Word to our Mother! Women’s Hip Hop for Climate Change 4/29

The Romero Institute is hosting a hip hop event focused on the issue of climate change and women’s empowerment. The goal is to raise consciousness about climate change and rallying people about being involved in the movement for a more sustainable, healthy planet.

They are excited to headline socially conscious female artists, including Mare Advertencia Lirica, indigenous hip hop artist from Oaxaca, Mexico. They have an all­-women hip­ hop lineup because women are shockingly underrepresented in this musical genre. Hip Hop can be a powerful tool to generate and sustain the energy of a movement to counter materialism and empower women. More details about the event will be available soon.

Word to Our Mother! Women's Hip Hop for Climate Change will take place Friday, April 29th from 8:00-11:30 PM at Merrill Cultural Center. $5 admission.

This event has received sponsorship support from the Cowell Provost, Faye Crosby; Merrill College; and the Sustainability Office. They are seeking additional sponsors for this non-profit event and hope to involve student groups who focus on sustainability and issues of climate. All profits will go toward paying for the event, any leftover will go toward the Romero Institute’s Climate Change Project.

The Romero Institute is a 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on identifying structural sources of injustice. By combining strategic litigation, public education, and outreach they aim to disassemble unjust structures and mobilize a new generation of leaders committed to fairness and sustainability. The Institute was formerly known as The Christic Institute, a renowned nonprofit public interest law firm behind the Iran Contra lawsuit, the Karen Silkwood investigation, the Three Mile Island Case, and many other precedent setting historic lawsuits. The Romero Institute is currently engaged with several Human Rights projects, including: A Constitutional Protection Zone for Santa Cruz County, Revocation of the Doctrine of Discovery and the Lakota People’s Law Project. To learn more about these projects visit their websites: romeroinstitute.org, lakotalaw.org, and santacruzcpz.org. In 2016, the Romero Institute began to take on education and organizing around the issue of climate change. We plan to present the evidence as well as inspiring solutions that each individual, organization, city, state and county can implement immediately for the quickest and most effective change.

Contact Ardalan “Ardy” Raghian­ (ardalan.raghian[at]romeroinstitute[dot]org), 650­-521­-4731, for more information.

April 2016: Classes, Training, Community

Faculty Workshop: Incorporating Sustainability & Climate Change into UCSC Courses: Deadline to Register April 5th
This one-day workshop for UCSC faculty will provide space for discussing and sharing knowledge about sustainability, approaches for integrating themes into courses, and relevant tools and resources. It will take place on May 20, 2016 from 9am-3pm at Digital Arts Research Center, “Light Lab” Room 306 on the UCSC campus. Faculty will receive $1000 for participating in the workshop to help revise syllabi and course plans. Funds can be used for assistance from a GSR, instructional media, field trips, guest speaker honoraria, lab materials, etc. They will also receive $200 for sharing accomplishments back with the group next year. This workshop is open to all UCSC faculty although space is limited and priority will be given to Senate faculty. Please email asteves[at]ucsc[dot]edu to pre-register.

UCSC Bioneers Conference Tabling & Performance Registration Open: Deadline April 8th
The 2nd Annual UCSC Bioneers Conference, a Bioneers Resilient Communities Network Event, takes place April 23-24th in Kresge College. The conference will feature workshops, guest speakers, artistic performances, dancing, and more! Click here to apply to perform, sing, dance, or create an interactive art piece. Click here to table at the conference with your organization. To get your free ticket for the conference, visit the Eventbrite page and then share this event on Facebook!

Survey on Environmental Sustainability for UCSC Students: Deadline April 10
All UCSC students are invited to participate in the UCSC Survey on Environmental Sustainability, the first campuswide project to gain a better understanding of student perceptions of and participation in the environmental sustainability movement on campus. Your feedback will help the People of Color Sustainability Collective (PoCSC) create programming, resources, and opportunities to better address our campus needs. The survey takes only 5–10 minutes to complete, and by participating, you will be entered for a chance to win an iPad Air or one of 11 $50 gift cards to the Bay Tree Bookstore. PoCSC is an initiative housed under the Ethnic Resource Centers that works in collaboration with Colleges Nine and Ten and the Campus Sustainability Office. For questions or more information, please email pocsc[at]ucsc[dot]edu. Administration of this survey is being done by the UCSC Office of Institutional Research. Participating in the survey is completely voluntary and will not affect your grades, registration, or enrollment in any way. Your responses will be kept confidential and reported only as aggregate data. You can also share this survey on Facebook here.

