Tree Equity Internship

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Eugene-Springfield NAACP Tree Equity Internship

Dates: July 11th- September 12th (10 weeks)

Time commitment: 10-15 hours per week

Compensation: Stipend 

Contact: eloise@naacplanecounty.org

Application deadline: Friday, June 24th, 2022

Project Background 

Trees provide a myriad of benefits to people including increased liveability of neighborhoods, carbon sequestration, bioremediation, food production, connection to the earth and so much more. There is also great structural inequality in where trees are planted, maintained and thrive. A group of stakeholders representing the NAACP, City of Springfield, City of Eugene, Friends of Trees, and local watershed councils have come together to discuss solutions and action items to move forward together on this issue. Four possible projects  are identified with a strong emphasis on action in Springfield, where the average tree equity score is low. 

  1. Advocacy
  2. Property owner outreach
  3. Permaculture style food forest / community garden in Springfield
  4. Other tree planting and tree maintenance

We are seeking an intern to help lead this project during the Summer on behalf of the Eugene-Springfield NAACP. 

Responsibilities 

  1. Work with the NAACP ECJ Coordinator (eloise@naacplanecounty.org) to create a plan aligned with one or more of the specific initiatives listed above. This could look like:
    • Organizing community members to testify at Springfield City Council and advocate for more funding for tree planting and maintenance 
    • Conduct surveys to gather community input 
    • Work with the NAACP Garden Coordinator to create a Springfield community garden with a specialized “Food Forest”
    • Coordinating tree planting events and recruiting volunteers
  2. Coordinate and facilitate meetings with project partners (City of Springfield, City of Eugene, Friends of Trees, and local watershed councils) 
  3. Attend monthly NAACP ECJ Committee meetings to report about project process 

Qualifications

  1. Interest/ passion for local environmental and racial justice
  2. Lived experience with environmental and racial justice issues 
  3. Strong written and verbal communication skills 
  4. Willingness to learn and have fun!

To apply: Email eloise@naacplanecounty.org with a cover letter and resume. Black, Indigenous, and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply!