One Day, One Job » public policy

Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation

Willy Franzen — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:47:31 +0000

April is the month of Opening Days. My two favorite seasons–baseball and fishing–open all across the country this time of year. I’ve already snuck up to Michigan’s Au Sable River once this year to go fishing, and I have another trip planned in a couple weeks. I’m lucky that I have such a wonderful place to spend my time, and I have a number of conservation groups to thank for their work in protecting and improving the river system and its trout fishing. I’m a total sucker for anything related to hunting or fishing, so when a reader e-mailed me yesterday to tell me about a job at the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, there was no doubt in my mind that I’d be writing about them today. They’re a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that provides “access and a voice for sportsmen in the U.S. Congress, the Administration and federal land management agencies, as well as state legislatures across the country.” They’ve been at it for more than 20 years, and they’ve accomplished quite a bit in that time.

A Sporting Life

The one thing that bothers me about the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation is their website. It’s poorly designed and looks unprofessional (some pages have broken images); however, there is still a good amount of useful information. I just expect better from an organization that calls itself “the most respected and trusted hunting and fishing organization in the political arena.” Still, their results speak for themselves. Here’s what they’ve done at the federal level, and here’s some information on their state level work. If you love the sporting life and its intersection with politics, but for some insane reason would like to live in Washington, DC (where a sporting life requires sitting in traffic to escape the city), then take a look at the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s Jobs page. Right now they’re looking for a Communications Coordinator, and it looks like a great opportunity for a new or recent grad.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you hunt or fish?

International Food Policy Research Institute

Willy Franzen — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:12:35 +0000

Have you ever bought Easter candy after Easter? They’re usually giving it away at about 90% off. We live in a country where food is so plentiful that it becomes undesirable if it’s not the right color or in the right packaging for the time of year. Those egg shaped Reese’s instantly won’t sell, even though they have a better peanut butter to chocolate ratio than the normal cups. It’s easy to forget how lucky we are to live in a society where one of our biggest problems is an overabundance of calories. The International Food Policy Research Institute is a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that serves those who aren’t so lucky. The IFPRI envisions “a world where every person has secure access to sufficient and safe food to sustain a healthy and productive life and where food-related policy decisions are made transparently, including the participation of consumers and producers.”

What’s Your Food Policy?

When you start to think about food policy, you realize it’s tied into nearly every part of human life. Whether it’s trade, the environment, energy, or gender equality, nearly everything either affects or is affected by food. That’s why the International Food Policy Research Institute’s work stretches across so many areas. Just take a look at their Project Portfolio–it includes everything from Rebuilding after Emergencies and Crises to Social Protection, Livelihoods and Asset Building. There’s a lot to learn about the IFPRI and what they do, so I highly recommend that you dig into their site and start learning more about them. If you like what you see, then you should check out their Jobs page. Right now they have a few positions that may interest new or recent grads including:

They also have Research Positions for people with more advanced education and experience.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about the International Food Policy Research Institute?

50CAN

Willy Franzen — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 12:48:29 +0000

Reasoning Mind is an education focused non-profit that uses the web to teach kids math, and they’re hiring 30 new grads as Program Coordinators. Learn more about these amazing entry level opportunities.

I was really lucky in that my parents sent me to a top notch private school for 6th through 12th grade. I have no doubt that it had a significantly positive effect on my education. Why? Because it was a truly great school. Private schools obviously aren’t the only great schools (and plenty of private schools aren’t all that great), but there’s no doubt that many of our country’s public schools are underperforming. 50CAN is a New York, NY based non-profit organization that is pushing for education reform because they believe that “Great Schools Can Change Everything.” They don’t just mean test scores and individual outcomes. They mean our economy, our democracy, our dreams, our competitiveness, our health, our communities, and pretty much everything else. 50CAN is different from many of the education focused non-profits that you’re likely familiar with in that 50CAN is focused squarely on advocacy.

YouCAN

50CAN has a wonderful website. It’s beautiful, and it does a great job of conveying information in a simple way. I recommend that you start browsing it by reading their Why Schools? page. Next you’ll want to read through the 50CAN Model. You’ll get an in-depth look at how they’re going state by state to “build citizen movements to ensure that every child has access to a great public school.” If you want to see what kind of results this approach delivers, just check out 50CAN’s Case Studies. Hopefully as you check out these pages, you’ll be drawn into other parts of 50CAN’s website. There’s a lot more to learn about the organization. So far CAN is operating in Minnesota, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maryland, and New York (North Carolina is coming soon). Obviously the goal is to reach all 50. If you want to be a part of 50CAN, check out their Jobs page. Right now they’re looking for a Government Relations Associate for RI-CAN (Providence, RI) and a New Site Development Manager (New York, NY). If neither of those positions look right for you, you can also sign up to bring 50CAN to your state.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Did you go to a great school?

Constitutional Rights Foundation

Willy Franzen — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 15:14:59 +0000

Think back to your favorite 90s sitcom. Odds are that there was an episode where your favorite main character was bored to death by some teacher trying to teach him or her about the Constitution. Your favorite character was completely unengaged until some major life event (usually artificially created by the brilliant teacher) came up that made the Constitution super relevant. I can already picture the specific Boy Meets World and Saved by the Bell episodes. Since those tv shows don’t actually teach much about the Constitution, we need our kids to have similar real life experiences. That’s what Constitutional Rights Foundation provides. They’re a Los Angeles, CA based non-profit that aims “to instill in our nation’s youth a deeper understanding of citizenship through values expressed in our Constitution and its Bill of Rights and to educate young people to become active and responsible participants in our society.” This is really important stuff–we can’t just expect future generations to learn it from watching reruns on tv.

Be on the Rights Side

As we learned from tv, you can’t just teach kids that civic participation is important. You need to show them the why and how. That’s what Constitutional Rights Foundation’s Programs are all about. One of the cooler things that CRF does is the Expanding Horizons Internships program. It takes Los Angeles high school students and puts them to work on constitutionally relevant projects at the city’s “most prestigious law firms, corporations, and non-profit organizations.” This just one of many great programs, so I highly recommend that you browse through them all to get a more complete understanding of how CRF goes about pursuing its mission. If you’re a Constitution lover and you want to pass it along to a younger generation, check out Constitutional Rights Foundation’s jobs on Idealist. Right now they’re looking for an Administrative Assistant/Office Manager. It looks like it could be a great fit for a new or recent grad.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What’s your favorite Constitutional Amendment?

