excitement to take on a lot of responsibility and be accountable for their work.
- Excitement to build skills, understanding and capacity to become a stronger organizer.
- Ability to work hard, be flexible and plan many actions, often on short notice.
- We are looking for someone who is comfortable working both independently and in teams, highly responsive, and able to lead initiatives as well as take direction from others.
- Work alongside fellows, daily, in the field (all expectations fellows are responsible for).
- Check-in and manage the day to day work of fellows and the statewide plan.
- Work with partner organizations and 350 Action staff to manage fellows’ work.
In State Team Leads, we are looking for:
- Recent graduates or experienced organizers from or experience organizing in NH, VA ot CO.
- Campus fossil fuel divestment organizing experience.
- Strong accountability for your work and project; and can keep others accountable for their work.
- Excitement to drive a strategy and project plan- taking on a lot of responsibility and be accountable for their work.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Experience in climate or progressive political organizing on or off campus.
- Excitement to build skills, understanding and capacity to become a stronger organizer.
- Ability to work hard, be flexible and plan many actions, often on short notice.
- Commitment to organize with a justice-based framework.
- Commitment to working on climate issues.
- Commitment to building a climate movement that is building strategic power with other movements and issues.
- We are looking for someone who is comfortable working both independently and in teams, highly responsive, and able to lead initiatives as well as take direction from others.
Application Process:
- Notification of Interview selection on April 25th.
- Interviews held the week of April 25th- May 4th.
- Decision notification May 13th.