UCSC Bioneers Conference Announces Speakers & Workshops
The Common Ground Center and the Sustainability Office invite you to attend the 2nd Annual UC Santa Cruz Bioneers Conference, a Bioneers Resilient Communities Network Event, on April 23-24 at Kresge College in Santa Cruz, California. This conference is a two day experience focused on themes like social and environmental justice and activism. The event carries a festive and empowering ambiance with visionary speakers, inspiring and educational workshops, performances and artwork, dancing, food, and music. The workshops and speakers are listed here, and more details will be added in the coming weeks. For more information, visit the Facebook page.

Survey on Integration of Sustainability and Climate Change into UCSC Courses
Have you taken a course where sustainability and climate change were integrated in an especially meaningful, unexpected, or innovative way? Or a class where it could have been better integrated, or included as a unit, module, or lesson? If so, please email Andrea Steves at asteves@ucsc.edu or take this quick, 2-minute, anonymous survey!

Shifting Bike Culture: Submit Your Story!
You're invited to share a story about a time when you felt excluded in a bike space for a collective story project. San Jose-based Cowgirl Bike Courier, Dr. Adonia Lugo, and Sarah McCullough are collaborating on a new blog called Shifting Bike Culture, which will collect these stories together with the purpose of "build[ing] our individual moments into a collective voice that guides the development of community-rooted principles for inclusion in bicycling and other urbanist movements (quote by Adonia Lugo)." Visit the website and submit your story here.

Apply to Master of Arts in Sexuality Studies at SF State: Priority Deadline April 15th
SF State's interdisciplinary Sexuality Studies MA program has extended its priority admissions deadline to April 15, 2016, with rolling admissions through July 1. Drawing on fields including ethnic studies,  gender and women's studies, history, queer studies, psychology, public health, and sociology, they emphasize theoretical and methodological sophistication and a commitment to addressing social inequality and advancing social justice. They are admitting applicants with a conditional GRE requirement. If a student has not taken the GRE or wants more information, please contact Professor Fields at jfields[at]sfsu[dot]edu. For more information about the program, click here.

Kelp Forest Ecology Summer Course: Deadline April 15
This course is aimed at upper division undergraduates or beginning graduate students interested in benthic ecology & kelp forests. SCUBA certification (Advanced/Open Water II) & all personal diving gear is required (AAUS scientific certification is not required, but desirable). Summer tuition ($5080) will be covered; class size is limited. The application form is available here. Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, CA Jun 20-Jul 22, 2016 (5-weeks), M-F, 5-units.

LEED Green Associate (GA) Training: April 21
The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program acts as a method of evaluating buildings based on energy-efficient and sustainable design. The LEED Green Associate (GA) credential is the only entry level sustainability designation and shows that those certified are knowledgeable in the green building industry. A new LEED rating system (v4) was introduced recently and this training course is one of the few that has been updated to teach the current rating system. This training will take place on the UCSC campus on April 21 from 6-10 PM. For more information including cost and how to register, see here.

California Dream Ride: Registration Opens April 1
Our 3rd Annual California Dream Ride will take place over 5 days from October 3rd to 8th, 2016. The ride is 280 miles from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles. Enjoy gorgeous ocean sunsets with new friends. Ride along quiet beach bike paths, skyline ridge roads, and scenic canyons, enjoying the balmy breeze. Eat fantastic meals with great company. Relax in comfortable hotels at the end of a day of riding. Early bird registration opens April 1.

Women of Wind and Energy Windpower Fellowship: May 23-26
The Rudd Mayer Memorial Fellowships support women to participate in Windpower, attending seminars on current wind energy issues, viewing state-of-the-art technology, meeting others in the renewable energy field, and connecting with employers about potential internships or permanent positions. Windpower 2016 will be held from May 23-26 in New Orleans, LA. The Fellowship covers the cost of travel to and from the Windpower conference site, conference registration (and included meals), and lodging. Find out more on the website here.

The Summer Institute on Sustainability and Energy Program: Deadline July 1
The Summer Institute on Sustainability and Energy (SISE) is a two-week intensive workshop and lecture series for students and professionals at the University of Illinois at Chicago. From August 4-16, a diverse body of participants will engage a broad spectrum of energy and sustainability-related topics through daily presentations, collaborative projects, mentoring activities, site visits, and networking opportunities with leading research institutions and companies in the digital technology and energy sectors. They will accept applications through July 1st. Application information, program information, and more can be found at their website. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Thomas Aláan uic.sise.admissions[at]gmail[dot]com, SISE Program Coordinator.

