2025 Arlie Schardt Memorial Fellowship Program-Food and Ag Fellow

OVERVIEW: 

Friends of the Earth is a hard-hitting, progressive, environmental organization that pulls no punches and speaks sometimes uncomfortable truth to power. It’s an approach that has worked for five decades to produce important victories that help protect our planet and its people. We’re part of Friends of the Earth International, the world’s largest federation of grassroots environmental groups, working in more than 70 countries on today’s most urgent environmental and social issues. 

FOE envisions a world where we live within the ability of the planet to sustain life, and in which all people live with dignity, health and equity. We believe that both environmental crises, as well as widespread social injustice, are intertwined symptoms of flawed ideological, economic and political systems that are violating peoples’ rights, perpetuating oppression, failing to meet the needs of people, and destroying the planet.  

We believe that increasing racial diversity within environmental organizations is critical to the future success of our movement. Our Fellowship program is designed to increase the long-term effectiveness of FOE and the environmental movement by operating an inspiring and fulfilling fellowship program that builds skills and relevant job experience for people of color and members of underrepresented communities. 

Our vision of the Arlie Schardt Memorial (ASM) Fellowship program is to create career experience, pathways, and opportunities for Black, Indigenous, People of Color in underrepresented communities who are interested in environmental advocacy. Arlie W. Schardt was a pioneering voice for the environment and witness to some of the most seminal events in American history as a Time magazine correspondent traveling with Martin Luther King while covering the civil rights movement. Throughout his peripatetic 50-year career, Schardt reported on and acted on behalf of social justice. Al Gore states, “Through his remarkably diverse career, Arlie Schardt lived a life of purpose and impact,” said the former Vice President. “He was a champion for civil rights and an early pioneer of the environmental movement. I valued greatly his commitment to public service and will always be grateful for the invaluable roles he played on my Presidential campaign.” Schardt joined Friends of the Earth (FOE), serving as Chairman of the Board from 2009 until June 2019 when he was named chair emeritus in honor of his service. According to Erich Pica, president of FOE, “Arlie was instrumental in tripling the size of the organization and broadening its mandate to combine his concerns for social and racial justice with environmentalism.” 

For our program, we are prioritizing communities that are underrepresented in the mainstream environmental movement. Women, people of color, and youth are highly encouraged to apply. If you do not identify as part of an underrepresented community, that is not a disqualification, and we encourage you to apply as well. 

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP: 

Each year, we welcome a cohort of five Fellows to work with us full-time for six months. This year the Fellowship program will be a remote position with a potential opportunity for an in-person retreat in DC. Fellows will receive compensation of $25 per hour, along with a $1,000 stipend distributed in two installments throughout the program. The fellowship begins in March 2025 and ends in September 2025. 

Fellows are placed with our Communications, Food & Agriculture, Oceans & Vessels, or Economic Policy teams. In addition to substantive work with the teams, the Fellowship program also includes networking and career development opportunities. 

About our Food and Agriculture Team and Fellowship Position: 

The Food and Agriculture program works to rapidly transition our food system to one that is regenerative, healthy, and just. Our fellow will assist our AgTech campaign, which works to transform public policy to establish appropriate safety assessment and regulations for agriculture technology, such as digital agriculture and genetic engineering, and products such as GMO crops, insects, soil, and animals; and to keep poorly regulated agricultural pesticides and GMOs out of our agricultural system.  We work to advance regenerative organic and agroecological farming systems that are inherently healthier and that pose fewer risks for people, pollinators, animals, and the planet. 

The fellow will become an integral member of our dynamic Food and Agriculture Team and gain valuable skills and experience in research, strategic campaign development, online and traditional media communications, corporate and non-profit engagement, and public outreach, education and organizing on the cutting edge of environmental advocacy. 

This position will introduce the fellow to a wide range of colleagues in environmental, social justice and legislative areas. The fellow will work in government, corporate and non-profit circles and has the opportunity to become familiar with how these different entities work.  

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

•  Writing: Develop and write outreach materials and action guidelines. These materials will assist in the broader education about digital agriculture, AI, genetically modified agricultural inputs and their impacts on our food system, social justice, and biodiversity.  

• Researching: Conduct research and analysis to develop factsheets, web content and other campaign materials to educate allies, opinion leaders, policymakers, the press, and the public. 

• Planning and Organizing: Support the implementation of strategic campaign plans and assist in planning and coordinating virtual and in-person events, such as webinars, local actions and public comments. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

No specific academic or professional experience is required, but we are looking for people who are passionate about the environment and/or social justice. An environmental background, and previous (volunteer or paid) experience in non-profit organizations, advocacy, political campaigns are pluses. 

Qualified applicants must be: 

• At least 18 years of age 

• Authorized to work in the U.S. without visa sponsorship 

• Committed to environmental and social justice 

• Able to work well in team and independently  

• Motivated, and willing to learn and take initiative 

• Able to use Microsoft Office 365 products such as Excel and Word, and Google applications 

Friends of the Earth is an equal opportunity employer that encourages applications from women, people of color, and other members of underrepresented groups who will contribute to the diversity of its staff.  In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.