Air Quality Community Specialist Intern

About the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment  

For 30 years, the Rose Foundation has supported grassroots initiatives that inspire community action to protect the environment, community health, and people’s rights. Our community-based grantmaking approach has earned national recognition for building grassroots power for conservation and social justice causes, and our New Voices Are Rising (NVR) youth leadership and environmental stewardship program works to uplift and prioritize youth leadership in BIPOC communities that have been most impacted by social and environmental injustice. 

Position Summary 

The Air Quality Community Specialist Intern is a temporary, 18-month position focused on supporting NVR's Youth Power for Air Justice, a multi-year project to engage our youth in building a more equitable and sustainable community air future. They will work to increase the youth capacity to address air quality issues in overburdened, under-resourced communities in Richmond/San Pablo, East Oakland, Pittsburg/Antioch, and/or communities receiving or awaiting AB617 designation. They will focus on designing and implementing air quality data tracking infrastructure and disseminating data to communities served. This position reports to the Associate Program Director. While some program activities are remote, this is primarily an in-person position which requires significant time with students and community members in the areas served. 

Who Should Apply 

You are deeply committed to youth development, community-driven work, and environmental justice education, especially focused on air quality. You are comfortable working with youth of color from Oakland and around the Bay Area, and other members of the communities they come from. You are passionate about encouraging young people to step forward as community leaders. You are comfortable working with data and spreadsheets and interested in creating data-driven content with youth. You have experience engaging young people in meaningful environmental or social justice advocacy and are excited about the opportunity to design and lead youth activities which fulfill the requirements of foundation and governmental funders. Experience with the New Voices Are Rising program is a plus. 

We value a diverse team whose lived experiences inform their relationship to social justice and community equity work. We encourage candidates to apply who have deep roots with underserved communities in Oakland and Contra Costa County, BIPOC folks, as well as candidates who identify as women, femme, non-binary, or LGBTQ+. We encourage candidates who are comfortable conversing in Spanish, or another language commonly spoken in California communities of color, to apply. 

Roles and Responsibilities 

The responsibilities of the New Voices Air Quality Community Specialist Intern include, but are not limited to, the following: 

Air Quality Monitoring and Community Engagement (80%) 

• Establish and maintain an air quality monitoring network throughout the East Bay, installing at least six monitors focused on indoor and/or outdoor levels of particulate matter.  

• Sustain the established air monitoring network, providing maintenance checks and equipment repairs. 

• Work with air quality Fellows to conduct air quality monitoring and data collection, data interpretation and analysis, and user-friendly data visualization guides for youth and community members.  

• Work with community partners to receive training and partner on community engagement efforts.  

• Work with air quality Fellows to conduct community engagement efforts reaching up to 100+ youth and community members through spring workshops, planning sessions, surveys, and focus groups.  

• Develop and lead a youth Data Camp with Fellows.  

• Support the annual virtual Fellowship Summit and design workshop(s). 

• Attend meetings and advocacy events when student participation is involved.  

• Support NVR social media and communications by creating and sharing user-friendly content about air quality findings.  

Fellowship Support (15%) 

• Support annual Fellowship recruitment, including two air quality Fellows annually.  

• Support two air quality Fellows during Fellowship to draft a youth inspired Regional Air Monitoring Plan expressing community concerns and pollution hotspots while uplifting community solutions, and support presentation at the Fellowship Summit. 

• Support development of youth projects focused on air quality and monitoring efforts for Fellows, especially informed by findings from air quality monitoring and community engagement.  

Administration (5%) 

• Provide writeups to NVR team as needed for grant reporting.  

• Strengthen the NVR team as a whole, including participating in activities that develop and strengthen the entire NVR team, and linking students with overall organizational activities. 

• Additional duties, as assigned by the position supervisor. 

• Comfort with data sets and excel, and interest to grow data management skills.  

• Minimum one year experience working directly with youth through community organizing, leadership development, education, or advocacy. 

• Experience working with queer youth and youth of color.  

• Demonstrated commitment to environmental justice.  

• Enthusiasm for engaging with community members, and comfort with facilitating groups of people.  

• Ability to coordinate logistics and be accountable for critical details. 

• Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends, based on student activities, agency, and partner scheduling constraints. 

• Abide by the Rose Foundation’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. 

• A background clearance is required. 

Desired Qualifications 

• Experience with NVR’s Fellowship program.  

• Familiarity with local school districts and/or local organizations serving low-income, BIPOC high-school youth.

• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish, or another language commonly spoken in the Bay Area. 

• Licensed driver able to assist in transporting materials to and from activities and events. 

• Pursuing Associate or Bachelor's degree, especially in a related field. 

Salary, Hours, and Benefits  

The Air Quality Community Specialist Intern is an at-will, temporary, part-time, non-exempt position. It has a start date of September 16, 2024, and an end date of March 13, 2026. Compensation for this position is $23.76 per hour paid semi-monthly. This position is regularly scheduled to work approximately 10-15 hours per week. Specific hours will be agreed upon in consultation with your supervisor. Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required, especially in relation to programmatic events.  

As per the Rose Foundation’s Personnel Handbook, no benefits are associated with this position except those required by California law. This includes sick time accrued at 1 hour for every 30 hours worked. This position will also receive recognized company-paid holidays at a half-day rate. 

The Rose Foundation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. 

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