2025 Arlie Schardt Memorial Program Communications 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 Communications Department and Fellowship Position: 

The Communications Department maintains Friends of the Earth’s brand and works to tell the organization’s stories, using traditional, social, digital, and visual means to achieve campaign objectives. At FOE, the Communications department encompasses press and traditional media, web and social media, graphics and multimedia. We develop communications strategies for the organization’s campaigns and work with our colleagues to share their important work with the world. Working closely with our colleagues in the programs departments, we craft messaging and create visuals that help audiences understand wonky, complex issues that impact people and the planet. 

The ASM Communications Fellow will work directly with FOE’s Digital Communications Manager to develop content for the organization’s social media feeds and websites. The Fellow will play a crucial role in creating content that highlights ongoing and new campaign work. The Fellow will work in collaboration with the design team and programs staff to brainstorm and outline written, video, and graphic design content.   

RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Outline posts and draft copy for FOE’s social media feeds based on incoming requests from campaign staff   

• Work with other members of the Communications Department to brainstorm and develop creative ideas to showcase FOE’s programmatic work on social media  

• Write scripts and film oneself for video content that will be shared on FOE’s social media feeds   

• Draft content for FOE and FOE Action’s websites, including victory stories that highlight campaign wins and SEO content to draw in organic users   

• Participate in regular strategy meetings between the digital communications and the design/multimedia teams of the Communications Department. 

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.  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Prior experience with social media and being filmed for content is preferred

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.