California Climate-Friendly School Food Intern

Friends of the Earth is a national not for profit environmental organization driven by passion for a healthier and more just world. We push for the bold reforms that are needed. It’s an approach that has worked for five decades to produce important victories that help protect our planet and its people. We’re part of Friends of the Earth International, a federation of groups working in more than 70 countries on today’s most urgent environmental and social issues.  

To accomplish our mission, Friends of the Earth’s Food and Agriculture program is working to rapidly transition our food system to one that is sustainable, healthy and just. We achieve success through a systems-based approach that weaves together market change and policy advocacy supported by intersectional organizing, cutting-edge science, and strategic communications.  

Friends of the Earth’s Climate-Friendly Food School Program helps school districts across California make the shift towards healthy, plant-based and organic menus. We provide technical assistance and marketing materials, support student and community engagement strategies, and link school districts with the resources they need to be successful. We also partner with school districts and NGOs to advocate for state and federal policy change. Please see our website for more information on Friends of the Earth’s Climate-Friendly Food and school food work. 

Friends of the Earth is committed to justice and equality. We value diversity at all levels of the organization and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We believe that a range of perspectives makes our team more creative, flexible and impactful.    

Position Summary:  

Friends of the Earth is seeking an intern to support its California Climate-Friendly School Food Program within the Food & Agriculture Program. This internship contributes to state and national efforts to advance healthy, plant-based, organic, and climate-friendly school food policies that are culturally and nutritionally responsive to diverse communities. Working closely with program staff, the intern will support research, data analysis, stakeholder engagement, communications, and project coordination that advance policy and advocacy objectives. The intern will have opportunities to contribute to program initiatives, provide research and analytical support, share ideas and recommendations, and participate in team planning discussions. Through this experience, the intern will develop practical skills in research, data analysis, communications, and project coordination while gaining exposure to nonprofit advocacy, school food systems, sustainable agriculture, and environmental policy within a collaborative and mission-driven team.  

This is a paid, part-time internship. Intern must be able to commit to 15-20 hrs/week at the rate of $19.50/hour. The length of the internship is 6 months.

Responsibilities: 

Program Coordination & Data Management 

• Gather and track data from K-12 school district menus to identify trends in climate-friendly menu practices 

• Sort and analyze data sets in Excel to identify trends and patterns in school district menus 

• Support research on greenhouse gas emissions associated with school menu items to support plant-based menu analysis 

• Compile data summaries and visualizations to support internal reporting and strategic planning 

• Track progress on key program metrics, such as the number of districts adopting climate-friendly practices 

Outreach & Partner Engagement 

• Research and maintain a database of plant-based products, vendors, and organic farmers and food hubs 

• Support outreach and scheduling with school nutrition teams, government agencies, and non-profit partners across California 

• Support national coalition meetings through detailed notetaking and development of presentation materials 

• Attend meetings and events on behalf of the program to foster growth and outreach 

• Coordinate logistics and scheduling for meetings and webinars 

Communications & Public Education 

• Develop PowerPoint presentations for team webinars and monitor attendance 

• Draft engaging district stories and program newsletters to share progress and impact with stakeholders 

• Update a file system of plant-based recipes tailored for school districts 

• Organize and maintain the team's OneDrive files, ensuring documents are accessible and up-to-date 

Required Skills & Experience: 

• Currently pursuing or recently completed coursework in environmental studies, public policy, political science, communications, public health, or a related field (or equivalent lived, volunteer, or work experience). 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills. 

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. 

• Ability to conduct research and synthesize information. 

• Interest in environmental advocacy, food systems, and climate policy. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office or Google Workspace. 

Preferred Skills & Experience 

• Experience through coursework, internships, student organizations, or volunteer activities related to advocacy or policy. 

• Familiarity with California school districts and the state's food systems landscape 

• Experience creating digital communications or outreach materials.   

• Familiarity with MailChimp  

• Experience supporting events or community engagement activities. 

• A background in environmental issues, public health, racial justice, food systems, environmental science, and/or public policy. 

Friends of the Earth is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from women, people of color and other members of underrepresented groups who will contribute to the diversity of our staff.