National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

Willy Franzen — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 13:43:31 +0000

One of the most amazing things about the United States is our National Park system (check out National Park Service jobs)–it really shows off how vast and how diverse the country’s natural beauty is. While you’ve probably visited at least one National Park and know of many more, chances are that you’ve never heard of National Marine Sanctuaries. NOAA manages the system of sanctuaries “to conserve, protect, and enhance their biodiversity, ecological integrity and cultural legacy.” The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is a Silver Spring, MD based non-profit organization that “was created to assist the federally managed National Marine Sanctuary Program with education and outreach programs designed to preserve, protect and promote meaningful opportunities for public interaction with the nation’s marine sanctuaries.”

Under the Sea!

Before you dig in and learn about the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, you really need to learn about the National Marine Sanctuaries. This is probably a good place to start, and you’ll also want to read up on the history of the program. From there you can start to learn more about the NMSF. There isn’t a ton on their website, so the best way to take a deep dive into what they do is to read their most recent annual report. It’s a lot to read, but it will give you a much better idea of now the non-profit interacts with the federal government. If you like what you see, then you will probably want to check out the NMSF’s latest job posting for an Accounting and Administrative Assistant. It looks like a great way to get involved with a really cool organization–don’t overlook them like most people overlook our marine sanctuaries.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you visited any National Marine Sanctuaries?

League of Conservation Voters

Willy Franzen — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 14:42:35 +0000

Environmental issues and politics make an interesting combination. The environment is typically a long-run issue, and politicians are historically bad at dealing with anything that isn’t in the short-term. If you don’t believe me, look no further than the national debt or the Social Security situation. The reason for this is that most voters don’t get fired up about stuff that is going to happen in 5/10/100 years. Voters get fired up about the present, so that’s what politicians cater to–remember it’s all about reelection. If you want politicians to act with a long-term mindset, you really have to push them, and that’s exactly what the League of Conservation Voters does. They’re a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that “works to turn environmental values into national priorities.” They do this by focusing on two key areas: educating the public about environmental issues and helping elect pro-environment leaders.

A League of Its Own

The League of Conservation Voters has a long list of issues that it focuses on including Clean Air, Clean Energy, Clean Water, Global Warming, Hardrock Mining, Holding Big Oil Accountable, Open Spaces, Toxic Chemicals, Transportation, and Wildlife. They attack these issues at the national level while also having their state chapters work at more local levels. I think one of the more interesting things that they do is hold congresspeople accountable through the National Environmental Scorecard. You can plug in your representative’s name and see what his or her record is on important environmental issues. If you’re excited by the League of Conservation Voters’ values and want to be a part of what they’re doing, then take a look at their Careers page. Right now they’re looking for a Development Assistant (deadline has passed, but it’s still worth applying since it’s still posted) and a Special Events and Major Gift Program Coordinator. Both positions look like good fits for new or recent grads, so check them out.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about the League of Conservation Voters?

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Willy Franzen — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:24:10 +0000

New Year’s Eve is a wonderful holiday for celebrating a great year past and the prospects of a great future. It’s a time that we spend with family and friends and think about how we can better ourselves. Yet for many alcohol plays a prominent role in the celebration, and the new year begins with a hangover. That’s not my style, but you’re free to have a great night however you want. Just make sure that your alcohol use doesn’t negatively affect anyone else. Most importantly, that means don’t drink and drive. That’s the message that Mothers Against Drunk Driving has been spreading since it was founded in 1980 by Candy Lightner “after her daughter, Cari, was killed by a repeat drunk driving offender.” Three decades later MADD, which has national offices in Irving, TX and Washington, DC and chapters all across the country, has made a lot of progress fighting drunk driving, but there’s a long way to go considering that there is an injury from an alcohol-related crash every minute.

Get MADD

MADD is best known for it’s work to stop drunk driving, but they also do a lot of work to prevent underage drinking and to provide victim services. The organization played an extremely prominent role in pushing for the .08 BAC limit in the U.S., and now they’re setting their sights on legislation that requires convicted drunk drivers to “blow before they go” by installing in car breathalyzers. Some criticize MADD for fudging their statistics and being part of the “alcohol prohibition lobby,” but they’re really just about saving lives. For 2012 their goal is to get U.S. drunk driving fatalities under 10,000. It’s hard to argue with that. If you like what MADD is doing, take a look at their Jobs page. Right now they’re looking for:

Court Monitoring Project Specialist (Chicago, IL)
Court Monitoring Project Specialist (St. Louis, MO)
Program Coordinator (San Diego, CA)
Program Coordinator (Los Angeles, CA)

All of these jobs require some prior experience, but they’re still worth checking out. Have a happy and safe new year!

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Drive safely!

Council of State Governments

Willy Franzen — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 14:44:41 +0000

A lot of people overlook the importance of state and local governments. They get all excited about federal elections, but overlook the elections that are closer to home. I’m sure there are a lot of reasons for this, but I’d generally like to start seeing states taking back some power from Washington (though the thought of the State of Illinois having more power scares me to no end). Anyway, states have a huge advantage in governing in that they have 49 peers (more if you include territories, foreign provinces, etc.) who are dealing with similar issues. State governments can work together, share ideas, and benefit from each other’s experiences. A lot of that is done through the Council of State Governments, which is a nonpartisan non-profit organization that “fosters the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy.” They’re headquartered in Lexington, KY (with multiple other offices), and they work in all three branches of state governments.