Climate Ride Summer Session: June 17 - July 10, 2016
The Climate Ride has a new program designed to engage young adults (ages 18-24) in the bike advocacy, conservation and sustainability movement. The 2016 inaugural ride is a 24-day, 1200-mile van-supported bike trip from Portland, OR to Santa Barbara, CA through some of the Pacific Coast’s most beautiful locales. In order to participate, riders must fundraise a minimum of $3,500 for the Climate Ride beneficiary organizations of their choice. There are more than 100 beneficiaries to choose fromSpace is limited to 20 participants. For more information and to register click here.

Sustainability Studies Minor
The minor incorporates courses offered by College Eight and departments across campus, student-initiated classes through the Education for Sustainable Living Program, and an interdisciplinary capstone. The minor is open to all UCSC students. For more information, click here.

Divestment Student Network People Of Color Caucus
The People of Color Caucus is a place for organizers of color in the divestment movement to meet, collaborate on shared projects, and support each other to build the Climate Justice movement the world needs. Check out their Purpose, Principles and how to get involved here. Divestors of color who are interested in learning more can fill out this quick membership form to be shared on their listserve, membership contact page, and Facebook group.

April 2016 Green Tip: Spring Cleaning

I don't know about you, fellow sustainabuddies, but this winter took a toll on the cleanliness of my apartment. Those long, cold nights left a lot of the mess out of sight and out of mind, and now is the time to wipe it all away! Thanks to some advice from our friends at the Sierra Club, I'll be making sure that my apartment gets clean without using harmful agents or unsustainable practices. I hope you too find the time to brighten up your home this month!

Clean Naturally

Why scrub counters, floors, and tubs with harsh chemicals that reduce indoor air quality and harm the environment when you can use a few common household items to get the job done? Some basic ingredients for DIY cleaners include baking soda, lemon, vinegar, salt, liquid soap, and hot water. Follow these recipes to create nontoxic scrubs for every occasion.

Choose Earth-Friendly Cleaning Products

You dump all sorts of fancy-smelling products into the machine with your clothes, but those commercial detergents are full of nasty chemicals that can end up in rivers and streams. Consider switching to a plant-based, biodegradable laundry soap (but beware of greenwashingand don't forget to read the instructions on the container, because you may be using much more detergent than necessary. Worried about your whites? Instead of chlorine bleach, scan the store's shelves for a nontoxic alternative -- and skip the fabric softener altogether.

Make a Green Window Wash

To clean those panes, fill a spray bottle with a vinegar and water mixture to make a DIY wash. If you've used conventional glass cleaners in the past, Care2 recommends adding soap or detergent to the mixture to cut the wax buildup left by commercial products. Scrub with newspapers to avoid streaking.

Read the full, original article here.

April 2016: Contests and Funding

Apply to UC Carbon Slam: Deadline April 10
University of California students are invited to apply to the Carbon Slam, a UC-wide competition taking place May 23rd at Xerox PARC in Silicon Valley. This system-wide event will bring students from all 10 UC campuses to present their climate change science and solution research in 3-minute pitches and posters in a live competition before a panel of esteemed judges and guests for a chance to win cash prizes. This event will highlight the important work that UC students and faculty are doing to understand the impacts of climate change and to develop new innovations, practices and policies that can help mitigate those impacts. The website and application portal can be found at carbonslam.org. Please email Sue Carter at carbon-slam[at]ucsc[dot]edu with any questions.

Queer Black Zine Submissions: Deadline April 10
Calling All Black Queer Geniuses: Bring your art, your brainstorms, your writings. The Michael Johnson Support Committee is putting together a zine on the intersections of sexuality, prison abolition, HIV criminalization, and queer black experience, and they are searching for your brilliance. Send submissions to gayshamesf[at]yahoo[dot]com. More information is available here.

Second Nature 2016 Climate Leadership Awards: Deadline April 25
The Second Nature Climate Leadership Awards, in partnership with USGBC's Center for Green Schools, recognize innovative and advanced leadership in sustainability, climate mitigation and resilience at signatory campuses of the Climate Leadership Commitments. They do so based on demonstrated advances in innovation, embedded opportunities and student preparedness with relation to sustainability and climate action. Applications are due by April 25 at 3:00pm Eastern.

Campus Sustainability Council Request for Proposals Available: Deadline May 6
The Campus Sustainability Council (CSC) would like to fund student organizations' sustainability projects or events in the upcoming year. The Spring 2016 funding round funding is available for Fall 2016 through Spring 2017. Proposals adhering to the criteria for student organizations and relevance to the Blueprint for a Sustainable Campus are eligible for funding. There are mandatory trainings before the deadline. Find out more on their website.

