Cardinal Quarter

2024 Environmental Policy Internships in CA (EPIC): California Air Resources Board, Office of Community Air Protection

Environmental Sustainability

About EPIC:

The State of California is a leader in developing cutting-edge policies in response to climate change and other environmental and natural resource challenges. Other states, the federal government and nations follow and seek to imitate California's forward-thinking public policy efforts. The Stanford Woods Institute identifies key state agencies and decision-makers who are addressing these pressing environmental issues to create exciting summer internship placement opportunities for Stanford undergraduates.

Woods, in collaboration with the Haas Center for Public Service and Stanford in Government, offers undergraduates paid summer internships that provide a hands-on introduction to environmental policy work. The fellowships are full-time (35-40 hours/week) for 10 or 12 consecutive weeks. Students who are selected will receive mentoring from environmental professionals and directly contribute to solving important sustainability challenges that are facing the public. EPIC fellows receive a $7,500 - $9,000 stipend (for 10 weeks) or $9,000 - $10,500 (for 12 weeks of work), depending on financial need.

About the CARB Office of Community Air Protection:

In 2017, the Legislature passed Assembly Bill (AB) 617, which helped propel CARB to establish the “first-of-its-kind” Office of Community Air Protection Program (Program or OCAP), whose focus is to reduce exposure in communities most impacted by air pollution through monitoring plans and emission reductions programs at the community level. Assembly Bill (AB) 617 (C. Garcia, Stats. 2017, Ch. 136) requires the Board to "adopt a statewide strategy to reduce emissions of toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutants in communities affected by a high cumulative exposure burden.” [Health and Safety Code § 44391.2(b)].

In October 2023, after a robust statewide engagement process with a diverse group of stakeholders, CARB adopted an update to its statewide strategy, or Community Air Protection Blueprint (Blueprint 2.0), which reimagines the program to provide continued support for reducing emissions of criteria air pollutants and toxic air contaminants in communities that have been selected but also additional support to communities that have consistently nominated for the program by air districts and communities.

Position Description:

Interns in CARB’s OCAP will work on a variety of projects that focus on working with disadvantaged environmental justice communities and leaders throughout the state to reduce emissions of toxic air contaminants and criteria air pollutants. Interns will have a hands-on opportunity to learn in a fast-paced environment about state government processes, policy implementation, and community and air district partnerships. The interns will gain skills in policy research and writing, land use planning community impacts, impacted community engagement and outreach, local government partnerships, interagency coordination, and more.

Potential Projects:

Re-Imagining our AB 617 Program: Intern may work to support impacted community engagement and outreach throughout the state in our efforts to implement newly adopted statewide strategy to reduce exposure in communities most impacted by air pollution. Intern may also assist in the evaluation of Blueprint 2.0 implementation.
Racial Equity and EJ: Intern may work on various projects to advance racial equity and environmental justice in CARB’s community engagement and cross-agency efforts.
Community Focused Tools: Intern may develop and enhance web presence around Blueprint 2.0 to make Program tools, information, and data easy to access, user friendly, and in plain language.
Interagency Coordination: Intern may work with other CARB Divisions, and sister agencies to effect Program goals, objectives and deliverables for Blueprint 2.0 implementation

Desired Qualities, Skills and Abilities:

Ideal candidates are self-driven and independently motivated, can balance multiple projects at once and meet multiple deadlines; are highly professional and responsible; have strong verbal and written communication as well as analytical and organizational skills; and demonstrate a strong interest in one or more of the subject matters that CARB and OCAP cover. Please see the CARB website for more information on the areas of work.

Bonus skills: Experience with graphic design/web design/multimedia skills, and communications/outreach skills.

Logistics:

This opportunity can be hybrid at CARB’s Riverside, CA office or Sacramento, CA office. Fully remote interns will also be considered.
EPIC fellows have the option to work full-time (35+ hours per week) for 10 weeks (stipend: $7,500-$9,000, depending on financial need) or 12 weeks (stipend: $9,000-$10,500, depending on financial need) over the summer.

Eligibility

Eligibility:

Undergraduates from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply, and applicants may vary in academic interests, public service involvement, and experience. Students must be enrolled for winter and spring quarters of this year and be in good academic standing to be eligible for a fellowship. Applications will only be accepted from students who will be enrolled as undergraduates for the following academic year, so unfortunately, graduating seniors cannot apply. The one exception to this rule is seniors who will be working toward a co-term degree during the following academic year. Co-term students must not have their undergraduate degree conferred until Fall 2024 to be eligible. Please refer to the Haas Center for Public Service's website for additional Cardinal Quarter Undergraduate Fellowship Program Policies and Requirements.

Note: students are only eligible for one Stanford-funded full-time experiential learning opportunity during the summer, and are not permitted to engage in another full-time internship, job, coursework, or volunteer opportunity. Students are responsible for arranging and paying for their own housing and transportation during the fellowship.

Requirements:

Fellows are required to work at least 35 hours/week for ten or twelve consecutive weeks at their placements. Fellows are expected to have a designated full-time professional staff member as their supervisor/mentor. Please review the entire FAQs section for program policies. Other commitments include the following:

Spring Quarter:

Commit to working full-time (35-40 hours week) for 10 or 12 consecutive weeks (depending on which option you select)
Complete an online program orientation through the Haas Center for Public Service
- This will include designing a personal learning plan that you will share with your site supervisor and academic mentor
Complete the Engaging in Ethical and Effective Service in-person workshop or worksheet
Meet with your assigned Stanford academic mentor at least once prior to the start of the fellowship (more check-ins during and after your experience are encouraged)
Attend EPIC cohort building events and activities in spring quarter, as your schedule allows
Complete and submit all required forms and paperwork

Summer Quarter:

Engage in your full-time fellowship (starting no later than July 8, 2024; exact start date to be determined with your site supervisor)
Attend EPIC cohort building events and activities in the summer, as your schedule allows
Submit a mid-summer evaluation
Submit a final project report, complete a program evaluation, and correspond with donor(s) as requested by program staff

Fall Quarter:

Debrief with your academic mentor at least once
Attend a de-briefing meeting for the purpose of reflecting upon and evaluating summer experiences
Participate in outreach activities to share your experiences and help publicize the program