Sharing Capitol Ideas

Much of what the Council of State Governments does is done through region-based forums that bring together state officials to give them “opportunities to network, develop leaders, collaborate and create problem-solving partnerships.” A state governor always acts as the organization’s President, and a member of a state legislature always act as chairman. CSG’s programming is split into three key areas: Leadership Programs, Policy Programs, and Innovations. The best way to get a better understanding of what is going on at CSG is probably to read their Capitol Ideas Magazine. If you find yourself reading for a while, you may want to take a look at the Council of State Governments’ Career opportunities. Right now they have a few opportunities that might be suitable for a new or recent grad including:

Project Assistant – Just Reentry (New York, NY)
Project Associate – Justice Reentry (New York, NY or Bethesda, MD)
Project Assistant – Justice Reinvestment (Seattle, WA)
Logistics Assistant – Justice Center (Bethesda, MD)

Hopefully one of these opportunities will be a good fit for you. There are also offices in Sacramento, CA; Atlanta, GA; and Lombard, IL; so watch out for future opportunities in those locations.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you get excited about state elections?

Chemical Heritage Foundation

Willy Franzen — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 14:06:43 +0000

When I was a kid, I had my own chemistry set. It was pretty cool–I could do things like change the color of a liquid by mixing a few different powders. Ok, so it wasn’t that exciting, especially after I learned that my Dad would make his own gunpowder and blow stuff up when he was a kid. After having a watered down chemistry set as a kid, I ended up having a completely inept chemistry teacher in high school. It should be no surprise that my interest in chemistry fizzled out, but if I wanted to get the reaction going again, I might look to the Chemical Heritage Foundation. They’re a Philadelphia, PA based non-profit organization that “fosters an understanding of chemistry’s impact on society” by “inspiring a passion for chemistry; highlighting chemistry’s role in meeting current social challenges; and preserving the story of chemistry and its technologies and industries across centuries.”

Show Your Chemical Heritage

The Chemical Heritage Foundation has four key program areas. The first is The Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Library of Chemical History, which is exactly what it sounds like. The second is The Roy Eddleman Institute for Interpretation and Education, which is focused on bringing chemistry to a broader audience and includes the Museum at CHF. The third is The Center for Contemporary History and Policy, and it’s all about promoting chemistry’s current and future role in society. Finally, there’s The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry, which “hosts a community of visiting fellows.” As you can see, the CHF is working in every area that it can to connect society with the wonders of chemistry. You can explore CHF’s work much more deeply by browsing their website, so I highly recommend that. And if you really like what you see, you can go to their Jobs page. Oddly enough, the job that they have posted doesn’t require a background in science, as it’s a Project Development Assistant position. It looks like a great opportunity for a new or recent grad, so check it out.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Did you have a chemistry set as a kid?

Sacramento Tree Foundation

Willy Franzen — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 15:56:59 +0000

I used to wake up every day, look out the window, and see the Chicago skyline. In my new place, I wake up and see a whole bunch of trees. Though I know I’ll miss being able to watch the city from a few hundred feet up, it’s a nice change. Who doesn’t love trees? Well, the people at the Sacramento Tree Foundation probably love trees even more than the average person. The Sacramento Tree Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Sacramento, CA that is “working to grow healthy, livable communities in the Sacramento region by empowering people to plant, protect, and learn about trees.” They have a goal of planting 5 million trees in the area by 2025. Though they have a long way to go, they’ve already gotten off to a great start.

Turn Over a New Leaf

As awesome as trees are, Sacramento Tree Foundation isn’t promoting the planting of trees just for the heck of it. They’re promoting trees because trees create all kinds of positive outcomes. They provide shade, clean the air, look beautiful, and even bring communities together. The Sacramento Tree Foundation pursues all of these goals through a number of different Programs and Services. These include Sacramento to Shade, Seed to Seedling, NeighborWoods, nature: Native Trees in the Urban and Rural Environment, Mature Trees, Greenprint Initiative, Community Education, and Parking Lot Retrofits. Right now they’re looking for a Greenprint Relations Coordinator. The job is posted on Idealist, but surprisingly not on the Sacramento Tree Foundation’s Jobs page (which has no current postings). Give the job a look and see if it’s worth applying for.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What’s your favorite kind of tree?

New America Foundation

Willy Franzen — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 16:01:46 +0000

There’s no question that America’s future is filled with challenges, and we’re going to be the ones who have to rise to them. It’s a huge opportunity, but it’s also a bit daunting. The New America Foundation is a non-profit organization that “emphasizes work that is responsive to the changing conditions and problems of our 21st Century information-age economy — an era shaped by transforming innovation and wealth creation, but also by shortened job tenures, longer life spans, mobile capital, financial imbalances and rising inequality.” They’re based in Washington, DC (and Sacramento, CA), and they’re working to ensure that every American generation is able to live better than the one that came before it.

Are You Part of a New America?

The New America Foundation has ideals that pretty much everyone can get behind, but how do they actually go about achieving their goals? They have a wide range of Programs and Initiatives that cover a number of areas including College Savings, National Security, Open Technology, Economic Growth, and lots more. These programs “combine ongoing research and publications with working groups, conferences and public events” to “bring innovative, cutting-edge policy solutions to the fore of the national debate.” The New America Foundation’s approach is broad, but if you think that you could help them build a better America, then take a look at their Jobs page. They have a number of positions available that look suitable for new or recent grads including A/V Multimedia Producer, Innovation Policy Research Associate, Program Associate – Global Assets Project, Research Associate – Global Assets Project, Schmidt Family Foundation Fellow, Events Associate, Field Analyst – Open Technology Initiative, and Research Associate. There are lots of options, so hopefully one of them will be a good fit for you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What’s your vision for a New America?

VOICES of September 11th

Willy Franzen — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:06:26 +0000

We all have our own September 11th stories. I shared mine last year when I wrote about the National September 11 Memorial Museum. These stories, whether they are from the front lines or from people thousands of miles away, are what will ensure that we continue to use the memory of those whose lives were lost 10 years ago today as a positive force. VOICES of September 11th is a non-profit organization that was founded by two women who lost loved ones in the attacks to serve as “an information clearinghouse for those affected by the attacks through the use of a Web site, electronic newsletter, direct mailings and media outreach.” They are based in New Canaan, CT with a satellite office in New Brunswick, NJ, and they have expanded their mission over the years to include “providing continuity of care to promote resiliency and address the long-term issues” of those who were directly affected by the attacks.

