Legislative Fellow

ABOUT THE GREENLINING INSTITUTE

The Greenlining Institute envisions a future where communities of color can build wealth, live in healthy places filled with economic opportunity, and are ready to meet the challenges posed by climate change. With equity practice and systems change guiding us, we incubate and advocate for new ideas and build bridges with diverse communities and partners to ensure that race is never a barrier to opportunity. Greenlining is committed to building and maintaining a diverse staff and a welcoming workplace. We encourage womxn, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and persons with disabilities to apply.

POLICY FOCUS AREA

California consistently serves as a leading example of influential, progressive decision-making, setting an example for the rest of the nation on what equitable policy can look like. When it comes to The Greenlining Institute’s legislative priorities, we take California’s role as a leader seriously. A Legislative Fellow will help advance the organization's legislative and budget priorities, including developing a political strategy.

The Greenlining Institute has a record of legislative success. Most recently its passage of SB 253 (Wiener, 2023) a globally recognized climate emission reporting standard and AB 302 (Ward, 2023) requiring government agencies to report how their use of algorithms are making high-risk decisions, such as for housing, healthcare or access to public benefits.

As a Legislative Fellow, you will have the opportunity to incubate original policy proposals, understand the state budget process, lobby key elected officials, establish a network within the State Legislature, and build relationships with stakeholders that ultimately advance our policy agenda. Most importantly, you will have the opportunity to strengthen your understanding of California’s legislative and political process, while learning about Greenlining’s policy priorities.

ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

The Greenlining Institute’s Leadership Academy Fellowship is an 11-month training and experiential learning program for early career leaders seeking to gain hands-on public policy experience and invest in their personal and professional growth. Fellows are integrated into one of Greenlining's policy teams to develop, plan, and implement the organization's policy and advocacy efforts while they simultaneously work with the Leadership Academy to focus on the skills to support their personal growth and deepen their leadership perspective. We're looking for individuals who have a strong commitment to racial equity and social justice for communities of color and can demonstrate a sincere interest in building themselves into true race equity leaders. Our offices are based in Oakland, CA and participants will be expected to attend in-person throughout the program.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday April 5, 2024

Fellowship Program Dates: September 9, 2024 - August 8, 2025

MAJOR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Public Policy Development & Advocacy

• Deepens and applies race equity lens to analyze and develop policy solutions that remove barriers for historically redlined communities
• Leads a substantive public policy assignment (research project, report development, landscape analysis, stakeholder relationship management, coalition management, etc.) to advance the team’s advocacy objectives for the year
• Develops, drafts, and publishes public policy writings including but not limited to policy memos, policy reports, research project, data collection, policy briefs, business memos, public comments, blog posts
• Delivers oral presentations for internal and external forums including Greenlining’s annual lobby day with Sacramento legislators/staffers, stakeholder convenings, Leadership Academy graduation
• Facilitates meetings with community, government, and business leaders to drive our advocacy forward

Leadership Development

• Participates in all leadership development workshops to learn and apply a holistic (mind, body, spirit) and equitable approach to leadership
• Learns unique leadership style, values, vision and purpose through self-reflection exercises, goal-setting activities and 1:1 coaching
• Brings lived experience to cohort and organizational conversations to offer innovative ideas and diversity of perspective
• Provides support to cohort members and engages in team-building activities to form strong working partnerships
• Seeks mentorship from Greenlining and Academy staff and provide mentorship to undergraduate students in the Academy’s Casa Joaquin program

Professional Development

• Participates in all skills-based workshops to learn Greenlining’s approach to race equity public policy advocacy
• Learns key public policy advocacy tactics to support work plan objectives
• Engages with Leadership Academy alumni to expand professional network
• Mentors a Summer Associate during their 10-week internship designing their work plan and coordinates weekly check-in meetings to ensure they are successful in the program
• Develops capstone presentation to share during Leadership Academy graduation
• Establishes thought leadership in their respective public policy area through management of social media channels, publishing public policy blogs, playing a substantive role in Greenlining’s annual economic summit

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• If earned BA, at least 1 year of related experience required (cumulative OK). If no BA degree, at least 2 years of related cumulative experience required (including college internships)
• Committed to champion racial equity and uplift communities of color
• Able to participate in person
• Proven ability to work in a manner that respects differences in race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance
• Willingness to approaches unfamiliar experiences with a growth mindset to push beyond their comfort zone with determination, heart, and deep commitment to their personal and professional journey
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to complete writing and public speaking assignments
• Team player who inspires collaboration, uplifts the work of others, and maintains balance and perspective with patience and a sense of humor
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively while demonstrating flexibility with others to set goals, resolve problems, pivot assignments, and make decisions that move the work forward
• Ability to prioritize tasks, strong organizational skills, and an ability to work independently
• Strong writing and computer literacy of PC-based Google Drive and MS Office Programs
• Applicants must be able to provide documentation confirming authorization to work in the United States. The organization does not provide visa sponsorship

Compensation and Benefits

Participants are paid $5,000 per month and receive generous time off benefits as well as full health, vision and dental benefits.

How to Apply: Applications must be submitted online via the ADP career portal (including resume and personal statement responding to prompts. Final day to submit applications is Applications will be reviewed by a committee of policy and academy staff. Selected applicants will be invited for an interview, with decisions announced in April.

NOTE: Apply to only ONE opportunity with the Leadership Academy based on your interest in that policy area of focus. If applicants submit multiple applications, only the first submission will be considered.