The Greenlining Institute’s Leadership Academy Fellowship is an 11-month training and experiential learning program for early career leaders seeking to gain hands-on public policy experience and invest in their personal and professional growth. Fellows are integrated into one of Greenlining's policy teams to develop, plan, and implement the organization's policy and advocacy efforts while they simultaneously work with the Leadership Academy to focus on the skills to support their personal growth and deepen their leadership perspective.  We're looking for individuals who have a strong commitment to racial equity and social justice for communities of color and can demonstrate a sincere interest in building themselves into true race equity leaders. Our offices are based in Oakland, CA and participants will be expected to attend in-person throughout the program.  

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Fellowship Program Dates: September 9, 2024- August 8, 2025

Salary

$60,000

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POLICY FOCUS AREA

Greenlining the Block is an initiative developed by The Greenlining Institute to support the leadership and expertise of communities of color to prepare for and maximize federal, state, and local infrastructure investments to drive effective climate action that meets community needs. Greenlining the Block works to strengthen community-based organizations to move climate capital projects from shovel-worthy to shovel-ready.  

Greenlining is building on decades of experience targeting climate investments in communities of color and advancing our model established through California’s Transformative Climate Communities program. This program established through AB 2722 has catalyzed over $350 million in investments in communities across the state. The program has informed our understanding of the necessary ingredients for nurturing successful community-driven climate projects at the local level and effectively catalyzing multi-sector partnerships. It is based on this experience including working directly with community partners and local government that is the basis for our approach through Greenlining the Block.

As a Transformative Communities (Community Development) Fellow, you will help bridge a gap between community capacity and new infrastructure funding opportunities to ensure that climate investments are being directed and absorbed by communities of color for the types of projects that are needed most.

MAJOR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Public Policy Development & Advocacy

• Deepens and applies race equity lens to analyze and develop policy solutions that remove barriers for historically redlined communities
• Leads a substantive public policy assignment (research project, report development, landscape analysis, stakeholder relationship management, coalition management, etc.) to advance the team’s advocacy objectives for the year
• Develops, drafts, and publishes public policy writings including but not limited to policy memos, policy reports, research project, data collection, policy briefs, business memos, public comments, blog posts
• Delivers oral presentations for internal and external forums including Greenlining’s annual lobby day with Sacramento legislators/staffers, stakeholder convenings, Leadership Academy graduation
• Facilitates meetings with community, government, and business leaders to drive our advocacy forward

Leadership Development

• Participates in all leadership development workshops to learn and apply a holistic (mind, body, spirit) and equitable approach to leadership
• Learns unique leadership style, values, vision and purpose through self-reflection exercises, goal-setting activities and 1:1 coaching
• Brings lived experience to cohort and organizational conversations to offer innovative ideas and diversity of perspective
• Provides support to cohort members and engages in team-building activities to form strong working partnerships
• Seeks mentorship from Greenlining and Academy staff and provide mentorship to undergraduate students in the Academy’s Casa Joaquin program

Professional Development

• Participates in all skills-based workshops to learn Greenlining’s approach to race equity public policy advocacy
• Learns key public policy advocacy tactics to support work plan objectives
• Engages with Leadership Academy alumni to expand professional network
• Mentors a Summer Associate during their 10-week internship designing their work plan and coordinates weekly check-in meetings to ensure they are successful in the program
• Develops capstone presentation to share during Leadership Academy graduation
• Establishes thought leadership in their respective public policy area through management of social media channels, publishing public policy blogs, playing a substantive role in Greenlining’s annual economic summit

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• If earned BA, at least 1 year of related experience required (cumulative OK).  If no BA degree, at least 2 years of related cumulative experience required (including college internships)
• Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time
• Committed to champion racial equity and uplift communities of color
• Able to participate in person
• Proven ability to work in a manner that respects differences in race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance
• Willingness to approaches unfamiliar experiences with a growth mindset to push beyond their comfort zone with determination, heart, and deep commitment to their personal and professional journey
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to complete writing and public speaking assignments
• Team player who inspires collaboration, uplifts the work of others, and maintains balance and perspective with patience and a sense of humor
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively while demonstrating flexibility with others to set goals, resolve problems, pivot assignments, and make decisions that move the work forward
• Ability to prioritize tasks, strong organizational skills, and an ability to work independently
• Strong writing and computer literacy of PC-based Google Drive and MS Office Programs    
• Applicants must be able to provide documentation confirming authorization to work in the United States. The organization does not provide visa sponsorship