The Elizabeth Ann Wendlandt Memorial Internship

We are excited to announce that OSPIRG Foundation is joining forces with Environment Oregon Research & Policy Center  to honor one of our most beloved and dedicated members, Elizabeth Ann Wendlandt, who passed away last year.

Elizabeth, known to many as Ann,  was more than just a contributing member- she exemplified what it means to be a good steward, to care deeply about a place and a community. Ann met her husband, Jim Wendlandt, at the Mt. Hood lodge of the Mazamas’ mountaineering club, and for 65 years they visited every nook and cranny of Oregon. If you named a small creek in Oregon, Elizabeth had been there and knew exactly where it was. 

She was an early recycler, saving scrap metal to help the war effort, and remained vigilant and outspoken about reducing, reusing and recycling throughout her life. She was especially passionate about reducing single-use plastic and minimizing its impact on the environment. 

Because of her devotion to Oregon’s environment and her passion for reducing single-use plastics, we are naming our zero waste summer internship program after her to help inspire future environmental leaders in our state, especially on issues related to plastic pollution. 

The Elizabeth Ann Wendlandt internship is designed to help train the next generation of public interest leaders by instilling the skills, ethics, and drive it takes to win campaigns. 

We are looking for people who work hard, communicate effectively, and are dedicated to positive social change; responsibilities include grassroots organizing, media outreach and organizational building. Specific responsibilities include:

Grassroots Organizing:

1. Identifying and organizing businesses, local leaders, and citizens to promote environmental protections

2. Media outreach: Assisting in organizing a press event and writing letters to local papers

3. Collecting petitions, running activist phone-banks, and using our network to put pressure on local leaders directly

Organization Building: 

1. News Watch: Tracking media for stories and opinion pieces relevant to our campaign and organization

2. Maintaining reports on local political climate, researching opportunities for environmental progress

3. Administrative: Helping ensure the office and organization continue to run efficiently

To apply for the Elizabeth Ann Wendlandt Memorial Internship, please send a cover letter and resume to [email protected] 

Cover photo by Morgan Somers on Unsplash