City of New Haven Office of Climate and Sustainability
The Office of Climate and Sustainability collaborates with City departments, community organizations, and New Haven residents to advance and coordinate city-wide climate and environmental sustainability policies, practices, and initiatives. The Office implements climate mitigation and adaptation solutions that intersect with and address immediate challenges facing residents, such as finding safe and affordable housing, accessing quality employment opportunities, and improving air quality and respiratory health. Its work particularly focuses on addressing the health and economic impacts of climate change in underserved communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and grappling with the legacy of redlining.
The Fellow will assist the Office with assembly a 2023 greenhouse gas inventory and will assist the Office with research and engagement related to various environmental justice and climate action projects.
Read the organization’s placement proposal
Learn more: newhavenct.gov/climate
Common Ground High School, Urban Farm, and Environmental Education Center
Common Ground is a center for learning and leadership, inviting people across ages and identities to connect to their urban environment, build community, grow into their full potential, and contribute to a just and sustainable world. Common Ground connects farm, forest, and city through its High School, Urban Farm, and Environmental Education Center. Its campus includes production and education gardens, farm animals, and creative play spaces for children
There are two placements available at this site:
Green Jobs Corps Farm Crew
The Fellow will provide hands-on support growing vegetables, maintaining the compost system and caring for animals on the Common Ground urban farm alongside the farm team, summer young adult interns, and youth employment program (including technical farming workshops, food justice conversations and field trips). The Fellow will support getting produce out through Common Ground’s mobile farm stand, which travels around New Haven neighborhoods and senior centers with fresh, affordable vegetables.
Read the organization’s proposal for the Green Jobs Corps Farm Crew
Summer Camp
Common Ground’s summer camp provides a diverse group of children with a fun, safe summer experience, emphasizing building friendships and developing an appreciation for the natural world. Campers experience nature as an exciting place to explore, and discover how people, food, and the environment are interconnected.
The Fellow will work as a leader and mentor, caring for campers as they cook, play, hike, garden, build forts, make nature art, care for animals, play games, enjoy campfires, and make summer memories. Possible roles include Assistant Teacher, working closely with one age group and staff team all summer, or Camp Floater, supporting all ages with a special focus on social/emotional needs and inclusion.
Read the organization’s proposal for Summer Camp
Learn more: commongroundct.org
New Haven Urban Resources Initiative
The New Haven Urban Resources Initiative (URI) is a nonprofit Yale School of the Environment partnership that empowers and supports communities in the restoration, stewardship and enjoyment of the urban forest and nature in New Haven. URI hires community forestry interns for its Community Greenspace program each summer. Through this program, URI community foresters work with about forty community groups in middle- and low-income neighborhoods to reclaim, restore, and replant parks, vacant lots, and streetscapes while revitalizing New Haven communities. URI community foresters receive training in urban forestry, project planning, site assessment, social forestry, and research techniques, and gain experience working with community groups, city officials, and nonprofit agencies.
The Community Greenspace program’s goals are to conduct resident-led environmental restoration, to build community, and to foster stewardship and civic empowerment. Each community forestry intern provides technical and material support to six or seven community groups engaged in environmental rehabilitation projects, such as tree planting, vacant lot restoration, or invasive species removal.
Please note that this placement begins on May 13, 2025.
Learn more: uri.yale.edu
Solar Youth
Solar Youth empowers Black and Brown youth from New Haven’s systematically marginalized neighborhoods to achieve lifelong success, and nothing less. Its mission is to provide opportunities for young people to develop a positive sense of self, connection and commitment to community, and respect and appreciation for their natural environment. From season to season, Solar Youth curates and conducts immersive programs for youth ages 4-18. These programs incorporate core elements of environmental exploration, non-violent communication, youth leadership and youth-led problem solving. Solar Youth’s vision is a New Haven and beyond in which youth are problem-solvers and the next generation of socially conscious leaders who advocate for our communities.
The Fellow will conduct seamless processes for outreach and enrollment before and during Solar Youth’s 2025 Summer Camp. As Program Administrative Associate, the Fellow will recruit families and youth through various methods of communication, maintain highly organized records of all enrollment documents and medical forms, and resolve any difficulties families experience when submitting their documents.
Read the organization’s placement proposal
Learn more: solaryouth.org