Rethink the System, Work for Change

Before you choose, please read the Internships with the Alliance page for important information that applies to all internships!

Following is a brief description of current opportunities, with links for more detailed descriptions.)

Sustainable Campus Dining – Summer 2012 – If you care about healthy food & campus sustainability, continue reading…→

Campus Sustainability – Get your campus moving on specific sustainability projects, such as energy conservation, local organic food, Fair Trade, transportation, or waste minimization. [More info… →]

Clean Air Campaign – Air quality in the Lehigh Valley consistently fails to meet EPA standards, but most people aren’t even aware that there’s a problem. One of the triggers is air pollution from vehicles. Work with a team from the Alliance, Bethlehem Partnership for a Healthy Community, Clean Water Action, and other interested organizations to increase awareness and improve air quality! [More info… →]

Climate Action! – Global warming is becoming more serious every day. Make a difference by helping com¬munities, schools & colleges, healthcare institutions, businesses, and individuals in the Lehigh Valley create and implement plans to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuels. [More info… →]

Communications & Media – Help communicate the concepts and challenges of sustainability to promote meaningful community dialogue, in partnership with the public health project, Clean Air Campaign, and other sustainability projects by the Alliance and other community organizations.  Report on current actions such as Transitions & the Occupy movement. [More info… →]

Community & Restorative Justice – Our present justice system tends to focus on punishment and incarceration, but the high rates of recidivism show that these systems are not working. This internship will explore how we can use community-based & restorative justice, community policing, and community problem-solving to strengthen communities, reduce crime, and help individuals build more constructive lives. [More info… →]

Community Engagement – Explore ways to move from community service and public comment to true community engagement to empower people, exchange knowledge, and encourage more democratic processes. [More info… →]

Democracy in Action & Social Entrepreneurship – Take action to protect democracy or to create change in public or institutional policy in connection with sustainability and social justice issues, working with the Alliance and/or other local organizations. Turn ideas into action!
[More info… →]

Editing & Publishing – Interns will have significant responsibility for preparing content and publishing Sustainable Lehigh Valley, our annual directory of organizations that promote sustainable communities. (This internship is generally available only for the spring semester.) Other internships dealing with writing & editing are available from time to time—if this is of interest to you, let us know. [More info… →]

Education for Sustainable Living – This is not about environmental education but about how schools can prepare people to help create a more sustainable future. Many of our schools don’t deal well with global warming, peak oil, ecology, and sustainability—but failure to promote active participation in democratic governance may be even more problematic. If schools do not develop the knowledge, values, and skills students need, how can we hope to have a sustainable democratic society? [More info… →]

Fair Trade –Many elements of the current trade systems exploit laborers, growers, and farmworkers, and they degrade and destroy the ecosystems on which life depends—so traders can earn high profits at the expense of those with less control of the system. Work to end these abuses by changing the irresponsible purchasing that sustains them. [More info… →]

Food, Health, and Sustainability – Thanks to the industrial system, much of our food harms our health, increases green­house gas (GHG) emissions, exploits producers and farm workers, and generates excess waste—and many people in the world cannot afford to eat. Help build awareness of the need for change.

Graphic Design – Put your talents to work to help create a more sustainable world—help raise awareness of sustainability issues and assist with graphic design aspects of the public health project, the Clean Air Campaign, the publication of Sustainable Lehigh Valley, the Alliance website and other sustainability projects. [More info… →]

Public Health & Sustainability – Help create wider awareness of how unsustainable practices impact public health. Clean air, pure water, healthy food, and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are essential to our health and the health of our communities. [More info… →]

Sustainability & Business – Environmental responsibility and sustainability are sometimes thought of as being contrary to good business practices. Even if this were true, businesses would have an obligation to help protect the ecosystems on which life depends. Fortunately, sustainability is good business. Reducing unnecessary use of resources, conserving energy, and eliminating waste all reduce costs at the same time they protect the health of people and natural ecosystems. [More info… →]

NOTE: It is our intent to offer all listed internships in the coming term, but availability may change or a given internship may be filled. Some internships may not be offered at all colleges. Most schools allow you to change courses without penalty during the first week or two of the semester, but we urge you to apply well in advance if possible.

• Internships with the Alliance
  
• How to apply for an Alliance internship
• What do previous Interns say about their experiences?
• Completed Internships, since 2004

Questions? Send an email to internship coordinator Peter Crownfield