Environmental Studies Intern at Grove Hall

Our Request

Greater Grove Hall Main Streets is looking for students to work on an Environmental Justice project. We are developing a new methodology for creating “Green Zones” that starts at the strategic level, with the hopes of getting integrated into a city’s planning process and we focus on existing environmental justice issues, as a way to deal with future issues such as carbon neutrality and climate change.

Start Date: A student could start now doing a few hours per week, increasing to 32 hours per week over the summer.

Hours Per Week: 32 per week during the summer.

Compensation: $15 per hour.

Remote or In Person – Remote. One visit to the target location in person, the rest can be done online.

Creating a Green Zone in Grove Hall

We would like an environmental study major to:

· Review the aspects of “Governance, Regulation and Policy.” in the prior Green Zone, Eco Districts cases.

· Research the State and Municipal Regulatory Aspects of creating a Green Zone.

· Interview Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) such as those in the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA), The Chief for Environment, Energy and Open Space, and the Commissioner, Environment

· Develop Recommendations and Next steps

We would like the interns to:

· Study Smart City cases, cases from the 100 Resilient Cities, and cases from certified sustainability zones

· Review the 170 cases at the Georgetown Climate Center https://www.georgetownclimate.org/

· Study other potential interventions such e.g. commercial rainwater harvesting, vertical farming, commercial, passive energy heating/cooling systems, urban commercial recycling, commercial waste reduction, and urban wind energy solutions, and sponge cities

· Review/create designs for vertical farming combined with housing.

· Review hydroponic and aquaponic urban farms.

· Interview Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on these topics.

· Review Franklin Park Zoo’s One Health program for potential urban health applications

– Enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem health as a benefit to human health.

– Health benefits of access to nature and greenspace

· Review the City of Boston’s master plan for Franklin Park to look for areas of synergy for improving green infrastructure for the area and improving access to the park’s green spaces for Grove Hall residents

· Develop potential implementation plan/methodology for one of the identified interventions.

· Develop a matrix to score potential interventions based on criteria such as ease of implementation, environmental impact, cost, ability for financing, and impact on racial equity and social justice.

· Present findings to a range of stakeholders (to get our work adopted and/or integrated by others working in this area)

The deliverables for this phase of the project are a presentation and database of potential design interventions and recommendations that would help achieve various environmental goals such as environmental justice, carbon neutrality, and climate resilience.

Students interested should send a cover letter explaining why they are interested in working on a project that involves creating a Green Zone and how this project will help them achieve their career goals. Also, with your cover letter send your resume to Ed Gaskin at ewgaskin@gmail.com If you have any questions please email Ed Gaskin.

Ed Gaskin

Executive Director

Greater Grove Hall Main Streets

617 460-2326

See work from the previous year’s intern here: