Partnerships for Climate Justice in the Bay Area
PCJ in the Bay supports partnerships between Stanford students, faculty and staff and Bay Area community leaders to help build equitable climate change solutions.
Get Involved | Highlights | Partner Organizations | Advisory Board
Why climate change, and why now?
Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to humanity worldwide, including here in the Bay Area. As the effects of sea level rise, extreme heat, and wildfire smoke exacerbate long-standing racial, economic and public health inequities, communities of color are facing the greatest impacts. Addressing these inequities and building community resilience are urgent priorities. At the same time, we need to make drastic changes to our current energy system in order to avoid even more catastrophic impacts in the future. This transition to clean energy must be an equitable one.
What is PCJ in the Bay?
Partnerships for Climate Justice in the Bay Area is a new, five-year initiative to engage undergraduate and graduate students in addressing these challenges in close collaboration with community partner organizations, as well as other departments, programs and centers at Stanford.
PCJ in the Bay seeks to:
- Build climate resilience and a just transition to a green economy in the Bay Area through sustained community partnerships; and
- Expand, deepen and coordinate opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to work toward climate justice in the Bay Area, across all elements of Cardinal Service.
See the current list of PCJ in the Bay partner organizations and 2022 Advisory Board members.
Get Involved!
Climate Summit for San Mateo County - Monday October 3rd
Attend the Climate Summit or live stream the event on Monday, October 3rd to learn about climate and environmental justice issues happening in San Mateo County. Hear from community and nonprofit leaders on the climate hazard adaptation needs of frontline communities and their efforts to meet these challenges. Hosted by Thrive Alliance, Climate Resilient Communities, Nuestra Casa, and Rise South City with support from the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Office of Community Engagement, and the Haas Center for Public Service. Stanford affiliates register for the event here. In addition to a virtual live stream, the Haas Center will be hosting a watch party.
Community Engaged Research Position
Work on a community engaged research project focused on climate justice in the Bay Area. In partnership with Our Communities, Our Bay, this is a unique opportunity for an undergraduate to gain valuable community engaged research experience and mentorship from graduate students and staff. Learn more here and apply by October 9, 2022.
Student position with Nuestra Casa
Nuestra Casa exists to uplift Latino families in East Palo Alto and the mid-peninsula through community education, leadership development, and advocacy. They are seeking community service work study-eligible students for a paid part-time position. Projects can be suited to student interest including: environmental justice research and advocacy, water justice campaigns, communications, photography and video editing. Learn more about Community Service Work-Study and determine eligibility. Please contact Alex Wheeler (aw2@stanford.edu) with questions.
PCJ in the Bay Summer Fellowships
Help advance climate justice by working with a PCJ in the Bay partner during the summer! These paid fellowship opportunities are open to graduate and undergraduate students. The 2022 Summer Fellows have been selected, read their bios here! New opportunities for Summer 2023 will be posted in December. Learn more about this year's fellowships.
Join the PCJ in the Bay Advisory Board
Help guide PCJ in the Bay, and build leadership skills and connections with faculty and community partners in the process! Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to apply. The 2022 student board members have been selected (listed in the Advisory Board member list below) but the opportunity to join the board will be open again in Autumn 2023! Learn more here.
Other ways to get involved
For students: The PCJ in the Bay initiative offers opportunities to get involved across all dimensions of Cardinal Service, as well as through community engaged research. See Highlights below for examples of how students have been involved so far, and stay tuned for a range of new opportunities in the 2022-23 academic year! These will be announced through the Cardinal Service Digest and on the Cardinal Service website.
For potential partner organizations: We are eager to expand our partnerships and find new ways for undergraduate and graduate students to advance equitable climate solutions in the Bay Area. If you are interested in partnering with an academic course, hosting student volunteers, and/or hosting a summer intern to support your work, please reach out to Esther Conrad.
For faculty and staff: There are many ways for faculty and staff to contribute, including:
- Mentoring a student research or capstone project
- Advising a student organization leading a project with a PCJ in the Bay partner
- Teaching a Cardinal Course in collaboration with a PCJ in the Bay partner
- Join the Advisory Board - we seek new members annually in late Fall/early Winter.
To learn more and get involved, contact Esther Conrad.
Highlights
Cardinal Quarter: In Summer 2022, eight undergraduate and graduate students served as the second cohort of PCJ in the Bay Summer Fellows. Each fellow worked with one of PCJ in the Bay’s partner organizations to advance climate resilience and energy justice. Read their bios.
Cardinal Courses: Since January 2021, students in twelve Cardinal Courses have collaborated with PCJ in the Bay partner organizations, including Climate Resilient Communities, North Fair Oaks Community Alliance, One Shoreline, Sustainable San Mateo County, and Valley Verde.
Cardinal Commitment: In partnership with Sustainable San Mateo County , student organizations researched and documented climate change policy ideas. These policies are now part of the Sustainable Ideas Bank, a resource for Bay Area cities to adopt solutions that have already been implemented elsewhere.
- Stanford in Government led a team focused on sustainable energy policies in Autumn 2021
- Students for a Sustainable Stanford is led a team focused on social equity policies in Autumn 2021 and Winter 2022.
PCJ in the Bay Partners in the News
- ‘Communities Know Best’: Climate Solutions in the South Bay Start with Listening. KQED, June 21, 2021.
- What Can the Bay Area Do About Rising Seas? East Palo Alto Has a Few Great Answers. KQED, April 22, 2021.
Partner Organizations
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