Share Your VOICE

VOICES of September 11th seems to continually adapt as the needs of people affected by September 11th change. They’ve been quite busy preparing for the 10th anniversary, and I’m sure that the coming years will mark another chapter in the evolution of the organization. To get a better sense of what exactly VOICES does, you should visit their website at VoicesOfSeptember11.org. You’ll be able to see exactly what they’ve been working on. If you like what you see, you may want to consider a job with them. Their Jobs page doesn’t show any openings right now, but they do have Internship and Volunteer Opportunities. And you can always reach out to them to see if they might be able to find a place for you to fit into the organization.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

How are you commemorating September 11th?

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Willy Franzen — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 14:22:36 +0000

Although I may not be a big fan of NPR, I guess it’s pretty useful for learning about new companies and organizations to profile. Yesterday one of the sponsors that was mentioned while I was listening was the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. They’re a Princeton, NJ based non-profit that is “devoted to improving health policy and practice.” It’s one of the wealthiest charitable foundations in the world, and it was founded after the death of Robert Wood Johnson II, the founder of Johnson & Johnson. During the 90s one of the Robert Wood Johnson’s main goals was to curb tobacco use in the United States. They spent nearly half a billion dollars on it, and they were quite successful. Now they’re using what they learned in that battle to fight childhood obesity.

A Solid Foundation

While Childhood Obesity seems to be the main focus of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, they do have a number of other Program Areas that focus on a variety of health related issues. It’s all about working “with a diverse group of dedicated people and organizations to address problems at their roots and to help make a difference on the widest scale—particularly for the most vulnerable among us.” If you want to be part of that mission, you should keep reading up on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation by checking out their Publications and Research and Health Policy. If you like what you see, then you can head ofer to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Jobs page. Right now they’re looking for a Program Administrative Assistant, which looks to be well suited to the entry level. They also accept general application inquiries at resume@rwjf.org.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation?

New England Healthcare Institute

Willy Franzen — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 13:50:47 +0000

Now that our country has a shiny new AA+ credit rating (that’s a downgrade from AAA in case you were wondering), we’re going to have to get far more serious about cutting our government’s deficit spending. Considering that 23% of Federal spending is on health care and that health care costs are consistently growing faster than GDP, we’re going to have to find a way to spend less on health care. Oddly enough, there seem to be a lot of people who strongly believe that cutting costs and improving health care can go hand in hand. Some of those people run the New England Healthcare Institute, a Cambridge, MA based non-profit organization that is “dedicated to transforming health care for the benefit of patients and their families.” They realize how broken our system is, and they’re taking an evidence-based approach towards fixing it.

Transforming Health Care

NEHI calls itself “the largest, most diverse, multi-stakeholder health care organization in the nation.” While many would consider them a think tank, NEHI prefers the term “think-and-do tank.” If you take a look at NEHI’s Programs and Initiatives, you’ll see that their main focus areas are Health Reform, Health and the Economy, Health Information and Technology, Medical Innovation, Waste and Inefficiency in Health Care, and Prevention and Wellness. It’s really interesting to dig into what they’re doing, because it’s an approach that makes sense, even if it’s not talked about much. Our country needs to take a new perspective on health care and start thinking about keeping people healthy instead of treating them when they get sick. That’s a big part of what NEHI is trying to do. If you’re interested in public health, you should really dig into their website and read up on them. If you like what you see, check out NEHI’s Jobs page. Right now they have two positions that could be suitable for new grads: Administrative and Database Coordinator and Health Policy Associate. Give them both a look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about NEHI?

Atlantic Council

Willy Franzen — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:45:49 +0000

Our country’s relationship with Europe started off pretty rocky. There were all kinds of conflicts including the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Spanish American War, and plenty of others. It wasn’t really until after World Wars I and II that U.S-Europe relations really began to stabilize. That’s why in 1961 The Atlantic Council was founded. They are a Washington, DC based think tank that “promotes constructive U.S. leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the central role of the Atlantic community in meeting the international challenges of the 21st century.” Over the organization’s 50 years its mission and programs have evolved, but they remain focused on maintaining a constructive trans-Atlantic dialogue.

Join the Council

I realize that it’s kind of hard to grasp what think tanks actually do–especially when their mission is something as nebulous as promoting “constructive U.S. leadership and engagement in international affairs.” Here are some things that the Atlantic Council is working on that will give you a better idea of what they actually do:

identifying and shaping responses to major issues facing the Atlantic Alliance and transatlantic relations;
building consensus on U.S. policy towards Russia, China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan;
promoting balanced responses to growing energy needs and environmental protection;
drafting roadmaps for U.S. policy towards the Balkans, Africa, Cuba, Iraq, Iran, and Libya;
engaging students from across the Euro-Atlantic area in the processes of NATO transformation and enlargement

To really get to know more about the Atlantic Council, you can take a look at the Atlantic Council’s Programs and Publications. If you’re interested in getting involved, then head over to The Atlantic Council’s Jobs page. Right now they’re looking for an Outreach and Public Events Assistant – Office of Development and External Relations. Give it a look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about the Atlantic Council?

Institute for the Study of War

Willy Franzen — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:43:01 +0000

Despite the fact that most of us probably don’t even think about it on a daily basis, we are a country at war. Formally, the War in Afghanistan is the only current war that the United States is fighting since hostilities in Iraq officially ended on August 31, 2010; however, the reality is that we still are actively engaged in Iraq and Syria now too. Military policy continues to be an extremely important part of what our government does, and it’s essential that our leaders are well prepared to make important decisions regarding these conflicts. The Institute for the Study of War is a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that was founded in 2007 to do just that. The organization “produces strictly non-partisan, non-ideological, fact- based research” and aims “to promote an informed understanding of war and military affairs through comprehensive, independent, and accessible open-source research and analysis.”

Keep on Studying

The Institute for the Study of War has two main focuses: their Iraq Project and their Afghanistan Project. However, it does seem that the Institute for the Study of War may be expanding their focus. As new conflicts like the one in Libya emerge, I’m sure that they’ll be studying them and analyzing them. It’s all based on the premise that “a healthy democracy requires civilian leaders who are well versed in military affairs.” Apparently most American colleges and universities abandoned military studies during the Vietnam War, and there has a growing divide between our military and the civilians who control it. The Institute for the Study of War aims to close that gap. If studying war sounds interesting to you, check out The Institute’s Jobs page. Right now they’re looking for a Research Analyst for their Gulf Security Project. You must be able to read Farsi or Arabic, so if you can’t, you may wan to reach out to them about other opportunities.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about the Institute for the Study of War?

