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Our Water Activist Program

 

The Michigan League of Conservation Voters (LCV) — one of the largest, most impactful political advocacy organizations in the state —  is seeking participants for the Our Water Our Vote Activist Program through our Advocacy & Outreach department. This is a three-month virtual training and engagement program that offers real-world organizing and training pertaining to protecting our environment through community and nonpartisan political engagement.

The program focuses on building power, presence, and relationships on behalf of our organization and organizing community members to get involved in making the protection of Michigan’s land, air, and water a political priority. This position will advocate for strong environmental protections, and build and amplify the voices of communities of color and other key constituencies who are disproportionately impacted by environmental issues. Program participants will develop the experience to work on advocacy and electoral campaigns and will be motivated to build a strong, diverse base of supporters for action on land, air, and water issues in our regions and across the state.

Responsibilities

  • Working with the Advocacy & Outreach team to recruit and grow a strong, sustainable team of volunteers advocating for stronger protections for our air, land, water, democracy, and public health.
  • Assisting in creating, organizing, and implementing a steady drumbeat of advocacy opportunities that further or fit into Michigan LCV’s issue, accountability, electoral, or public education campaigns.
  • Attending community organizing and professional development trainings and performing community organizing tasks such as phone banking, canvassing, leading trainings, and building volunteer leadership.
  • Learning a variety of database systems, including the Voter Activation Network (VAN).

Qualifications

The ideal participants will be interested in learning more about community organizing, building leadership in communities, and creating lasting environmental change. Prior experience in community organizing is not required. High school and college students are encouraged to apply. You should have:

  • A positive attitude and willingness to inspire action and build a team.
  • A belief that who we elect matters and that the protection of Michigan’s land, air, and water should be a political priority.
  • Passion for learning organizing principles, working under the environmental justice framework, and creating systemic change.
  • Cultural Competence:
    • Demonstrated awareness of one’s own cultural identity and the ability to learn and build on varying community norms.
    • Commitment to equity and inclusion as organizational practice and culture.
    • Understanding of how environmental issues intersect with racism, economic and social inequality in the U.S. and has a passion for working to dismantle these systems.

Time Commitment & Program Dates

Our Water Our Vote Activists must commit to 10 hours of work per week for a 3-month period, including evenings and occasional weekends. This program is taking place in three-month cycles in 2024 as follows:

  • Winter: February 4 through April 24 (Application due by January 24)
  • Summer: May 17 through August 21 (Application due by May 9)
  • Fall: September 30 through December 4 (Application due September 26)

*Dates are subject to change

Incentives

This is an unpaid part-time program focused on community organizing training and engagement. Our Water Our Vote Activists will be given applied experience outside of the traditional classroom settings, networking opportunities, and experience in working on issue-based and electoral programs, building leadership in communities, and creating environmental change. Exemplary Our Water Our Vote Activists will receive a letter of recommendation.

Apply Now

 

A limited number of stipends are available for Our Water Activists through the generous contribution of the Alec Esparza Memorial Fund. The purpose of the Alec Esparza fund is to honor the memory of Alec, a young activist passionate about environmental justice and access to the vote. Click here for more information on how to apply.

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