The Blackstone Collaborative and
The Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
The Blackstone Collaborative was developed in 2021 to implement the priorities identified within the Blackstone Needs Assessment Report. The Collaborative’s goal is to improve the health and resilience of the Blackstone River Watershed communities (Rhode Island and Massachusetts) and help the region meet the increasing challenges to natural resources such as urban growth and climate change. The Collaborative acts as an umbrella organization for existing partners including watershed associations, land trusts, universities, federal/state/local agencies, consultants, and others that have been working tirelessly on the ground in the watershed.
The Narragansett Bay Estuary Program (NBEP) is one of 28 place-based National Estuary Programs, first established in 1987 by an amendment to the federal Clean Water, overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The estuary program uses a voluntary, community-driven approach to enhance water quality, wildlife, and quality of life across our study area, which includes the Narragansett Bay, Little Narragansett Bay, Coastal Ponds, and their watersheds in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The Narragansett Bay Estuary Program is hosted by the Community Partnerships Center at Roger Williams University.
Starting in 2019 with the development of the Blackstone Needs Assessment Report, NBEP has partnered with the Blackstone Collaborative to support the needs of the Blackstone River Watershed. This internship continues that partnership by providing key support at a critical time.
Description
Are you a budding social media manager? Do you want to use these skills to help a newly formed collaborative communicate effectively with its audience and partners?
The Communication Specialist Intern with the Blackstone Collaborative will be responsible for social media, marketing, graphics, and outreach materials. Responsibilities will include improving the website, creating PowerPoint templates for Collaborative members, creating outreach materials based on existing information, and create social media programming (Facebook and Instagram) coinciding with holidays and celebrations related to the Collaborative’s mission. The Communication Specialist Intern will also participate in Collaborative events and manage the Collaborative’s participation in other events around the watershed.
The Communication Specialist Intern should have a knowledge of social media communication, and marketing for a broad audience. The Intern will work closely with Stefanie Covino, the Watershed Manager, and other members of the Collaborative and therefore should work well independently and as part of a team. The Intern will be a contract employee with Roger Williams University (as the host of the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program) but report to Stefanie. The intern will be expected to travel throughout the Blackstone Watershed to events. The position potential for remote work, with 1-2 meetings per week with Stefanie.
Goals and Learning Objectives
- Create work products that can immediately be used by NBEP and its partners.
- Provide authentic real-world work experience where students work directly with NBEP and its partners to tackle interesting issues facing the Narragansett Bay Region.
- Supply additional capacity to NBEP and its partners as it designs and implements its strategic plan, Vision 2032.
- Furnish a variety of mentors from the partnership that span disciplines and interest groups.
- Present an opportunity to experience the ecological, economic, and social aspects of collaborative large landscape restoration and protection.
- Offer an experience that balances hard work and fun.
Intern Compensation
Interns will be financial compensated at $15 per hour for undergraduate students and $20 per hour for graduate students. The Blackstone Collaborative Communications Intern will be a contract employee with the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program. The Intern will be responsible for paying all taxes on the contract.
Interns are welcome to earn academic credit for the internship. If selected for the internship, and the student would like credit (in addition to financial compensation), the student is responsible for all paperwork and approvals.
How to Apply
Please apply through Handshake or email all applications to Courtney Schmidt (NBEP) (Courtney.Schmidt@nbep.org) with the subject heading “Blackstone Collaborative Internship.” All applications must include:
- Cover letter stating your interest in working with the Blackstone Collaborative, how this internship will help your overall goals, and what skills you can bring to this project and the Collaborative.
- Resume or CV with contact information
Please contact Courtney Schmidt if you have any questions regarding the application process.
For More Information Contact
Stefanie Covino | Watershed Program Manager, Blackstone Collaborative
(508) 751-4629 | scovino@clarku.edu
Courtney Schmidt | Staff Scientist, Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
(401) 633-0553 | courtney.schmidt@nbep.org