Arthritis Foundation

Willy Franzen — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:02:30 +0000

While I was fishing yesterday (in a winter hat during the month of June I might add), I was tying knots, casting, wading through the river, and catching and releasing lots of fish. Though I wouldn’t by any means call it a strenuous workout, I was certainly putting all of my joints to use–from my fingers to my ankles. Most young people take for granted that their bodies work like they were built to, but it’s not so easy for some people. We often associate arthritis with aging, and it’s definitely linked to that, but it’s a group of disorders that can affect people of all ages (2/3 of people with arthritis are under the age of 65 according to the CDC). There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions, which is why theArthritis Foundation was founded in 1948. They’re an Atlanta, GA based non-profit organization that “helps people take control of arthritis by providing public health education; pursuing public policy and legislation; and conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis.” Considering how debilitating arthritis can be for the more than 50 million people who suffer from it, it’s a good thing that the Arthritis Foundation is doing what they do.

Joint Their Team

In just over 60 years of existence, the Arthritis Foundation has invested more than $400 million through grants to researchers which has resulted “in major treatment advances for most arthritis diseases.” They continue to fund research at an extremely high level, and they’ll keep doing it as long as arthritis is a problem. In addition to the research, the Arthritis Foundation offers community-based services like self-help courses, water and land-based exercise classes, instructional videotapes, and more, while also advocating “to local and national governments on behalf of the 46 million Americans with arthritis and chronic joint symptoms.” They seem to be doing great work that really helps to make the lives of millions of people better. If you’d like to be a part of what the Arthritis Foundation is doing, check out their Jobs page. At their National Office they’re looking for a Community Outreach Coordinator, a Consumer Health Marketing Coordinator, and a Web Marketing Specialist. They also have positions with local chapter available like Special Events Coordinator (Cedar Rapids, IA). Take a look and see what appeals to you.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Do you have arthritis?

Center for Science in the Public Interest

Willy Franzen — Sun, 22 May 2011 14:57:42 +0000

You wouldn’t think that I’m actually happy when people unsubscribe from this list, but if it means that they landed a job or internship, then I’m as pleased as can be. I always try to find out where former subscribers go to work so that I can tell you about opportunities at those places (e-mail me at willy@onedayonejob.com if you have a recommendation). One reader e-mailed me and told me that she went to work at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which is a non-profit organization that acts “as the organized voice of the American public on nutrition, food safety, health and other issues.” They’re based in Washington, DC, and they’ve been acting in the public interest since 1971. The organization’s main goals are to “educate the public, advocate government policies that are consistent with scientific evidence on health and environmental issues, and counter industry’s powerful influence on public opinion and public policies.” Most of us forget how important of an issue food actually is, but it’s a major public health issue that is only getting worse.

The Food Detectives

The Center for Science in the Public Interest has an interesting funding model. Instead of constantly soliciting for donations and chasing down grants, they publish and sell subscriptions to the Nutrition Action Healthletter. It’s circulated to nearly 2 million people, and it’s completely ad free. Some people call the Center for Science in the Public Interest the “food police,” but they prefer to be called the “food detectives.” Whatever you want to call them, they’re focused on eliminating many of the negative externalities that are caused by today’s food industry. To learn more about the organization, you should definitely watch this video from the organization’s founder Michael Jacobson, Ph.D (e-mail readers may need to click through).

The video mentions some of the many accomplishments of the CSPI. The list is extremely long, and it includes some really impressive things like winning a “decade-long campaign” to pass “a federal law requiring nutrition labeling of packaged foods and a ban on deceptive health claims.” If you want to be part of future CSPI wins, then you should head over to their Jobs page. Right now they have a few interesting positions open: Project Assistant – Nutrition Action Healthletter, Research Associate, and Policy Associate – Health Promotion Policy. If you’re big on nutrition, this could be a great place to work.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think about what the CSPI does?

Common Cause

Willy Franzen — Sat, 14 May 2011 14:17:30 +0000

It always helps to have someone hold you accountable, whether it’s to keep you from cheating on a paper or cheating on a diet (those are links to this week’s relevant posts on iParadigms and Weight Watchers, respectively). But it’s not only individuals that need to be held accountable. What about our government? That’s what Democracy and a system of elections is all about, but we all know that it doesn’t quite work as planned. I think most would agree that our government is constantly doing things against our interests. Common Cause is a Washington, DC based non-profit (lobbying organization) that is “a vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process and to hold their elected leaders accountable to the public interest.” Defining “the public interest” can get a little hairy depending on your point of view, but there’s no doubt that our government can do a better job of serving it (whatever it is).

Be Accountable for Your Job Search

Common Cause claims to be nonpartisan, but their Wikipedia page mentions that publications including The Washington Post, The New York Times, Newsweek, TIME, and USA Today have identified the organization as liberal. In other words, they’re all about government accountability when it comes to a certain set of issues that align with their political goals. There’s nothing wrong with that, but they could probably be a little more intellectually honest when describing themselves. The issues that they focus on include:

Increase participation in the political process,
Advance campaign finance reforms that make people and ideas more important than money,
Make certain that government is open, ethical and accountable,
Remove barriers to voting and ensure that our voting systems are accurate and accessible,
Increase the diversity of voices and ownership in media, to make media more responsive to the needs of citizens in a democracy and to protect the editorial independence of public broadcasting, and to
Make certain that public policy on health care, defense spending, climate change and other issues reflects the needs and priorities of our citizens, not special interests.

Obviously, these are simplifications of their positions on each of these issues, so you should go here to get a more in-depth look at what they’re doing to hold the government more accountable. You’ll probably also want to check out Common Cause’s Action Items. If you like what you see, then it’s time to take a look at their Jobs page. Right now they’re looking for a Policy Advocate (Sacramento/Northern California) and a Policy/Advocacy Fellow (California). Both jobs look like good fits for new or recent grads, so give the job descriptions a good look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Common Cause?

