The Sustainable CT Fellowship Program places highly qualified fellows across the state’s Councils of Governments (COGs) to help cities and towns become registered, certified, or recertified with Sustainable CT during the summer. The COGs serve as Connecticut’s regional planning organizations. Click here for more information on COG locations.

Fellows will assist cities and towns within the various COG territories on researching and documenting their sustainability work, support municipalities on sustainability initiatives, and assist on COG projects that align with Sustainable CT goals. Fellows will also have the opportunity to work with one another on a group project addressing a statewide sustainability topic.

Fellows will gain valuable experience working within a professional setting and will be directly engaged in supporting cutting-edge sustainability initiatives, local government operations, and regional coordination and operation. Fellows will build a deep professional network that spans across local, state and regional government, as well as with nonprofits and organizations supporting sustainability initiatives in the state of Connecticut. Hear from former Fellows about their summer experience.

Listen to a recent episode of the IMPACT, a Sustainable CT podcast, featuring former Fellows:
 

View past Sustainable CT Fellows.
 

The 2024 Fellow Cohort at the Connecticut Capitol. To learn more about our day at the Capitol, check out this video.

How To Apply

Requirements

Students must be enrolled in a post-secondary degree program or must have graduated in the most recent academic year (2024-2025). Students must be either enrolled in a Connecticut college or university or be a permanent resident of the state. Students must have maintained a GPA of 3.0. Students of all majors will be considered.

Technical Skills

Candidates must demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills, the ability to work independently, and be familiar with Microsoft Office applications.

Application

Application materials are due Monday February 10, 2025, by 5:00 pm EST. Email applications to Dorothy Piszczek at [email protected]. Applications must include the following:

• Cover letter, written or video (approximately 1 page if written or 2 minutes long for video)


• Resume


• Names and contact information for 3 references (must include an email address and a phone number for each reference). References might include professors, employers, coaches, club leaders, etc.


• Writing sample (no more than 3 pages/1500 words; this can be a piece written for a class)


• Copy of unofficial transcript


• List of top 3 preferred COG locations

Timeline

• Applications are due by 5:00 pm EST, Monday February 10, 2025. Email all application materials to Dorothy Piszczek at [email protected].

• Sustainable CT will notify selected candidates by early April 2025.

Fellowship Job Duties

Sustainable CT Fellow duties include:

• Research sustainability initiatives in Connecticut municipalities.


• Inform municipalities of resources, grants, success stories, for implementation of Sustainable CT actions.


• Assist municipal staff and leaders in performing and documenting sustainability initiatives for Sustainable CT certification.


• Maintain open communication channels with relevant municipal staff and elected officials.


• Identify opportunities for multi-town collaboration between Sustainable CT municipalities.


• Research implementation strategies and resources for towns pursuing different actions.


• Identify potential partners/resources, i.e. in-town non-profits or organizations.


• Participate in Sustainable CT Fellow trainings and events. 


• Assist with COG projects that align with Sustainable CT objectives.


• Produce an end of internship report that documents successes and areas for improvement.

Other Important Information

Duration

• The Fellowship Program will run approximately 12-weeks during the summer (roughly May 28 - August 22).


• Start/end dates will be determined by the Fellow and their assigned COG.

Work Location

• Fellows will report as determined by their COG supervisor to their assigned COG office, possibilities for a hybrid work environment exist. All attempts will be made to place Fellows at their preferred COG location.


• A list of CT COG locations can be found here.


• Housing and transportation are not provided.


• While working, Fellows must be physically located in Connecticut. Applicants living out of state during the Fellowship will not be considered.

Pay

• This is a paid fellowship ($17.50 per hour).


• Fellows should expect to work 30 to 40 hours per week, not to exceed 40 hours.

Transportation

• Transportation is not provided.

Equal Opportunity

• Sustainable CT, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.  Sustainable CT, Inc. will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, criminal record, intellectual disability, mental disability or physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is shown by Sustainable CT that such disability prevents performance of the work involved, in any manner prohibited by the laws of the United States or of the State of Connecticut.

We are grateful to the Connecticut Green Bank for being a proud supporter of the Sustainable CT Fellowship Program.