April 2016 Sustainability Profile: Rebekkah Scharff

 

Position Title(s):
Director, Sprout Up-Santa Cruz
Seed Librarian, UCSC Food Systems Working Group

What does “sustainability” mean to you?
Sustainability is first and foremost about people. For me, it means preserving cultures, knowledge, and natural resources so that future generations have the same access to them in the future, and can live physically and mentally-healthy lives as a result. Sustainability should be a social movement as much as it is environmental, of sustaining not only environmental but social and cultural livelihoods.

Why did you get involved with sustainability?
After leading field trips at Life Lab for an ENVS internship, I became really interested in organic farming and gardening. After participating in another Life Lab internship at Gault Elementary School, and volunteering with Sprout Up, I decided to completely change my major to environmental studies. I later declared a concentration in agro-ecology, where I found my passion for sustainable agriculture, and issues facing people of color in sustainability. While I have sometimes felt different as a POC in studying food and agriculture, I have found that my voice is important to lend to the significance of food, eating and environmentalism significant to my culture and others’.

How has sustainability related to your role(s) at UCSC?
In my work with the seed library, I help preserve and continue growing crop varieties that are adapted to the Santa Cruz region, and give them away for free, to sustain seed and food sovereignty in the UCSC and Santa Cruz community. In this way, food is sustainable from seed to fork. As the director of Sprout Up-Santa Cruz, one of my roles is training volunteers to be environmental education instructors. After studying how sustainability, especially the sustainable food movement, has so often been a wealthy and privileged movement, I taught this to the instructors as part of their training. In Sprout Up, we reach many low-income students and teach them about environmental sustainability. After studying food and social justice, I realized that many of the things we taught to the kids: waste management, local/non-local food, community gardening, imply very privileged notions of sustainability. I teach instructors to never shame the kids about what practices they do at home, what they eat, and actions beyond their control. I think that this is sustainability: empowering the next generations to be stewards of the environment, as culturally and socially appropriate.

How do you practice sustainability in your daily life?
I teach kids to love and appreciate the earth! (In return, some of them teach me Spanish!) I sustain the next generation of caregivers for the planet, by evoking interest and love for the natural world and healthy food. In addition, I try to listen to people, learn and read as much as I can, about diverse perspectives in the sustainability movement. This includes what I learn from my elementary students, as well as my peers and family. I wish to question and change the discourse of sustainability from making informed individual choices, to sustainable ways of living that different people practice in their own ways.

Have you had a favorite sustainability moment at UCSC?
Once while preparing for a Life Lab field trip at CASFS, my supervisor pulled a kohlrabi out of the ground. I had never seen or heard of a kohlrabi before, let alone tasted it, or so I thought. We prepared and ate it, and it was delicious; I was so stoked about how it looked and tasted. I bought some and brought it home to my parents later, and my mom told me that my grandmother (now 95) used to grow enormous kohlrabis in the backyard of her house, in San Francisco. In addition, she said that I had eaten kohlrabi when she had cooked it, but I had never seen it in the ground or eaten it raw. I realized how disconnected I had been from my Chinese culture’s food in that moment; I didn’t recognize a food I had eaten before, and which was culturally relevant to me. As I continued at UCSC, I realized how food is culture, and how preserving cooking and food is cultural knowledge, which my grandmother passed down to my mom, and her to me.

Are there sustainability practices you’ve picked up specific to your background or culture?
I do not think I have “picked up” specific sustainability practices, but recognized them as sustainability practices themselves, while at UCSC. I realized that learning to cook from my mom and grandmother is sustainability, of preserving food and diet that is not only healthy but cultural, both of which enhance happiness and health. In addition, that my Americanized immigrant family still holds on to their culture overall, by practicing tradition and celebrating holidays, is sustainability. This is especially true of food culture; even when they still love convenient American food, they still prepare their traditional dishes. In addition, my older family’s reliance on herbs and food as medicine is sustainable as well, sustaining the health of their bodies through preventative and holistic methods, and passing this knowledge to the future generations. My mother, grandmother, and aunt all love to garden, which I also learned to value and practice in college. Being disconnected from my family at UCSC, I learned to hold onto and value the food, medicine and traditions of my culture, and also defend them. I cannot count how many times that euro-centric foods like tomatoes and lettuce were labeled as “normal”, while bok choy and napa cabbage were called “crazy” or “different” while attending UCSC, which feels alienating. I think I’ve picked up an appreciation of my culture’s foods and our own sustainability practices, and also the recognition of many different discourses of what sustainability means, some more dominant than others.

