The Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) is an environmental justice organization with deep roots in California’s Asian immigrant and refugee communities. Since 1993, APEN has built a membership base of Laotian refugees in Richmond and Chinese immigrants in Oakland, and more recently, Asian Americans in South Bay LA. Together, we have fought and won campaigns to make our communities healthier and just places where all people have the resources we need to live full, dignified lives. We are growing our local roots and building power to make decisions at the state level that have real local impact. By building an organized movement, we’re leading a transition away from an extractive economy based on profit and pollution and toward local, healthy, and life-sustaining economies that benefit everyone.

Title: Richmond Summer Organizing Fellow

Supervisor: Richmond Community Organizer

Summary: Part-time temporary summer employment, paid hourly, non-exempt 

Location: Richmond, CA

Dates: June 15 - August 15, 2026 

Compensation: up to 19 hours/week, $28/hour

JOB DESCRIPTION

APEN is hiring 2 Richmond Summer Organizing Fellows for the summer of 2026 to support APEN Richmond’s Summer Outreach Drive focused on recruiting working-class adult-age members in Richmond and West Contra Costa County and engaging members in the city’s community input sessions about the Settlement Funds. 

The Organizing Fellows will do outreach, member engagement, data and administration, and structured follow up to support leadership development and long-term participation. They will also lead 1 independent project that builds their own leadership and APEN’s capacity, which will be shaped in collaboration with the Richmond Community Organizer. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Outreach & Recruitment
• • Through the Summer Outreach Drive, identify and reach out to working-class AAPI community members (via tabling, canvassing, phone banking, etc.) in Richmond / West Contra Costa Co.
  • Follow-up calls and one-on-one conversations to learn about their concerns and introduce them to APEN’s work
  • Share clear information about how APEN supports environmental justice and community power
  • Lead an APEN Orientation for potential new members to share about APEN and invite them to join
  • Invite potential members to attend meetings, events, or actions, including town halls and public input process for Settlement Fund Campaign
  • Recruit and support at least 5 working-class members to stay actively involved
• Member Engagement 
• • Build strong relationships so members feel welcomed and supported
  • Follow up with members after meetings or events
  • Make turnout calls / invitations to members for meetings or events
  • Support with meeting facilitation and trainings
• Develop & Lead 1 Independent Project
• • Lead a project independently that develops your leadership and deepens APEN’s capacity (i.e. creating new curriculum, updating toxic tour script, interview / storytelling series, research project, community event, etc.).
• Tracking & Supervision
• • Track outreach efforts and member participation in Action Builder
  • Weekly check ins with supervisor and Organizing Fellow cohort to share updates and challenges
  • Reflect on outreach strategies and adjust as needed
• Organizational Support
• • Support with meeting logistics like ordering food, set up and clean up, interpretation equipment 
  • Contribute to APEN culture of team-building, emotional intelligence, feminisms, and leadership development
  • Act as spokesperson and engage with communications and narrative framework as needed
  • Attend or support various areas of organizational work, events, or campaigns as appropriate 

QUALIFICATIONS

● At least 18 years old

● West Contra Costa County resident

● Aligned with APEN’s values

● Familiar with APEN’s work

● Connected to working-class communities in Richmond

● Comfortable building relationships through one-on-one conversations

● Desire to learn, develop their leadership, and deepen community organizing skills

● Willingness to step out of their comfort zone and try skills that may be new to them, with full support of staff and cohort

● Excitement about engaging community members

● Skills to stay organized, work and communicate with a team, and complete tasks by deadlines

SALARY

Hourly rate of $28 per hour. 

ACCESSIBILITY AND WORKING CONDITIONS

This position is based from the APEN Richmond Office, and will require some off-site work during irregular hours including evenings or weekends for community outreach and meetings, as well as remote work. APEN Organizing Fellows are expected to meet in-person at the Richmond APEN office with staff and each other weekly twice a week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Organizing fellows are expected to bring their own computers for online work such as outreach tracking, agenda planning, or creative projects. 

This position will follow APEN’s COVID safety policies and protocols regarding in-person work. Masks are required to be worn in APEN offices and indoor events, with the exception of eating and drinking. All employees also are required to be vaccinated as part of our safety policy or be subject to weekly testing. APEN will continue to closely monitor local and state health officials guidance around COVID and any additional guidelines around safety for people to return to offices and gather in-person as needed. This position will not require carrying or moving heavy equipment, regularly ascending or descending a ladder, or standing or sitting for long periods of time. This position will not require working in hazardous or unusual conditions such as outdoors in inclement weather.

We provide reasonable accommodations for the application, interview, or any other aspect of the internship selection process to applicants with disabilities. Please email hiring@apen4ej.org to request an accommodation.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications will be accepted through Wednesday, May 20. We will be holding interviews the last week of May, and our target candidate start date is June 15. Applications are due electronically by clicking “Apply Now” on the APEN website. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

The application must include the following:

● Resume

APEN is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, caste, or any other characteristic protected by law. APEN conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations. Queer, transgender, intersex, gender non-conforming, disabled, black and indigenous people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.