WeatherizeDC Internship

The mission of The DC Project is to advance economic and environmental justice by creating clean energy careers for people who need them most. The DC Project applies cutting-edge organizing tools and tactics to mobilize community interest in home weatherization, creating economic savings, environmental benefits, and new green jobs. The DC Project is a "Think+Action Tank", testing and refining community-based demand creation methodology through its anchor program, WeatherizeDC, and developing models that can be replicated in communities across the nation to ignite the home energy efficiency market and move closer towards an equitable green economy.

WeatherizeDC, the anchor program of The DC Project, works with hundreds of D.C. residents to mobilize one of America's greatest assets-community leadership-to unlock the promise of the home energy efficiency industry for creating environmental benefits and good green jobs. WeatherizeDC recruits, develops, and trains community leaders and volunteers from neighborhood groups, faith-based networks and campus activists to engage, educate, and activate their communities to convince homeowners to invest in weatherization.

WeatherizeDC identifies homeowners interested in weatherization and passes them along to local home performance contractors, who deliver the home retrofit services. WeatherizeDC leverages the increased business it creates-through its community organizing efforts-for partnering contractors to ensure that new jobs created translate into career-track, sustainable-wage work for District residents who are most in need of employment.

Position Overview:

WeatherizeDC Interns will work closely with WeatherizeDC leadership to recruit like-minded individuals and organizations to help build teams focused on weatherizing our community. Interns will have several opportunities to build a strong skill set that will help them excel in political campaigns, issue campaigns and non-profit sector jobs. They will work side-by-side with a team of talented and experienced organizers in a dynamic campaign atmosphere, working for justice and effective social change.

Responsibilities: 

WeatherizeDC Interns assist in:

• Organizing volunteers to complete direct homeowner contact, including phone banking, door-to-door canvassing, direct outreach at community events, and participation in energy meetings, in which leaders educate homeowners about the benefits of residential weatherization and strategize with them about how to reach neighborhood weatherization goals
• Leading Volunteer Energy Assessments, WeatherizeDC's innovative ‘hands-on' engagement method, by training volunteers to become knowledgeable and trusted energy efficiency educators and assessors
• Supporting the field communications team by creating content for marketing materials, training documents, emails and new-media outreach, and the WeatherizeDC website.
• Conducting research in a variety of spheres, including local and federal energy efficiency policy and the landscapes of DC's political arena, home performance market, and workforce development community.

This WeatherizeDC Internship will provide valuable experience for individuals interested in pursuing work in community organizing, the non-profit sector, politics and campaigns, and environmental advocacy. WeatherizeDC Interns will walk away with an understanding of the essential tools, processes, and strategies of an effective field campaign, community-based initiative, and a fast-growing non-profit.

Qualifications: 

Students with an interest in energy, environment, social justice, environmental justice, and/or organizing should apply. Campaign experience, political or issue-based, is preferred.

Compensation: WeatherizeDC Interns in the past have received academic credit or work study for their work with the organization. For more information related to this, please direct inquiries to your respective school.

If you are not from the Washington, D.C. area, please explore housing options with relatives or friends as soon as possible. If you are unable to find and fund housing, precluding you from participating in the WeatherizeDC Internship, please inform The DC Project via email.

WeatherizeDC Interns will be expected to work 5-25 hours a week. A few semester-long pay stipends are available for interns who demonstrate experience, capability, enthusiasm, and are able to commit over 15 hours a week. In addition to in-office hours, fellows may fulfill weekly hour requirements by attending community organizing events held in the evenings or on weekends. Start and end dates are flexible, with a preference for a September 22 start date and a commitment of 2.5 months, or until December 17, 2010. Please include your availability in your cover letter.

To Apply:

Applicants should Please send the following (include "WeatherizeDC Intern" in the subject line) by September 10, 2010:

• Resume
• Cover letter

Use your application materials to explain your interest in WeatherizeDC and its mission; please highlight any exposure you have to the Washington, D.C. community and the dates of your availability over the fall. Your cover letter should explain the skills, experience, and interests that qualify you to fulfill the expectations outlined above. If you are applying for more than one position with the DC Project, please be sure to rank your interests.