Ecology Action Hiring Sustainable Transportation Intern

The following information was submitted by Ecology Action.

Organization/Agency: Ecology Action

Supervisor/Sponsor: Emily Gomez

Sponsor Title: Program Specialist, Sustainable Transportation Division

Address: 877 Cedar Street, Suite 240, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Email: egomez [at] ecoact [dot] org

Phone: 831.515.1328

Fax: 831.425.1404

Website: http://ecoactbike.org

Who We Are:
Ecology Action is a Santa Cruz based non-profit who has been a leader for over 40 years in empowering individuals, businesses, and communities to take actions today that achieve environmental and economic sustainability. Ecology Action’s Sustainable Transportation Division runs numerous well-known community programs including Bike To Work/School events, youth bike programs, electric vehicle public workshops, and other sustainable transportation education and outreach programs. We are currently looking for enthusiastic and dedicated individuals to join our fun and dynamic team!

Internship Description:
Ecology Action’s Sustainable Transportation Division is in need of a dedicated intern to help promote active forms of transportation that represent healthier and greener options. This intern position would work most closely with Emily Gomez to develop education and outreach materials, assist with our countywide Bike To Work/School program (with upwards of 7,000 participants), help organize youth bike events such as monthly Bike/Walk to School programs at elementary and middle schools throughout Santa Cruz County, and help organize community workshops to educate people about alternative transportation options.

Primary Intern Responsibilities:

• Help coordinate volunteers and event logistics for Bike to Work/School Days 
• Assist with the creation of education materials such as flyers and event posters 
• Conduct community outreach at various events such as Farmers Markets and other community events to help promote programs and advocacy campaigns 
• Maintain online social media event pages 
• Support staff at community workshops and forums 
• Various other tasks related to Sustainable Transportation topics and programs

Hours and Duration: 

Part-time, approximately 6-12 hours per week, occasional early mornings and weekend days. Intern support needed for Fall, Winter and Spring quarters. Ecology Action is most in need of intern support from August-November and March through June so those that are available during this time frame will be given priority. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Interest and experience in education and community outreach to youth and/or the general public 
• Interest in promoting sustainable and active transportation • Energetic, helpful and positive attitude 
• Ability to communicate professionally, both in writing and orally • Thorough and detail-oriented 
• Computer skills: Competence in Microsoft Word and Excel, web browsers, email and graphics programs 
• Punctual 

Compensation: Academic course credit. 

Thank you for your interest in joining our dynamic team here at Ecology Action. We look forward to hearing from you! 

For more information or to contact staff regarding this internship opportunity please contact Emily Gomez, Program Specialist, Sustainable Transportation Division egomez@ecoact.org or 831-515-1328.

Food Waste Buffet

Ever wonder how much food is wasted at the Dining Halls? A team of students, including UCSC Dining student employee Jessica Campos, Student Sustainability Advisors in the colleges, and the Student Environmental Center, have been hosting “Waste Buffets” across the campus Dining Halls to find out.

With the help of other dining hall workers and volunteers, the team collects all of the food that students leave on their plate and do not eat.  Instead of sending that food to be composted right away, they measure how much is wasted and assembles full plates of food for display. This “Waste Buffet” is effective in showing people the potential that their wasted food has in being meals in hopes of discouraging food waste.


According to their results from last quarter, Crown/Merrill wasted 2.91 oz of food per person per day; Cowell/Stevenson wasted 3.66 oz of food per person per day; College 8/Oakes wasted 2.9 oz of food per person per day; and Porter wasted 2.14 oz of food per person per day. If you multiple those per-person amounts by the number of students who visit the dining halls each day throughout the year, it adds up to a whole lot of food waste!

We spoke with Jessica Campos to learn more about she became involved with this project. She has an active role in the sustainability movement and plans on incorporating that experience into her goals for future waste buffets. As an Environmental Studies and Biology major, Jessica began working at Mesa Verde gardens where she connected with the Live Oak community through helping with drip irrigation, dry composting, gardening, and translating for Spanish speakers.  She then moved onto work with Sprout Up, a non-profit where volunteers visit elementary schools for free environmental education. With Sprout Up, she was an education liaison which entailed teaching to specific communities. For example, organic food is the ideal choice for the environment and our health but it is not always financially feasible for everyone.  Jessica says that “you can’t just tell low income students to go organic,” but there are still ways to be more connected to the food systems without spending money.

To demonstrate the interconnectedness of our food systems, Jessica wants to collaborate more with the farm to have more produce pop-ups at the Waste Buffets.  She wants to show students that “the Dining Halls are the kitchen and the farms are OUR farms.” This will connect our relationship to our food with food waste. She is also planning on working on a large poster to compare food waste at Dining versus food waste nationwide.

