Garden and Food Justice Education Coordinator

Organization: Community Action Marin
Openings: #1
Work Schedule: In-Person, Mon-Fri
Project Description:

• The 2026-2027 CivicSpark Fellow will support Community Action Marin’s Food & Climate Justice and Early Childhood Education programs across eight school garden sites, working alongside site staff, teachers, students, and volunteers.
• A key goal is to expand CAM’s local “workforce” capacity (staff + volunteers) by building repeatable tools for garden growth (e.g. site assessments, expansion plans/designs, planting/harvest data, volunteer engagement plans, garden lesson plans) and by helping capture impact metrics and stories that strengthen fundraising and grant applications (e.g. program narratives, photo documentation, and outcomes tracking).
• The Fellow will help translate community-identified needs for healthy organic food access, culturally relevant nutrition education, and climate resilience into practical improvements at school garden sites. The project addresses ongoing planning challenges, such as sustaining multi-site gardens over time
  (infrastructure, irrigation, planting, harvesting, weeding, maintenance, volunteer
  engagement, and continuity of programming) while expanding garden-based education and family outreach that builds long-term food/health equity,
  environmental literacy, and a stronger connection to fresh food and the outdoors.

Existing Buildings Resilience Upgrades and Decarbonization

Organization: City of Berkeley, Office of Energy & Sustainable Development
Openings: #1
Work Schedule: Hybrid, 3 days in office (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
Project Description:

The City of Berkeley’s Office of Energy & Sustainable Development (OESD) is a small, mighty, and close-knit team within the City’s Planning & Development Department. OESD works on a variety of climate mitigation and resiliency policies and programs, including building decarbonization for low to moderate-income residents, energy and resilience upgrades in municipal buildings, and green home and transportation community events.

• Support implementation of the City of Berkeley’s Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO), a first-in-the-nation policy focused on improving health and safety, increasing energy efficiency and resilience, promoting electrification, and reducing emissions in existing buildings.
• Conduct targeted outreach and engagement with building owners and new homeowners to increase understanding of updated BESO requirements and building energy systems.
• Provide customer service and technical support to community members, helping ensure compliance, satisfaction, and successful adoption of energy efficiency and electrification upgrades.
• Expand staff capacity to deliver effective community outreach and education related to BESO program updates.
• Conduct research on renter protections in small buildings to assess current policies and identify opportunities to strengthen protections.
• Support preparation for the next phase of BESO Resilience Upgrades for 3–4 unit buildings, anticipated to begin in 2028.
• Assist with outreach and education efforts related to the Bay Area Air District Zero NOx Rules, including informing the public about upcoming requirements to transition away from gas water heaters and HVAC systems.
• Contribute to broader efforts to improve indoor air quality, building resilience, and community-wide emissions reductions through policy implementation and public engagement.

Climate Action & Resiliency Plan (CARP) Implementation

Organization: City of Alameda
Openings: #1
Work Schedule: Hybrid, 3-4 days in office
Project Description:

The City of Alameda Sustainability and Resilience Division leads Alameda’s efforts to address climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build community resilience to sea level rise and flooding. The team works closely with regional partners, community organizations, and residents. Staff foster a collaborative, solutions-focused workplace culture that values innovation, equity, and professional growth. Fellows joining the team can expect a supportive environment that encourages independent initiative while providing mentorship, project management experience, and exposure to multi-department and regional coordination.

MTC Regional Planning Fellow

Organization: Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Openings: #1
Work Schedule: Hybrid, 2 day in office (Tuesday, Wednesday)
Project Description:

This project serves MTC, ABAG, and local governments as they undertake long-range planning for housing, land use, and community wellbeing. As communities work to address these issues many local governments face real capacity constraints — from limited staff time to scarce resources — that slow down progress on regional goals.

Across the region, residents and local governments identify housing affordability, neighborhood stability, wildfire safety, and changing environmental conditions as top concerns. Regional and local governments are particularly challenged by:

• Limited technical expertise or staffing to evaluate emerging planning issues, prepare data for decision-making, or develop local policies to implement long-term plans (e.g. implement a local wildfire and seismic retrofit programs.)
• Difficulty incorporating complex land use, housing, or environmental information into accessible materials that can inform long‑range planning decisions.

This project responds to these challenges by delivering new research and resources that support informed planning at both the regional and local scales.

Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro: Resident-Led Neighborhood Planning in Marin County, California

Organization: Canal Alliance
Openings: #1
Work Schedule: In-Person, Mon-Thurs (4/10 schedule)
Project Description:

Canal Alliance is a leading nonprofit serving low-income immigrants and their families in Marin County. Since 1982, the organization has supported community members in accessing education, building financial stability, and pursuing pathways out of poverty. Canal Alliance’s staff reflects the community it serves: more than 80% of employees are immigrants or children of immigrants and speak two or more languages, bringing lived experience and cultural competency that strengthens trust and connection with clients.

