Planning & Conservation League
Summer 2012 Fellow: Coral Abbott
Summer 2012 Fellow email: corala@stanford.edu
Faculty Mentor: Julie Kennedy
Professor Kennedy is the Co-Director of the Haas Center for Public Service, the Associate Director of the Earth Systems Program and the Landreth Family University Fellow in Undergraduate Education. Professor Kennedy’s expertise and interests include the interdisciplinary solutions to public policy as it relates to environmental science.
Faculty Mentor email: juliek@stanford.edu
Office Description:
The mission of the PCL Foundation is to protect the California environment and ensure that California continues to be an attractive, livable, and equitable state by engaging in cutting-edge environmental public policy research, and educating, and empowering local communities to participate in local and state environmental decision-making processes.
PCL’s environmental policy research educates public leaders and empowers local communities by providing important information about some of California’s existing and emerging environmental topics. PCL facilitates workshops throughout the state to ensure the public is informed about their role in planning for our state’s future. PCL Foundation connects the power of grassroots organizations to state government in order to enact policies that protect our environment and improve the quality of life and economic security for all Californians.
The Planning and Conservation League is an organization that also devotes time to lobbying the California State Legislature on a range of environmental issues and by sponsoring environmental initiatives. Office Website:www.pcl.org
Projects Fellows Have Worked On in the Past:
Past fellows have worked on projects such as the Target Global Warming Project, in which the fellow worked to organize a joint initiative between PCL and the National Wildlife Fund to encourage hunting groups to become more involved in and engaged with global warming issues. The fellows have also worked on planning the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) workshops, statewide workshops aiming to increase public understanding of the CEQA. Past projects have also included researching and following various California bills, and attending Assembly and Senate hearings pertaining to environmental issues. Past fellows have also worked on campaigns for various initiatives on the California ballot.
Possible Future Projects:
- California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) intern
Perhaps California’s most foundational environmental law, CEQA requires state and local agencies to assess and disclose environmental and environmental health impacts of proposed projects, and to minimize or mitigate those impacts to the greatest extent possible. PCL/PCLF has long been at the forefront of fighting to protect CEQA from an ever-increasing array of attacks. Our CEQA intern will work with the Executive Director and the Legislative Director on our Save CEQA campaign, a multi-faceted program designed to educate and mobilize Californians around this landmark environmental law. Responsibilities will include, but not be limited to, research, writing, and administrative support for CEQA community workshops; outreach to other environmental organizations and allies; support for legislative work about CEQA. Coursework or experience with CEQA is desired; a background in legislative process, public education, urban planning, or general California environmental issues is also helpful. For more information, contact Abigail Okrent at aokrent@pcl.org. - Water Policy Intern
Through its Water for Life campaign, PCL and PCL Foundation are leading the fight to strengthen statewide planning efforts, such as the State Water Plan Update and Bay-Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP), in order to foster regional self-sufficiency and prioritize: (1) water conservation and efficiency (reduce); (2) rainwater harvesting, graywater use, and stormwater capture (reuse); (3) potable reclamation projects (recycle); and (4) ecosystem restoration (restore), known as the 4R approach. PCL/PCLF’s Water Policy Intern will work with the Water Campaign Manager and Water Policy Advisor to help implement our water program. The Water Policy Intern will help advocate for sound water policy in the state by providing research and writing support to PCL’s Water Team. Additional opportunities include tracking water legislation, working with state agencies, report writing, educational outreach, website updates, and assistance with meeting coordination. For more information, contact Abigail Okrent at aokrent@pcl.org. - Legislative Intern
PCL helps serves as the lobbying arm of environmental community, working to pass, protect and enforce laws that safeguard our environment and communities. Our Legislative Intern will work with the Legislative Director, Executive Director and program staff on our top priorities in the Capitol. Interns in the legislative program must be able to rapidly understand and analyze policy issues presented in the hundreds of bills PCL will review and comment on each year. Interns will also be asked to research and prepare background information and “talking points” on sponsored bills as the need arises, and prepare comment letters on non-PCL sponsored bills. This position requires good organizational skills, the ability to assimilate new information very rapidly, and an excellent writing ability. For more information, contact Abigail Okrent at aokrent@pcl.org.
Desired Personal Qualities:
- Able to work independently
- Able to take initiative and proactively contribute
- Willingness to work on public outreach campaigns
- Interest in and passion for environmental issues
- Hard worker and team player
Desired Skills, Experience, and Coursework:
- Experience working in a professional environment
- Ability to perform research thoroughly and efficiently
- Comfort with speaking and presenting work publicly
- Strong writing skills
- Familiarity with Word, PowerPoint
Main Fellowship Disciplines:
- Public policy
- Political science
- Communication
- Environmental issues
Languages:
All work done in English