Some tips on reducing food waste:

• Try a sample
• Eat smaller portions, then come back for seconds
• Any feedback for making our dining halls more sustainable? Write it on comment cards for the Dining Hall​.
• Take what you like; Eat what you take

Want to see more Waste Buffets on campus?  Email Jessica at jercampo [at] ucsc [dot] edu

Carbon Slam: Deadline April 10th

The University of California is sponsoring a UC-wide Carbon Slam event on May 23rd at Xerox PARC in Silicon Valley.

This system-wide event will bring students from all 10 University of California campuses to present their climate change science and solution research in 3-minute pitches and posters in a live competition before a panel of esteemed judges and guests for a chance to win cash prizes.

This event will highlight the important work that UC students and faculty are doing to understand the impacts of climate change and to develop new innovations, practices and policies that can help mitigate those impacts.

UC students and teams interested in being selected to attend and compete in the Carbon Slam event can submit their application through the system-wide portal at carbonslam.org. The deadline to apply is April 10th.

Anyone with questions with questions about the application, initiative or live event can contact Sue Carter at carbon-slam [at] ucsc [dot] edu. 

This event is sponsored by the Faculty Engagement and Education working group of the Global Climate Leadership Council as part of the University of California President’s Climate Neutrality Initiative.

Faculty Workshop: Incorporating Sustainability & Climate Change into UCSC Courses

Bringing sustainability and climate change into the curriculum could be as simple as having a field trip on the UCSC Campus Natural Reserves, or doing a one-day lesson on how climate change impacts or interacts with the subject you are teaching. The workshop will provide space for discussing and sharing knowledge about sustainability, approaches for integrating themes into courses, and relevant tools and resources.

Faculty interested in integrating sustainability or climate change into existing curriculum are invited to a one-day workshop Friday, May 20th 9am- 3 pm at the Digital Arts Research Center's Light Lab Room 306. Faculty will receive $1000 for participating in the workshop to help revise syllabi and course plans. Funds can be used for assistance from a GSR, instructional media, field trips, guest speaker honoraria, lab materials, etc. They will also receive $200 for sharing accomplishments back with the group next year.

Faculty from all disciplines are encouraged to apply, no prior experience with environmental and sustainability issues is necessary. We especially encourage faculty to apply from disciplines where sustainability and climate change are not obviously pertinent to the course content. This workshop is open to all UCSC faculty although space is limited and priority will be given to Senate faculty.

Interested instructors please email asteves@ucsc.edu to pre-register. Deadline to register is April 5th. Lunch and snacks are provided.

April 2016: Internships, Employment & Volunteering

Internships

Seeking Mentors & Students for Provost Sustainability Internship - $1500 + 12 units!
Are you interested in working to make our campus more environmentally and socially sustainable? The PSI program is a great way to get involved! The program pairs students with staff and faculty mentors to plan and implement a year-long campus sustainability project. Students receive internship credit and a $1500 scholarship upon completion of the program. Environmental Studies Senior Exit credit can be fulfilled with this program. Share this opportunity on Facebook here. Learn more on the website.
  >Student applications are due April 28th at 5pm; student applications are available here.
  >Mentor applications for departments to host an intern are due April 15th at 5pm; mentor applications are available here.

Sustainability Office is Hiring for 2016-17!
The Sustainability Office will be hiring for a number of paid student positions on teams such as the Zero Waste Team, the Carbon Fund, the Education & Outreach Team, and the Green Office Certification Team. You can learn more about these opportunities on our website.

Campus Food & Garden Guide Intern
Want to contribute to the creation of this year's annual Campus Food & Garden Guide? Food Systems Working Group is hiring an intern to support this project. For more information and to apply, please contact Alyssa at abillys[at]ucsc[dot]edu. See previous Food & Garden Guides online here.

Spring CASFS Internships through Environmental Studies
The Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems will be hosting 2 unit and 5 unit internships in spring quarter on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-12pm. Apply through the Environmental Studies Internship Office. Contact Alyssa at abillys[at]ucsc[dot]edu for more information.

Internships with Stevenson Garden
Spend time outdoors in the sun this spring quarter with a 2-unit Stevenson Garden internship! Interns get hands-on gardening experience and contribute to the growth and abundance of the Stevenson Garden. Credit is through the Environmental Studies Internship office. Contact Dave Shaw at daveshawlistens[at]gmail[dot]com for more information.

