Environmental Justice Internships: Opportunities for Growth and Impact
Environmental justice internships offer invaluable opportunities for students and recent graduates to gain hands-on experience, develop crucial skills, and contribute to a more equitable and sustainable world. These internships span various fields, from environmental research and advocacy to community organizing and legal work, providing diverse pathways for individuals passionate about environmental protection and social justice.
Understanding Environmental Justice
Environmental justice recognizes that environmental problems disproportionately affect marginalized communities, including low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. These communities often bear the brunt of pollution, climate change impacts, and lack of access to resources like clean water and healthy food. Environmental justice internships provide a platform to address these inequities and work towards solutions that prioritize the well-being of all communities.
Diverse Internship Opportunities
Internship opportunities in environmental justice are diverse and cater to a wide range of interests and skill sets. They can be found in various sectors, including:
Non-profit Organizations: Many non-profit organizations dedicated to environmental advocacy, conservation, and community development offer internships. These internships often involve direct engagement with communities, conducting research, developing educational materials, and advocating for policy changes. For example, Clean Water Action seeks passionate individuals for roles such as Environmental Justice Organizer, Development Manager, and Field Canvass Director, offering opportunities to lead campaigns, strengthen fundraising programs, and mobilize communities.
Government Agencies: Government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels also offer internships related to environmental justice. These internships may involve assisting with environmental monitoring, policy development, community outreach, and enforcement of environmental regulations. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) offers paid internship positions for students enrolled at least half-time at an accredited college or university.
Read also: EE Internship Guide
Research Institutions: Research institutions like the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) offer internships focused on environmental research and public engagement. Interns at SERC can participate in independent research projects, contribute to environmental education programs, and engage in science writing. SERC internships are paid, and on-site dormitory housing is often available.
Legal Organizations: The Sierra Club Environmental Law Program hires law students interested in public interest environmental litigation to assist with strategic litigation and work on all aspects of litigation, including undertaking legal research, preparing written memoranda, and conducting factual investigations. Earthjustice also offers opportunities for individuals passionate about justice, partnership, inclusion, and excellence.
Community Organizations: Local community organizations often have internships focused on addressing environmental issues specific to their communities. These internships may involve working on urban farming projects, promoting sustainable food systems, or addressing local pollution concerns. For instance, the Detroit Partnership for Food, Learning, and Innovation (DPFLI) offers internships focused on scaling up fruit, nut, and vegetable production, as well as research on soil management, fruit crop management, or community nutrition.
Examples of Internship Programs
CPLC Internship Program: The 2025 CPLC internship program provides high school and college students with a learning experience about environmental issues, hands-on experience in environmental advocacy, and leadership skills development. This 8-week opportunity includes a stipend and runs from June 9th to July 18th. Applications are open until April 30, 2025.
Goldman Fellows Program: The Goldman Fellows Program, funded by the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation, offers undergraduates a summer experience in St. Louis, working with nonprofit, community, or governmental organizations. Goldman Fellows receive $5,000 summer stipends for community-based internships in the St. Louis region. Past Goldman Fellows have worked for environmental non-profits such as Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Trailnet, Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, the Open Spaces Council, and Gateway Greening.
Read also: Tuition at Unity Environmental University
Michigan Sea Grant’s Undergraduate Internship Program: This program coordinates and funds undergraduate students from any accredited community college, college, or university in Michigan to work with private businesses, local government, state and federal agencies, or environmental non-profit organizations to plan or implement environmental stewardship projects in the Great Lakes.
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Internships: EDF offers paid internships designed to introduce students to environmental careers and provide hands-on experience with leading experts in the field. Internships are offered in fall, spring, and summer cycles, with the largest number of interns hosted in the summer.
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) Internship Program: SERC offers both in-person and remote internships throughout the year. All SERC interns are paid a minimum stipend and on-site dormitory housing is often available. Internship projects span the range of research conducted at SERC, including environmental chemistry, marine and estuarine ecology, molecular ecology, and terrestrial ecology. Projects are also offered in public engagement, with opportunities in environmental education, participatory science, and science writing.
Gaining Academic Credit and Financial Support
Many academic institutions recognize the value of internships and offer academic credit for unpaid experiences. Additionally, several funding opportunities exist to help students offset the costs of unpaid internships.
Career Center Stipends: The Career Center provides a limited number of stipends to qualified students to help offset the cost of unpaid summer internships. Undergraduate students can apply for a merit award, up to $1,000, or a need-based award, up to $3,000.
Read also: Impact of Environmental Education
Academic Credit for Unpaid Internships: It is also possible to gain course credit for unpaid internships.
CarShare Fund: The Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement offers a transportation subsidy through the CarShare Fund to assist students, student groups, faculty, and staff, who face financial barriers to paying for transportation costs for student engagement in local community service.
Skills and Benefits
Participating in environmental justice internships offers numerous benefits, including:
Gaining Practical Experience: Internships provide hands-on experience in various aspects of environmental justice work, allowing individuals to apply their knowledge and develop practical skills.
Developing Leadership Skills: Many internships offer opportunities to develop leadership skills through project management, community engagement, and advocacy efforts. The CPLC internship program specifically focuses on helping young people grow as leaders.
Networking Opportunities: Internships provide valuable networking opportunities with professionals in the field, which can lead to future job opportunities and collaborations.
Making a Difference: Environmental justice internships allow individuals to make a tangible difference in their communities and contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future. By working directly with communities affected by environmental injustices, interns can help amplify local voices, develop solutions, and advocate for policy changes.
Exploring Career Paths: Internships provide an opportunity to explore different career paths within the environmental justice field and determine which areas align with their interests and skills.
Finding Internship Opportunities
Finding environmental justice internships requires proactive research and networking. Here are some resources to explore:
University Career Centers: University career centers often have listings of internship opportunities and resources for finding funding.
Online Job Boards: Websites like Idealist, Indeed, and LinkedIn often have listings for environmental justice internships.
Environmental Organizations' Websites: Many environmental organizations post internship opportunities on their websites.
Networking: Attending conferences, workshops, and community events related to environmental justice can provide valuable networking opportunities and lead to internship prospects.
WashU Resources: A spreadsheet of St. Louis community organizations that may offer internships for WashU students is available. You can also browse through past students’ Success Stories compiled by the Career Center in search of opportunities across the country.
The Role of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship presents IdeaBounce®, an online platform and event for sharing ideas and making connections. This program allows individuals to pitch their idea, get feedback on it, and connect through networking opportunities. Inventors, founders, and startups from all across the St. Louis region, and those interested in supporting them, are encouraged to attend. This highlights the importance of innovation and entrepreneurial thinking in addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable solutions.
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