Rural Youth Organizing Fellow

Summary

Join the Sierra Club Maine Chapter as a Rural Youth Organizing Fellow and work part-time (up to 20 hours/week) for 10 weeks. This remote position, based in rural Maine, partners with JustME for JustUS (JMJU) to engage youth in climate justice work. You will lead community projects, build networks, and facilitate inclusive dialogues. The ideal candidate possesses strong communication and collaboration skills, experience working with diverse groups, and a passion for climate justice. No prior organizing experience is needed, but a willingness to learn is essential. Compensation is $21/hour.

Requirements

• Experiences holding respectful and thoughtful conversations with people across differences, including political identity, race, class, ability, and education
• The belief that all people, particularly youth, should have a voice in the political process
• Eagerness to work collaboratively with a team and with community partners
• Ability to organize and manage multiple project deadlines and community connections
• Ability to identify and amplify local community needs and local organizers, as well as design projects aimed at addressing those needs (with support from staff at JMJU and the Sierra Club Maine Chapter)
• Familiarity with youth (defined as ages 15-30 years old) communities
• Equity Analysis and Practice. You are aware of your group identities and how they have shaped your life and experiences at work. You have an analysis of how racism and other forms of oppression in society impact relationships, systems and culture. You bring experience and skills for working effectively with colleagues across group identities and position/role

Responsibilities

• Attend weekly JMJU and Sierra Club Maine team meetings and regular individual check-in meetings with the JMJU Director and Sierra Club Legislative and Political Strategist. Meetings will be held virtually and can be flexible depending on individuals’ schedules
• Build an understanding of climate justice and intersectional organizing principles. By the end of this fellowship, you will have the knowledge and skills to lead inclusive dialogues, facilitate organizing meetings that make others feel welcome and heard, and effectively build diverse coalitions
• Build out JMJU and Sierra Club Maine’s network in their county and identify areas for collaboration with other organizations, town officials, and individuals with shared goals
• Collaborate across political differences to find shared values around land, place, and community
• Assist in the facilitation of projects that encourage climate justice thinking. These can include
• Community Conversations: lead community stakeholders in climate conversations, with a focus on bringing in young folks with a diverse array of viewpoints, identities, and values that have been traditionally alienated from the climate movement
• Storytelling
• Civic forums/teach ins
• Additional projects that align with JMJU and Sierra Club Maine’s missions and are of interest to the intern based on their community’s needs

Benefits

$21 - $21 an hour