No. 114: Traveling Trees

I was fascinated by the assisted migration when I came across it last week: using seedlings from warmer climates during reforestation to help build resiliency to forest fires and climate change. It's still experimental, but it could stabilize forests as global temperatures rise.

Homelessness takes the spotlight with this week's featured job, and you'll find a few internships below if you are looking to start your social impact career next year. I also have another job search strategy to share with you, this time focused on finding a company with strong DEI credentials.

~ Greg

What we're reading

A new experiment in Washington state is exploring assisted migration as a strategy to make forests more resilient to climate change. (Grist)

• The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust is leading the reforestation effort at Stossel Creek. What makes this reforestation unique is the types of trees they're planting: trees sourced from regions with warmer, drier climates.
  • Trees from California and Oregon have shown higher survival rates than local Washington seedlings, for example, even though they belong to the same species.
• Traditional forest management practices prioritize local seed stock because they had a better chance of survival, so assisted migration is bucking trends. We're going to see some friction as scientists debate what's more beneficial long-term.
  • The first climate-resilient seeds were planted in 2019. Early results are promising, but it’s still too soon to determine whether it will be successful.

The inaugural Tribal Energy Summit last week highlighted the role of tribal lands in the clean energy transition and the challenges surrounding it. (Inside Climate News)

• Clean energy is driving demand of key minerals like cobalt and lithium – a significant portion of critical minerals for clean energy lies beneath or near tribal lands.
  • This presents a unique opportunity for tribal communities not only to participate in the clean energy transition but to reap some of the financial rewards, and they don't have to pay federal taxes.
  • Conversely, these communities are concerned about a history of government exploitation and emphasized the importance of trust when approaching new energy projects. I was reminded of the story a few weeks ago where a tribal community earned a government grant for a solar energy project but couldn't start work because of bureaucratic hurdles.
• Part of what I'll be watching over the next few years is how this emerging role as clean energy leader is received nationally and within the tribal communities themselves.
  • It's almost like a microcosm of the broader American balancing act – or lack thereof – between conservation efforts and using our natural resources to benefit humanity. This summit is an encouraging first step.

Job of the week

Tackle homelessness with this week's job at Homebase, a nonprofit that works with local governments on programs and aid for people who are unhoused. They are looking for a Chief Operating Officer to join the team, either remote or onsite in San Francisco, and you'd be joining at a time when the group is growing their team and impact.

In true COO fashion, the responsibilities are varied and give you the opportunity to shape the organization as a whole. The salary and benefits are top-notch, so if you have nonprofit experience and are looking for a chance, be sure to check this one out.

Community roundup

• B Lab, the nonprofit that confers the B Corp certification, plans to finalize updates to its evaluation criteria by the end of the year. (Forbes)
  • Existing B Corps have raised concerns about the certification process after a series of eyebrow-raising certifications for companies like Havas and Nespresso.
• The Justice Department has sued Rocket Mortgage and a series of property appraisal companies for racial bias after a Black woman's home appraised for $200,000 less than that of her white neighbors. (USA Today)
• More than 1 million public service workers have had their loans forgiven, after the Biden Administration announced debt relief for another 60,000 workers. (Reuters)
• You may remember Louisiana made headlines earlier this year for requiring that the Ten Commandments be posted in public schools. The law has been challenged by civil rights groups, and a federal judge heard arguments on Monday. (CBS News)
• The U.S. Geological Survey has released a new report about lithium deposits in Arkansas. Lithium plays a significant role in rechargeable batteries such as those used in renewable energy and electric vehicle applications, and ExxonMobile is moving to start production in the state in 2027. (The Verge)
• A team of researchers has used data from the war in Ukraine to write a report calculating the carbon emissions of war. Their work is inspiring a panel discussion at COP 29 next month and could increase pressure on militaries to avoid negative environmental impacts. (Inside Climate News)

Hot job opportunities

• Manager, Employee Experience – GiveWell – Remote
• Creative Coordinator – The Good Food Institute – Remote
• Strategic Product Management – Anthropic – San Francisco, CA
• Executive Assistant – Tides – Remote
• Project Engineer Intern – CRB Group – Broomfield, CO
• Head of Strategic Communications – RAND Corporation – Washington, DC or Pittsburgh, PA
• Engineering Senior Project Manager – Verdantas – Toledo, OH
• Offensive Security Intern – Praetorian – Remote
• Manager, Innovation – Clinton Health Access Initiative – Remote
• Sales Associate Director – ESG Book – Boston, MA or New York, NY

Resource of the week

I've talked about how diversity, equity, and inclusion – DEI – has fallen out of favor of late, but companies aren't abandoning it altogether. They're just being quieter about it.

If DEI is an important criterion for your job search – some might call it table stakes – it can be hard to distinguish the true supporters from the companies doing the bare minimum. In those cases, I like to use a proxy: something that implies strong DEI credentials even if you don't know all the details.

In the past, I've used the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign. The CEI focuses on companies' treatment of LGBTQ+ employees, and the scale goes up to 100. Hitting top marks is a pretty good indicator of DEI values, and you can find a full list of those companies here.

One thing that's striking from this list is just how far corporate America has come on this front; you'll find some of the social impact companies I've featured in the newsletter of course, but you'll also find an extensive list of blue chip companies where social impact isn't the focus.

Test your knowledge

I'm all for shopping with social impact in mind, so last week we turned our attention to another third-party certification you can find in your local grocery store. The Marine Stewardship Council focuses on sustainable fishing practices to ensure people can enjoy seafood well into the future, and one of the ways they incentivize it is with a blue fish label on seafood products. If you see MSC or a blue label, you've made the right catch.

Social impact doesn't have to be terrestrial – space exploration has led to countless improvements in lives on Earth. NASA recently launched a satellite that could teach us more about how life forms in the universe. Do you know where it's headed?

NASA's latest interplanetary spacecraft is headed to one of Jupiter's moons that may support the building blocks for life. It has an ocean covered by miles of ice – which moon is it?

Email me your guess, and I'll send one lucky winner a couple of One Work stickers!

I had the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge to myself on Saturday – if you don't count the coyote I met on the trail. Waking up early has its perks. You can find me on LinkedIn and Threads.