One Economy Corporation

Willy Franzen — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 15:13:21 +0000

We’re extremely lucky to be coming of age in a time when the Internet is opening up so many economic opportunities. When I graduated from college, I had no idea what was possible. As I became more and more frustrated with my job search, I started to look at online business models. Five years later I’ve built a profitable business that has helped people land awesome jobs and internships. Without today’s technology, I never could have built what I did so cheaply, which is why I’m convinced that making new technologies available to the masses at affordable prices is the key to economic growth. That’s why I’m so interested by the Washington, DC based One Economy Corporation. They’re “a global non-profit organization that leverages the power of technology and connects underserved communities around the world to vital information that will improve their lives.”

Where Do You Fit in One Economy?

One Economy works in a number of areas, but their big focus is on making the Internet and all of the information it provides access to available to all people. One Economy separates what they do into a few categories: Public-Purpose Media, Access Services, Digital Connectors, Broadband Mapping, Global Initiatives, and Sustainable Broadband Adoption. It’s amazing how many societal problems Internet access can help with–health care, education, and unemployment are just a few of them. I just hope that the broadband access that One Economy provides blocks the single greatest threat to economic prosperity: Farmville. But seriously, One Economy has been working in this space for a long time, and they’re having a serious impact. To learn more about their results, you should really read their most recent annual report. If you’d like to be a part of One Economy, then head over to their Jobs page. Current postings include Accounts Payable Clerk (Washington, DC), Guam Regional Staff Person (Guam), and Network Design Engineer (Winston Salem, NC). They also have some positions posted on Idealist including Web UI Developer (Portland, OR) and Community Technology Associate (San Jose, CA). There’s lots of variety here, so give the positions a closer look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about One Economy?

National Bureau of Asian Research

Willy Franzen — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 16:00:47 +0000

I really hope that I get to travel to Asia at some point in my life, especially Japan. I think it would be fascinating to experience a society that is quite similar to the United States in terms of its economy and technology, yet so different culturally. When I think about it, I’m amazed at how far America’s relationship with Asian countries has come over the past 70 or so years. We’ve gone from wars with Japan, Korea, and Vietnam to economic battles with Japan and China. Now our economy is deeply intertwined with that of China, and the fight against Communism is nearly forgotten. Even though our country’s relationships with Asian countries have changed over the years, it’s still extremely important that we work to understand them better. That’s what the National Bureau of Asian Research is all about. They’re a Seattle, WA based non-profit organization that “conducts advanced independent research on strategic, political, economic, globalization, health, and energy issues affecting U.S. relations with Asia.” They were founded in 1989 when the landscape was quite different from what it is today, but their mission is just as relevant.

Explore Everything Asia

By “drawing upon an extensive network of the world’s leading specialists and leveraging the latest technology,” the National Bureau of Asian Research is able to bridge “the academic, business, and policy arenas.” As important as doing their research, another key to NBR’s work is disseminating their research. They do this “through briefings, publications, conferences, Congressional testimony, and email forums, and by collaborating with leading institutions worldwide.” If you want to get a feel for some of NBR’s past work, you can take a look at this history of their first fifteen years. Another part of NBR’s mission is training “the next generation of Asia specialists.” This means that they’re big on Fellowships and Internships. It’s already too late for The Next Generation Leadership in Asian Affairs Program (deadline was January 15), and the Bridge Award Program seems to be limited to recipients of the Boren Fellowship; however, NBR also has a Jobs page. The only position posted is for an Accounts Payable Coordinator, which isn’t all that relevant to what NBR does. However, you can keep an eye out for other opportunities that might appear or you can reach out to them to see if there are any other options. Remember, training the next generation of Asian specialists is part of their mission.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have you ever been to Asia?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Willy Franzen — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 13:56:39 +0000

Generally, we as a society trust scientists. We see them as unbiased and smarter than us, so we look to them when we need answers to complex questions. However, we often don’t respond to those answers as well as we should. Part of the problem is that science is ever changing—what was thought to be true last year has now been updated (or reversed) based on new research. When you have different experts on the same subject saying different things, you as a layperson don’t know whom to listen to. But when scientists come together on an issue and vocally push for action, it’s time to listen. The Union of Concerned Scientists is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1969 “by a group of scientists and students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to protest the militarization of scientific research and promote science in the public interest.” They’re based in Cambridge, MA, and they are “now an alliance of more than 250,000 citizens and scientists” with members “from all walks of life: parents and businesspeople, biologists and physicists, teachers and students.”

Show Your Concern

The Union of Concerned Scientists focuses on three fronts: government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices. By being vocal in these three areas, they hope to help build a safer and healthier world. The key area of focus for the Union of Concerned Scientists is very clearly the environment, which makes sense if you look at their specific program areas which include Scientific Integrity, Global Warming, Clean Vehicles, Clean Energy, Nuclear Power, Nuclear Weapons and Global Security, and Food and Agriculture. If you want a closer look at the kind of work that the Union of Concerned Scientists does, then you can take a look at their history of accomplishments. If that list inspires you, then it’s time to start thinking about getting a job with the Union of Concerned Scientists. Their Jobs page shows two openings that look well suited for a new or recent grad: Benefits and Accounting Associate (Cambridge, MA) and Program and Outreach Associate (Washington, DC). Both jobs look really interesting, so see if they’re what you’re looking for.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about the Union of Concerned Scientists?

Hip Hop Caucus

Willy Franzen — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 14:00:53 +0000

Having looked at as many non-profit jobs as I have over the past three years, I must admit that many of the organizations start to blend together. It happens with companies too, but I feel as though there is distinctly less uniqueness in the non-profit world—maybe because competition affects the “marketplace” very differently when it comes to non-profits. It just seems that there are many organizations that fill similar niches. When I came across the Hip Hop Caucus, it stood out from the pack—probably based on the organization’s name alone—they just sound different. They’re a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that “aims to promote political activism for young U.S. voters using hip-hop music and culture.” Culture is always a great tool for pushing change forward, and hip hop culture is especially vibrant.