• Support community-driven planning in the Canal neighborhood through Canal Alliance’s Planning, Advocacy, and Civic Engagement (PACE) program and the Nuestro Canal Nuestro Futuro (NCNF) Initiative.
• Expand capacity of the PACE team by providing dedicated Planning Fellow support to advance project implementation.
• Document and elevate community priorities to inform a Neighborhood Vision Plan focused on a climate-resilient, safe, healthy, and vibrant Canal community.
• Advance planning and outreach efforts across key priority areas: Housing, Climate & Sustainability, Transportation, Health & Safety, Education, Economic Development, and Cultural Preservation.
• Strengthen community engagement through outreach, leadership development, and participatory planning processes that center resident voice and power-sharing.
• Support coordination and engagement of the 20-member Consejo (Resident Advisory Council) to ensure community-led decision-making and sustained neighborhood impact.

City of Concord Housing and Sustainability Policy/Program Implementation

Organization: City of Concord
Openings: #1
Work Schedule: Hybrid, 2 days in office (Tuesday, Wednesday) (Hybrid after 90 days)
Project Description:

This project would serve the Planning and Housing Divisions within the City of Concord’s Community Development Department. The needs and goals of this project include:

• Community planning assistance to implement community-supported and City Council-adopted plans and policies.
• Implementation of the City’s Rent Registry and affordable housing programs.
• Electronic conversion of physical files to support streamlined record keeping for affordable housing programs.
• Implementation of the adopted Climate Action Plan.
• Assistance with updates to the Climate Action Plan.

Berkeley Clean Water Program: Trash Reduction, Monitoring, and Community Stewardship Initiative

Organization: City of Berkeley
Openings: #1
Work Schedule: Hybrid, (1 day remote after 2 months, 2 days remote after 3 months)
Project Description:

The City of Berkeley Public Works Department serves a diverse and environmentally engaged community along the eastern shoreline of the San Francisco Bay. The department works to maintain public infrastructure, protect natural resources, and support programs that improve environmental quality and community well-being. The Clean Water Program focuses on reducing pollution entering local creeks and the San Francisco Bay by implementing trash reduction strategies, supporting watershed stewardship, and promoting public awareness about pollution prevention.

• Expand staff capacity to support the Clean Water Program’s efforts in trash monitoring, data analysis, and program implementation.
• Improve collection, management, and evaluation of trash monitoring data to inform reduction strategies and regulatory compliance.
• Advance implementation of trash reduction initiatives to reduce pollution entering storm drains, local creeks, and the San Francisco Bay.
• Enhance public education and outreach through development of accessible materials (e.g., infographics, resources) to promote pollution prevention.
• Support community engagement efforts, including coordination of cleanup activities and partnerships that encourage participation.
• Protect water quality, wildlife, and recreational spaces by reducing trash impacts in neighborhoods, waterways, and shoreline areas.
• Strengthen public awareness and long-term behavior change to support clean water and environmental stewardship goals.

Strategic Plan for Local Housing and Land Use Solutions

Organization: Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Openings: #1
Work Schedule: Hybrid, 2 days in office (Tuesday, Wednesday)
Project Description:

This project supports MTC, ABAG, and local governments across the San Francisco Bay Area in advancing inclusive, connected, and climate-smart housing and land use systems.

• Expand local government capacity to advance housing and land use planning efforts despite staff and resource constraints.
• Evaluate existing and past regional initiatives to identify gaps, best practices, and opportunities for improved support.
• Develop forward-looking goals and strategies to strengthen regional support for local housing and land use planning.
• Support implementation of equitable housing strategies that reduce displacement and increase access to affordable housing.
• Advance climate-smart land use patterns that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support sustainable mobility.
• Promote development of healthier, more connected communities through integrated land use and transportation planning.

Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2.0

Organization: City of Union City
Openings: #1
Work Schedule: In-Person, Mon- Fri (9/80 schedule)
Project Description:

The City of Union City is the primary agency served by this project, which will update its Climate Action Plan to address evolving state requirements and local climate challenges. This effort, known as Climate Action Plan 2.0, will strengthen the City’s capacity to track progress, meet regulatory obligations, and establish a clear, long-term strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through 2040. The project also supports internal staff capacity by providing technical analysis, policy development, and potential grant and funding strategy guidance needed to implement climate initiatives effectively.
Project Goals:

• Establish a comprehensive and actionable Climate Action Plan 2.0 that sets achievable greenhouse gas reduction targets aligned with state laws.
• Strengthen the City’s organizational capacity to implement, monitor, and fund climate initiatives, including identifying grant opportunities and improving long-term program delivery.
• Advance equitable and resilient climate strategies that reduce emissions, expand clean energy access, and prepare the community for climate impacts such as extreme heat, wildfire risk, drought, and sea-level rise.
• This project addresses several key community-identified priorities and planning challenges. These include ensuring climate strategies prioritize vulnerable populations, expanding energy efficiency across buildings, improving transit and active transportation options, encouraging mixed-use development, promoting community engagement, and preparing for long-term environmental risks through proactive resilience planning.

