Position Summary
This position will support community events coordinated by the Green Cities team, primarily Green Seattle Day, as well as other fall tree planting volunteer days in parks throughout Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Tukwila, Snoqualmie, and Redmond
Specific tasks to be performed:
- Volunteer recruitment and community engagement, including cold-calling and emailing, digital outreach and social media, visiting community groups and giving informal presentations, distributing posters on foot, staffing outreach booths at events, and researching new contacts.
- Event planning and support, including calling local businesses to ask for donations, creating signage and handouts, entering data, delivering materials, and helping with some light office work.
- Deepening own understanding of community involvement in urban forestry, as well as the greater Green Cities community.
- Adherence to safety guidelines and restoration best practices as used by Forterra and the Green Cities Network
- Attendance at community events in city parks, including assisting volunteers and participating in hands-on forest restoration.
Required Qualifications
- Able to function independently and self-motivate.
- Able to function as part of a team, maintaining open communication and a positive attitude with teammates.
- Attention to detail, ability to proof-read own work.
- Outgoing, friendly, passionate about building community and inclusive engagement.
- Comfortable forming new relationships and community connections.
- Fluency in spoken English; strong writing and/or speaking proficiency in a language other than English a plus.
- Ability to communicate effectively and accurately with fellow staff, intern supervisor, volunteers, community partners and the public.
- Availability most Saturdays between September 1st and November 30th, as well as some weekdays (schedule will be discussed at interview).
- Ability to assist in park restoration projects in some capacity. Possible activities may include posting signage, welcoming volunteers and helping them sign in, demonstrating safety protocols and restoration techniques, answering questions and encouraging volunteers, or performing hands-on restoration practices such as pulling weeds or moving mulch and lifting 10-20 pounds. People with disabilities are welcome to apply.
- Valid driver’s license in Washington State
Desired Qualifications
- Interest in or previous knowledge of community organizing or urban forest restoration.
- Multi-lingual language skills a huge plus.
- Residence within one of the following cities: Everett, Seattle, Tacoma, or Redmond.
- Connections within a community not traditionally represented in urban forestry, particularly: communities of color, and/or non-English-speaking communities.
- Own vehicle (transportation reimbursement will be provided when travel from the Seattle office is required for the day’s work).
Benefits
A $2,000 stipend will be given at the completion of the 10-week internship term (200 hours minimum). If they choose, interns may receive $1,000 after 5 weeks (100 hours minimum), and the remaining $1,000 at the completion of the internship.
Volunteers will develop their creative outreach techniques and community engagement skills, event management, and presentation skills as they help to put on several public events for over 1,000 volunteers over the course of the internship. They will also get an introduction to urban forest restoration in the Pacific Northwest. Use of the Microsoft Office suite will be practiced.
At the completion of the term, volunteers will receive help creating and updating a professional resume.
To apply, visit our website at http://forterra.org/our-story#careers. No phone calls, please.