Caucus with the Beat

The Hip Hop Caucus works to “to empower young people in urban communities to participate in the policy making process,” and they do this with a focus on promoting “social and political equality in the areas of economics, education, health care, housing, the environment and social justice.” While there’s a significant portion of hip hop culture—especially in the mainstream—that has a message at odds with that goal, there’s also a big part of the culture that is much more conscious. And my take is that as Hip Hop Caucus uses hip hop to better the world, they’ll also end up bettering hip hop culture. Hip Hop Caucus is run by Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., who happens to be the same guy who helped create P. Diddy’s “Vote or Die” campaign, so he has experience with this stuff. If you’d like to join his team, you can find Hip Hop Caucus’ jobs on Idealist. Right now they’re only recruiting for senior positions in Program Marketing and Development, but I still think you might want to reach out to them if your interests align with theirs.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think of Hip Hop Caucus?

Disaster Accountability Project

Willy Franzen — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 16:33:33 +0000

We got a few inches of snow here in Chicago yesterday. It wasn’t an all out disaster like it might have been in a southern state where an inch of snow is cause for shutting down everything, but I’m sure it caused a few headaches for people. Even simple things like a small snowstorm remind us that we can’t control everything. Disasters, whether they’re caused by weather, accidents, terrorists, or negligence, are always a risk. There’s not much that we can do to prevent most types of disasters, but we can always be better prepared to cope with them. The Disaster Accountability Project is a West Hartford, CT based non-profit organization that aims to improve “the nation’s disaster management systems through public accountability, citizen oversight and empowerment, whistle-blower engagement, and policy research.”

Finding Opportunity in a Disaster

It should be no surprise that the Disaster Accountability Project was started in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. It was a natural disaster that was actually predicted to happen (even if only a few days in advance), yet it was mismanaged at nearly every level. If our governments can’t adequately prepare for what they know is coming, how will they ever deal with things like major earthquakes that come out of nowhere? The Disaster Accountability Project exists not only to push for better government preparedness, but also to blow the whistle when disasters have already happened and aren’t being addressed adequately. If this is a topic that you’re passionate, then you should get involved with the Disaster Accountability Project. They don’t have any jobs posted right now, but they have a ton of volunteer opportunities that could turn into jobs in the future. They’re especially looking for people with the following skills: online research (basic, policy, legal), organizing & outreach, fundraising (small and large donations, grant research and writing, evening planning), writing, graphic design, and web design & programming.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Are you prepared for a disaster?

Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

Willy Franzen — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 16:40:13 +0000

If you watch the news enough, there’s a good chance that you’ll never want to leave the house. The world is a dangerous place, and things like terrorist attacks, Black Friday stampedes, and infectious diseases are out there waiting for us. Obviously most of these dangers are overhyped—but who knows what to believe and what not to believe? Hopefully our public health agencies and their employees. They’re the ones that we need to be well informed and well connected, which is why the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials exists. It’s a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that is “dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and to assuring excellence in state-based public health practice.” They do this by bringing public health officials together and keeping them connected.

Join the Association

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials has a vision of “healthy people thriving in a nation free of preventable illness and injury” and a mission “to transform public health within states and territories to help members dramatically improve health and wellness.” These are things that everybody can get behind. The ASTHO’s About page actually gives a great overview of the organization, so I recommend that you give it a look and browse its links. You’ll start to better understand what the organization does and how they work. Once you’ve done that, you’ll want to check out the Associate of State and Territorial Health Officials’ job postings on Idealist. Right now they’re looking for an Immunization and Infectious Disease Policy Analyst and a Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Program Coordinator. Both look relatively suitable for new or recent grads, so give them a look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about the ASTHO?

The Cadmus Group

Willy Franzen — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:02:31 +0000

I’m sure that you keep hearing about the green job revolution and how environmentalist ideals are actually going to start fueling economic growth (instead of hindering it), yet you’re probably wondering where all of these opportunities are. Most of the green entry level jobs that I come across are either in the non-profit or energy sectors. However, if you look a little more closely there are a lot more options—some of which have been around a lot longer than you would have expected. Take The Cadmus Group in Watertown, MA for example. They were founded in 1983 to “take advantage of a change in how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) procured contractor support,” and they’ve evolved into a leading environmental consulting firm. They’ve done this by gathering “the best minds across a variety of disciplines to help address the nation’s most pressing environmental, energy, and health challenges.

Cadmus Was a Phoenician Prince

The Cadmus Group works in a variety of areas that include Water, Energy Services, Social Marketing and Communications, Green Building, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, Strategic Environmental Management, and International Development. There’s a lot there, but they’re a decent sized consulting firm, so it makes sense for them to cover a lot of service areas. To get specifics on the kind of work that they do in each of these areas you can look at this section on their website. You may also want to read through their blog, although it hasn’t been updated in quite a while. Although Cadmus doesn’t get specific about client projects on their website, they provide plenty of information for you to be able to figure out where you might fit in. Their Careers page says that they generally seek applicants with backgrounds in Engineering, Public Policy, Public Finance, Statistics, Economics, Ecological Modeling, Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment, Ecosystem Analysis, Media and Marketing, Public Relations. You can find their current openings listed here. In terms of entry level positions, you’ll want to look at the following jobs: Entry Level Communications Professional (Arlington, VA), Part-Time Computer Support Technician (Watertown, MA), Part-Time Environmental Research and Policy Analyst (Watertown, MA), Research Analyst (Arlington, VA), Research Analyst (Watertown, MA), Research Analyst – Energy Services (Watertown, MA), and Research Analyst/Analyst (Arlington, VA). And in addition the locations that I mentioned, they also have offices in Portland, OR; Boulder, CO; Salt Lake City, UT; Los Angeles, CA; Helena, MT; and Madison, WI.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about The Cadmus Group?

