Sustainability and Environmental Justice Fellowship

The Environmental Health Organizing Fellow will work hand-in-hand with and report to the Organizer to advance our Safe Drinking Water Campaign and our Healthy Homes Program to protect communities in Maine from exposure to chemicals linked to cancer, asthma, and other health problems in drinking water. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience working in a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary, science-based policy organization, and building your skills in community organizing, environmental health policy, and campaign advocacy. Major Activities will include:

• Community Outreach
• Organization Building
• Community Organizing
• Water Testing
• Leadership Development
• Grassroots advocacy

For more information, contact Sergio Cahueque scahueque@defendourhealth.org 

The position is to help with environmental monitoring in northern Iceland for a startup called Everything Seaweed that will be located in Iceland and Maine starting summer 2022. We are harvesting wild kelp to be processed into multiple products and need to set up monitoring of our environmental impact. The student should have interest in learning about or experience with scientific methods of measuring. Should be comfortable being on a boat.

For more information, contact Jessica Chalmers at jessica@everythingseaweed.net 

Growing to Give is a MOFGA-certified organic non-profit farm in Brunswick, ME. We see hunger, environmental degradation, human health, and climate change as systemic issues that are deeply connected; our mission is to address these issues by growing vegetables using sustainable methods to feed our food insecure neighbors. We are offering a hands-on fellowship for students with a strong commitment to regenerative farming and food sovereignty. Ecologically-based agriculture is a sophisticated teacher of the complexity of living systems, and the opportunity to grow, harvest, and distribute fresh produce will provide a broader understanding of the impact of small-scale farming on local communities,
environments, and consumers. Fellows will interface with a vibrant cross-section of people and
organizations addressing food insecurity in Maine. In addition to carrying out daily farm work, fellows will have the opportunity to develop independent projects that align both with our mission and their unique interests and skills. Project might include:

• Participate in ongoing field research on the effect of carbon-sequestering biochar on
  plant health and vegetable yield.
• Research and implement a regenerative farming method that is novel to our program,
  focusing on biodynamic or indigenous growing practices
• Assist in the development and delivery of our on-farm education programming for youth
  groups, including possible integration of small-scale vermicomposting and beekeeping

 

For more information contact Carrie Asselin carrie@growingtogive.farm 

Maine Conservation Voters (MCV) cultivates and uses political power to conserve and protect Maine's environment. MCV helps pass laws that protect our environmental legacy, elects pro-environment candidates to office, and holds our elected officials accountable, without regard to political party.
The MCV fellow has an opportunity to work at the intersection of democracy and the environment. This position offers the opportunity to learn about non-profit advocacy, coalition building, and the legislative process.

• Environmental: Working with MCV's Director of Policy & Partnerships on an issue area tracker for Maine's Environmental Priorities Coalition (a partnership of 37 environmental, conservation and public health organizations representing over 100,000 members who want to protect the good health, good jobs and quality of life that our environment provides); Democracy: One of MCV's top priorities for 2022 is working on disinformation inoculation. We anticipate a fellow working on organizing around disinformation inoculation, including helping to organize an MCV Lunch & learn and collaborating with the Mainers for Modern Elections coalition (a coalition that is committed to ensuring that our right to vote safely transcends politics and partisanship) on events and organizing during June and July.
• MCV sits at the intersection of two major policy coalitions and fellows are fully exposed to the workings of both coalitions. We also provide concrete feedback and mentoring to each of our interns. 3. As an organization, we are working to solidify the connection between those interested in climate policy and voting rights. Part of our mission is making that connection here in Maine and we can see ongoing work for the ES program around voter registration and climate-focused civic engagement, more broadly.

For more information, contact Greta Warren greta@maineconservation.org 

The Adult Education and Interpretive Exhibits Fellow plays a role in providing live interpretation assistance throughout our campus. Fellows learn, under the guidance of the Interpretation and Exhibits Program Manager, interpretation best practices and effective science communication. This includes the
Gardens’ Butterfly House, Learning Apiary, and new native bee exhibit. Additionally it involves working with the Education Department and volunteers in providing live interpretation for visitors at our Discovery Carts, Children’s Garden and Back Woods area. Possible projeccts include: 

• Learn the art and science of live interpretation while supporting the development of the Butterfly House and Learning Apiary interpretation.
• Interact with students and visitors by providing informal educational experiences in both structured and unstructured settings, including Discovery Carts, our Learning Apiary, and our Native Bee Exhibit.
• Support Back Woods nature-based play area and Children’s garden interpretation including volunteer training and support.
• Assist with other learning programs in the Education department as needed.

 

For more information contact Vanessa Nesvig vnesvig@mainegardens.org

Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment in Freeport, Maine seeks to transform our relationship with farming and food for a healthier planet. On 626 acres of diverse ecosystems, we farm, educate, conduct agricultural research on soils and climate change, and invite visitors to engage with the food system and the role we all can play in building a more just and sustainable future. We grow produce for an on-site farm store, a CSA, and for our local food pantries. The fruit & vegetable farming fellow work alongside our two full-season apprentices to help care for 5.5 acres of MOFGA certified diversified fruit and vegetable production and collaborate with our research and educational programming. Possible projects include:

• Monitor and study nutrient availability and possible future usage of invasive green crabs as fertilizer on vegetable fields
• Assisting with research efforts to monitor soil carbon in our pastures, hay fields, and vegetable fields
  Analyze crop-specific income and profits to determine the most lucrative crops grown in our chemical-free system

For more information, contact Eliza Baker-Wacks ebakerwacks@wolfesneck.org