Bay Area Long-Range Planning Fellowship

Organization: Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Openings: #1
Work Schedule: Hybrid, 2 days in office (Tuesday, Wednesday)
Project Description:

The fellow will work with regional planners to develop the first phase of the four-year Plan Bay Area 2060 planning process. A major work element is expected to support the development of a regional existing conditions report. Separately, the fellow will support the Equity Priority Communities Refresh Phase 1 Evaluation, which has an emphasis on research and public engagement. Goals for these efforts are:

• Assist in the technical analysis, stakeholder coordination process, and report development of the regional existing conditions. This task will require working across teams at MTC and with regional stakeholders.
• Support public and stakeholder engagement by developing materials, participating in meetings and presentations, and helping to synthesize feedback. This task may require developing memos and meetings summaries to document takeaways and guide revisions to final reports.
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop and implement an analysis framework for project analysis and recommendations for Plan Bay Area 2060.
• Lead research on equity frameworks, data sources, and best practices.

Data Analytics, Visualization, and Dashboarding Fellowship

Organization: Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Openings: #1
Work Schedule: Hybrid, 2 days in office (Tuesday, Wednesday)
Project Description:

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) are the metropolitan planning organization and council of governments for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. The agencies plan for and implement an expansive work portfolio. Fellows can expect to spend a good portion of their average week problem-solving with passionate civil servants in a range of subject areas. As a physical and virtual coordinating hub for the region, MTC/ABAG is often in the host role for regional conversations where staff and elected officials gather to discuss planning challenges. Fellows can expect to participate in workshops, committee meetings, and networking events relevant to the projects they work on as well as others that interest them.

• Support MTC–ABAG and Bay Area local governments in using data to advance shared regional priorities.
• Address capacity gaps that limit local agencies’ ability to apply data effectively across transportation, housing, economic development, and sustainability.
• Expand expertise in data analytics, visualization, and dashboard development as these skills often underrepresented in the public sector.
• Improve community engagement by translating complex regional trends into clear, accessible, and intuitive visual formats.
• Reduce barriers to public participation created by technical or unclear data presentations.
• Deliver timely, accurate data visualizations and interactive dashboards that increase transparency and support informed decision‑making across the Bay Area.

Equitable Public Engagement on Access & Youth

Organization: Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Openings: #1
Work Schedule: Hybrid, 2-3 days in office (Tuesday, Wednesday)
Project Description:

This project serves MTC, ABAG, school districts, and local governments by strengthening regional youth engagement and leadership development. The CivicSpark Fellow role is structured around the following core goals and needs:

• Design, update, and deliver an annual youth academy curriculum that centers public policy, equity, and inclusion, and reflects regional priorities and youth learning needs.
• Ensure smooth and effective program operations by managing logistics such as scheduling, venue coordination, supplies, technology needs, and participant transportation.
• Recruit, coordinate, and support instructors, speakers, and volunteers to ensure high quality program delivery and a meaningful learning experience for youth participants.
• Expand access and participation by developing and implementing outreach strategies that promote broad, inclusive, and diverse youth engagement across the region.
• Strengthen partnerships with community based organizations, schools, and local agencies to increase program relevance, deepen impact, and extend reach.
• Evaluate program effectiveness by collecting feedback, analyzing outcomes, and recommending improvements to strengthen future cohorts.
• Support responsible stewardship of program resources by assisting with budget planning, tracking, and ensuring funds are used efficiently and strategically.

Public Engagement Fellow

Organization: Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Openings: #1
Work Schedule: Hybrid, 2 days in office (Tuesday, Wednesday)
Project Description:

The goal of this fellowship is to enhance MTC’s public information and engagement efforts by leveraging a fellow’s fresh perspective and new ideas while simultaneously providing the fellow with an enriching, hands-on experience in the realms of public participation, regional planning, project management and more.

The key priorities for enhancing MTC’s engagement practices include, but are not limited to:

• Expanding MTC’s outreach and engagement to Bay Area youth/young adults, Tribal Governments and people with disabilities.
• Enhance the team’s data collection, management and documentation practices to ensure greater efficiency and more seamless reporting of multi-year engagement findings.
• Contribute to the team’s public information processes to ensure efficient, timely responses to residents’ questions, concerns and needs.
• Contribute to the team’s communications strategy, developing informative content to help better engage a range of audiences.

Carbon-Free Albany

Organization: City of Albany, CA
Openings: #1
Work Schedule: Hybrid, 2 days in office (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday)
Project Description:

The Fellow will provide essential support to meet the City’s goals for greenhouse gas emissions reduction, community resilience, community engagement, and equity by working on a range of projects.

• Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Implementation, including supporting building electrification programs and climate resilience.
• Outreach and education.
• Implementation of policies and program to advance electrification.
• Waste reduction projects, including implementation of the City’s sustainable foodware ordinance for restaurants.