Environment America

Willy Franzen — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 16:44:36 +0000

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Now, I’m not one to worry much about Global Warming, especially when I’m enjoying a snap of 60-plus degree weather in Chicago in mid-November, but that doesn’t mean I’m not concerned about the environment. There’s no doubt that our way of life has numerous negative impacts on the natural world around us, and we’re not doing enough to minimize those impacts. Environment America is a nationwide, non-profit “federation of state-based, citizen-funded environmental advocacy organizations” that is headquartered in Washington, DC. Their strategy is focused on combining “independent research, practical ideas and tough-minded advocacy to overcome the opposition of powerful special interests and win real results for the environment.” (Yes, they’re another special interest that is fighting special interests.) They’ve been around for 30 years, and I’m sure that they’re going to keep on going as long as mankind is harming the environment.

Try a New Environment

While much of Environment America’s work is focused at the state level, some of of the broader initiatives that they’re currently working on are Repower America (Green Energy), Stopping Global Warming, Our Rivers, Lakes & Streams, and Stop Toxic Pollution. As you can see, Environment America spreads their work across a lot of issues, which means that they have a ton of different job opportunities. You can find the full rundown here. For students and recent grads, their Fellowship Program is probably the best fit (and I believe potential locations include Mobile, AL; Little Rock and Fayetville, AR; Phoenix, AZ; Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco and Santa Barbara, CA; Denver, CO; Hartford, CT; Washington, DC; Miami and Tallahassee, FL; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Des Moines, IA; New Orleans, LA; Portland, ME; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Ann Arbor, MI; Minneapolis, MN; St. Louis, MO; Gulfport, MS; Missoula, MT; Las Vegas, NV; Concord, NH; Trenton, NJ; Albuquerque, NM; Albany and New York, NY; Raleigh, NC; Columbus, OH; Portland, OR; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA; Providence, RI; Austin, TX; Richmond, VA; Seattle, WA; and Madison, WI), but you may also want to check out positions like Communication and Development – Grants Associate (Los Angeles, CA), Financial Assistant (Washington, DC), Executive Assistant (Boston, MA or Washington, DC), Communications Associate (Boston, MA or Philadelphia, PA), Web Associate (Boston, MA), and Online Organizing Software Developer (Denver, CO). There are all kinds of options, so give everything a good look.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What environmental issues are you most concerned with?

Trick or Vote

Willy Franzen — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 15:12:24 +0000

Now, Halloween isn’t the most job search friendly holiday. Not only do you have to worry about incriminating pictures of you in your costume will be posted on Facebook, but you can’t exactly walk around from employer to employer and say, “Trick or Job!” Still, Halloween is a $6 billion industry by itself, so you shouldn’t completely ignore it in your job search. However, it’s a Sunday which means that we’re looking at non-profit jobs. It’s not as easy as you might think to find a non-profit that you can tie into Halloween. Last year we took a look at Children’s Dental Health Project, and this year we’re going to take a look at Portland, OR based Trick or Vote. They are a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that has volunteers “dress up in costume on Halloween and knock on doors in their neighborhoods reminding people to vote.”

Trick or Job!

Now, this idea may seem a little weird, but it makes sense. Apparently, “knocking on doors increases voter turnout by a whopping 8-12%, more than any other method,” yet most people are uncomfortable knocking on strangers’ doors—except for on Halloween. It’s all about getting out the vote, and Trick or Vote has found an extremely effective way to do that. In 2008 they had “30 organizations operating in 35 cities,” and “costumed volunteers knocked on 100,000 doors on that single night.” And the plan was to go even bigger in 2010. Obviously Trick or Vote’s operations are extremely time sensitive, so now is probably the worst time to think about getting involved, but you should still reach out to them and see if there will be any opportunities in the future.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Did you dress up for Halloween?

Institute for Market Transformation

Willy Franzen — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 15:31:24 +0000

I firmly believe that most situations can be made better by allowing markets to operate freely; however, I’m well aware that there are also plenty of examples of market failure. The ultimate examples are any markets that have a direct, or even indirect, effect on the environment. The reason for this is that pollution is a cost that is usually distributed across large groups of people over a very long time, so they don’t realize that they’re getting a raw deal (or in some instances they may think that they’re getting a worse deal than they are). Nobody is ever in favor of pollution, yet we constantly face tradeoffs. The Institute for Market Transformation is a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that is pursuing “various strategies for the creation of permanent, self-sustaining success of energy-efficient technologies in the marketplace.” Instead of fighting the market, they want to use it in combination with new technology to help us make the right choices when it comes to the environment.

Transform the Job Market

The Institute for Market Transformation operates in a number of areas including “technical and market research, educational outreach, and the crafting of building codes and other policy and program initiatives.” Two of the main levers that the IMT uses to transform markets are stimulation of consumer demand and stimulation of supplier innovation. Another key focus of the IMT is strengthening “linkages among property value, green building and energy performance.” Once again, that gives people an incentive to do the right thing. If you’re intrigued by the philosophy behind the Institute for Market Transformation, they you’ll probably want to take a look at their Jobs page. They currently have two positions posted: Program Manager: Energy Efficiency Finance Policy and Program Manager: Green Leasing and Federal Buildings. It’s kind of unclear how much experience they want for each, but the lack of specifics should mean that it’s worth a try.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you know about the Institute for Market Transformation?

Global Green USA

Willy Franzen — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 14:57:58 +0000

As far as I can tell, most of the non-profits that we’ve featured here have originated in the United States—even the ones that do most of their work internationally. Global Green USA is an exception. They are “the American Arm of Green Cross International (GCI), which was created by President Mikhail S. Gorbachev to foster a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future by reconnecting humanity with the environment.” Global Green USA is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA, and they also have offices in New Orleans, LA; Washington, DC; and New York, NY. Though they do work on some international issues with GCI, their domestic focus is on “fighting global climate change through [their] green affordable housing initiatives, National Green Schools Initiative, national and reginonal green building policies, advocacy and education.”

Are You Globally Green?

The idea of a “sustainable and secure future” is something that everyone can get behind. Global Green USA’s main projects include Rebuilding New Orleans, Building Green Cities and Schools, Promoting Climate Change Policy, Encouraging Dialogue on Security, and Driving Clean Water Initiatives. As our environmental challenges continue to change, I’m sure that Global Green USA will adapt to address them. If you want to be part of a “sustainable and secure future,” then you should check out jobs at Global Green USA. Right now they’re looking for a Database & Development Associate, and they are also involved with the The Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship, which you can find out about here.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Global Green USA?