Environmental Studies Internships Open to All Majors: Applications due April 6 & April 8 
The Environmental Studies has many different internship opportunities available for spring. These 2 and 5-unit internships are open to all majors. Review some of the internships and learn how to apply on the Environmental Studies website here. Contact Chris Krohn for more information and additional internship listings at ckrohn [at] ucsc [dot] edu.

Sustainable Transportation Intern for Ecology Action
Ecology Action’s Sustainable Transportation Division is in need of a dedicated intern to help promote active forms of transportation that represent healthier and greener options. This position would also provide support for Bike Month in May and Bike to Work Day on May 12. More information can be found here.

America Walks Walking College Fellowships: Application due April 15 8pm ET
The Walking College is an interactive, online educational program for walkable community advocates. America Walks will award 25 Walking College Fellowships this spring to community change agents working alone, in organizations, or in professions such as public health, planning, transportation, or education. The curriculum has been designed to nurture the development of the skills that are necessary to become effective change agents. 

Naturalist Internship with Sierra Outdoor School
Interns will teach 4th through 6th-grade students science concepts and lead team building activities in an outdoor setting in the Sierra Nevada foothills. This position involves leading small and large groups in day classes, field trips, and night program activities. For more information, click here.

PolicyLink Summer Internships 
PolicyLink interns are highly qualified emerging professionals and leaders who are committed to racial equity and social justice and interested in our "lifting up what works" approach to policy change. Each intern plays an integral role in helping our organization further policy impact through a commitment to research, communications, capacity building, and advocacy. We rely on their research, writing, communications, and analytical skills to advance our policy work, and benefit tremendously from their contributions. More information is available here.

Black-backed Woodpecker Research in the Sierra Nevada
Field research assistant needed for radio-telemetry work in Plumas National Forest, California. Send a cover letter and resume (with contact information for 2-3 references) to Andrew Stillman (andrew.stillman[at]uconn[dot]edu). Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Hummingbird Physiology Research in the Sierra Nevada
Field research assisntant needed for hummingbird physiology work in Truckee, California.
To apply, send a cover letter and resume (with contact information for 2-3 references) to Austin Spence (Austin.spence[at]uconn[dot]edu). Applications will be reviewed as they are  received.

Employment

Take Back the Tap Seeking Coordinator
Take Back the Tap, a campaign working to end the sale of single use plastic water bottles on campus, is currently looking for new organizers and outreaching for candidates for a paid coordinator position for the 2016-2017 school year. Organizers and the coordinator will have the chance to work with outreach, event planning, fiscal, and community organizing projects. If you are interested in organizing with Take Back the Tap, contact us at tbttucsc-group[at]ucsc[dot]edu for more information about meeting time and place.

Event Coordinator for Bike Santa Cruz County: Application due April 12
Local bicycle advocacy organization Bike Santa Cruz County seeks an experienced membership and event coordinator with a passion for active transportation to engage and grow its membership through community events and programs. This includes planning established large and small events as well as being responsible for managing the organization's membership program. More information can be found here.

Outreach Coordinator for Sierra Club Santa Cruz: Application due April 15
Sierra Club Santa Cruz is hiring a part time Outreach Coordinator for the local group. The purpose of this role is to further the mission of the Club by providing day to day outreach support. Interested applicants should email their resume and cover letter to the group at sierraclubsantacruz [at] gmail [dot] com; more information can be found here.

Food Recovery Network Positions: Applications due April 8
Food Recovery Network is the largest student movement against food waste and hunger in America. The network is currently seeking to fill the positions of Communications Associate, Programming Associate, and 2016-2017 Fellowship Cohort. Position descriptions and application instructions can be found here. Applications accepted on a rolling basis until April 8.

Summer Camp Instructor with Avid4 Adventure
Avid4 Adventure is seeking applicants for the 2016 summer session who have a passion for working with kids and experience in some or all of the following activities: hiking, biking, rock climbing, paddling, and outdoor education. The ideal candidates are ready to inspire youth to live an active, outdoor lifestyle and have a summer full of fun! Find out more about the various positions available here.

Center for Biological Diversity: Numerous Positions Available
The Center for Biological Diversity is a 501(c)3 nonprofit conservation organization with 991,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. They have more than 100 staff in offices in Arizona; California; Colorado; Florida;, New Mexico; Oregon; and Washington, D.C. The Center is hiring for 10 different positions throughout their offices. For more information, visit their website.

Search for Employment Opportunities on High Country News Website
High Country News is a nonprofit 501(c)3 independent media organization that covers the important issues and stories that define the American West. Its mission is to inform and inspire people – through in-depth journalism – to act on behalf of the West's diverse natural and human communities. Their website features an employment and education listing related to conservation, outdoor recreation, and more; visit the website here.

Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Employment Listing
SACNAS is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Santa Cruz and the largest multicultural and multidisciplinary diversity in STEM organization in the country. SACNAS has a database of professional job opportunities here.

Energy Manager for Pomona College in Claremont, CA
The Energy Manager provides leadership to the College’s energy program and utility systems and to advance Pomona’s Sustainability Action Plan. This position requires a Bachelors degree in a related technical or engineering discipline or equivalent career experience, Energy Manager Certification strongly preferred and LEED AP or ability to obtain within 18 months. For more information, see here.

Electric Vehicle Program Associate for the International Council on Clean Transportation
The ICCT seeks a highly motivated, self-directed person to contribute to a wide range of research on electric vehicle technology and policies to promote advanced efficiency and plug-in electric vehicles. This position will be located in San Francisco, California. Find more information here.

Golden Gate Palms Career Positions Available
Posistions include: Nursery Manager, Propagation and Production Specialist, Delivery and Installation Specialist. Email resumes to gary[at]goldengatepalms[dot]com.

Volunteering

Earth Day Volunteers Needed
Earth Day Santa Cruz is an annual event to raise environmental awareness; address concerns; showcase solutions; and present balanced modes of living for the well-being of each individual, the community, and the planet. Earth Day Santa Cruz needs about 75 volunteers to help promote, set up and support the booths at the event. If you are interested in volunteering for this great event, check out the list of volunteer positions and sign up here. For more information about the event, visit the website. 

Second Annual Campus Cleanup Day
The Campus Cleanup Committee is happy to announce the Second Annual Campus Cleanup Day on May 1st, 2016 from 10am-1pm. The purpose of this event is to bring students and campus users together to shed light on the littering issues on campus and to help preserve the beauty of this campus. Last year 150 volunteers collected 285 pounds of litter! This year we are hoping to involve more students and campus users to make this event an even greater success.
To start our day, we will enjoy breakfast at the Quarry Plaza including Santa Cruz Bagelry bagels, fresh fruit and other snacks. In addition, the first 125 participants will receive a FREE Campus Cleanup t-shirt.  To register for this exciting event CLICK HERE!

Volunteer with the Student Environmental Center (SEC)
The SEC is a great way for students to grow as individuals, learn leadership skills, and gain invaluable work experience. Volunteers learn about current campus projects and policies and have the opportunity to participate or take on leadership roles in many topic areas. To get involved, please email seclead-group[at]ucsc[dot]edu, visit the website at sec.enviroslug.org, or attend General Gatherings to meet members and learn about specific volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer with Sea Slugs, an Ocean Conservation Org 
Sea Slugs is an ocean-minded campus organization dedicated to environmental stewardship. It is an excellent opportunity for students (both undergrad and grad) to engage in the greater community through public service while making a positive impact on the local environment. For information about meeting times and opportunities, contact Sea Slugs at seaslug.ucsc[at]gmail[dot]com or visit their website.

Join Banana Slugs for Animals 
Banana Slugs for Animals welcomes all to their weekly meetings. During the meetings they discuss animal rights and plan events! If you would like to know more please email slugsforanimals[at]gmail[dot]com or visit their Facebook page.

Sprout Up
Sprout Up is environmental education for the next generation. Sprout Up is an organization that teaches environmental science and sustainability to 1st and 2nd grade students in elementary schools all around Santa Cruz. To learn about joining Sprout Up, email communitysc[at]sproutup[dot]org.

Arboretum Volunteer Gardening Opportunities 
The Arboretum has volunteer gardening hours throughout the week. Visit their website for details.

The Bike Church Community Repair Shop Seeking Volunteers
Have a knack for cycling, biking and learning to maintain bikes? Interested in learning to divert bike parts from the waste stream? Then this is the opportunity for you! Click here for more information.

Volunteer with Coastal Watershed Council
The Coastal Watershed Council invites you to join its efforts to protect and preserve local watersheds! If you are interested in volunteering on the San Lorenzo River, doing water quality monitoring through programs like Snapshot Day, First Flush, Urban Watch or any of CWC’s other events and programs, please visit their website.

Call for Applications: Sierra Youth Coalition’s Executive Committee 2016-2017 
Sierra Youth Coalition is currently recruiting dedicated, empowered and proactive youth leaders for a seat on its Executive Committee. The official decision-making body, the committee is comprised of nine youth from across the U.S and is responsible for shaping the Sierra Youth Coalition's direction, organizational governance and supporting the staff team.