The Sustainable CT Fellowship Program places highly qualified fellows across the state’s Councils of Governments (COGs) to help cities and towns become registered, certified, or recertified with Sustainable CT during the summer. The COGs serve as Connecticut’s regional planning organizations. Click here for more information on COG locations.
Fellows will assist cities and towns within the various COG territories and will assist on COG projects that align with Sustainable CT goals. Fellows may or may not be physically sited in a COG office; there may be opportunities for hybrid work locations.
Fellows will gain valuable experience working within a professional setting and will be directly engaged with cutting-edge sustainability initiatives, local government operations, and regional coordination and operation. Fellows will build a deep professional network that spans across local, state and regional government, as well as with nonprofits and organizations supporting sustainability initiatives in the state of Connecticut.
To learn more about the Sustainable CT Fellowship, you can hear from 2023 Fellows in a recent Sustainable CT podcast. Additionally, alumni of the Fellowship program were also featured in a podcast (scroll down on the same link). Many program alumni go on to work for municipalities, regional planning agencies, and nonprofits and businesses that work on a variety of topics related to sustainability.
How To Apply
Requirements
Students must be enrolled in a post-secondary degree program or must have graduated in the most recent academic year (2023-2024). Students must be either enrolled in a Connecticut college or university or be a permanent resident of the state. Students must have maintained a GPA of 3.0. Students of all majors will be considered.
Technical Skills
Candidates must demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills, the ability to work independently, and be familiar with Microsoft Office applications.
Application
Application materials are due February 19, 2024 by 5:00 pm EST. Email applications to Dorothy Piszczek at dorothyp@sustainablect.org. Applications must include the following:
- Written OR video cover letter (no longer than 1 page or 2 minutes) highlighting what makes you an ideal candidate for the Fellowship
- Resume
- Names and contact information for 3 references (must include a phone number for each reference). Your reference might be a current or former professor, teacher, employer, mentor, coach, extracurricular leader, etc.
- Writing sample (no more than 3 pages/1500 words; this can be a piece composed for a class)
- Copy of unofficial transcript
- List of top 3 preferred COG locations
Timeline
- Applications are due by 5:00 pm EST, February 19, 2024. Mail all application materials to Dorothy Piszczek at dorothyp@sustainablect.org.
- Sustainable CT will notify selected candidates by early April 2024.
Fellowship Job Duties
Sustainable CT Fellow duties include:
- Research sustainability initiatives in Connecticut municipalities.
- Inform municipalities of resources, grants, success stories, for implementation of Sustainable CT actions.
- Assist municipal staff and leaders in performing and documenting sustainability initiatives for Sustainable CT certification.
- Maintain open communication channels with relevant municipal staff and elected officials.
- Identify opportunities for multi-town collaboration between Sustainable CT municipalities.
- Research implementation strategies and resources for towns pursuing different actions.
- Identify potential partners/resources, i.e. in-town non-profits or organizations.
- Participate in Sustainable CT Fellow trainings and events.
- Assist with COG projects that align with Sustainable CT objectives.
- Produce an end of internship report that documents successes and areas for improvement.
Other Important Information
Duration
- The fellowship program will run approximately 12-weeks during the summer (roughly May 28 - August 23).
- Start/end dates will be determined by the Fellow and their assigned COG.
Work Location
- Work location varies by COG office, with most COGs operating with a hybrid in-office schedule. Fellows will report as determined by their COG supervisor to their assigned COG office. All attempts will be made to place Fellows at their preferred COG location.
- A list of CT COG locations can be found here.
- Housing and transportation are not provided.
- While working, Fellows must be physically located in Connecticut. Fellows living out of state during the Fellowship will not be considered.
Pay
- This is a paid fellowship ($17.00 per hour).
- Fellows may work up to 40 hours per week.
Transportation
- Transportation is not provided.
Equal Opportunity
- Sustainable CT, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Sustainable CT, Inc. will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, criminal record, intellectual disability, mental disability or physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is shown by Sustainable CT that such disability prevents performance of the work involved, in any manner prohibited by the laws of the United States or of the State of Connecticut.
For more information, contact: Jessica LeClair at jessical@sustainablect.org