Internship Spotlight: Sarah Cantor- The Climate Reality Project Canada (CRPC)

Thank you, Ms. Heather Sokoloff and Mr. Lev Bukhman , for the opportunity to participate in a role that reflected both my academic and personal passions. I am pursuing degrees in Environment & Development and in Gender, Sexuality, Feminist, and Social Justice Studies, driven by a desire to understand the intersections between environmental issues and social inequalities. My studies have also opened my eyes to the importance of economics, policymaking, and community organizing. My internship as Outreach and Engagement Intern for the Climate Reality Project Canada (CRPC) allowed me to apply these interests in a Canadian context and to see how my values could translate into tangible work.

I was drawn to this position because it combined environmental advocacy with grassroots engagement, areas I have long been passionate about. I wanted to learn how community networks function in practice and how climate action can be strengthened by connecting diverse voices, particularly from rural and underrepresented regions.

The CRPC’s mission is to catalyze urgent climate action by equipping individuals and communities with tools for advocacy, education, and organizing. The Atlantic Canada Climate Network (ACCN), where I focused most of my work, connects grassroots organizers to share strategies, address challenges, and build capacity. The network hosts monthly speaker events and gatherings on topics relevant to local needs.

My primary role was to expand the ACCN’s reach by identifying

engaging rural and grassroots organizations in Atlantic Canada. I organized and cleaned the network’s Airtable database, created a structured summer schedule, and developed outreach plans.

A secondary project, Operation COP, partnered with Youth Climate Leadership to design a curriculum aimed at increasing participation of women, LGBTQ+, non-binary, and BIPOC youth in international climate negotiations. I conducted comparative research on similar programs worldwide, compiling my findings into a Google Sheet and producing a report, Op-Cop Research Findings: Curriculum Design for Youth Participation in International Climate Policy.

For the ACCN, I created a database of 18 community organizations, detailing contact information, activities, and potential alignment with network goals. I developed outreach emails, followed up with non-respondents, and met with nine organizations to assess their needs, strengths, and challenges. I compiled meeting notes, created a list of potential event speakers, and documented next steps to support ongoing relationship-building.

My academic background in environmental studies helped me engage in informed discussions on climate issues such as uranium mining, fracking, and disaster preparedness. My social justice studies equipped me to navigate conversations about equity, representation, and community empowerment—key elements in grassroots organizing.

The most rewarding aspect was speaking directly with organizers about their priorities. Many expressed the need for spaces where grassroots leaders, not just academics or policymakers, could share knowledge. I learned to communicate my intentions clearly, avoid overpromising, and focus on facilitating their visions.

One memorable conversation was with Dr. Ingrid Waldron, founder of ENRICH and lead of the African Nova Scotian Climate Change Ambassadors Program. Over four years, this program will train individuals in 25 African Nova Scotian communities to understand and address climate change in ways specific to their lived experiences, resulting in climate resilience plans in each community. Hearing how environmental education can be applied so locally and effectively was inspiring and reaffirmed the value of community-led climate resilience.

As someone from the United States with no prior experience in Atlantic Canada, I initially struggled to build trust with close-knit communities. I had to learn to position myself as a supporter rather than an outsider prescribing solutions. This challenge pushed me to reflect on my skills—organizational capacity, and education on climate and environmental problems—to then use those skills to amplify local voices rather than replace them.

This internship deepened my understanding of how environmental and social justice work intersect on the ground. It confirmed my interest in careers that combine climate policy, community engagement, and network-building. I also gained practical skills in outreach, data management, and collaborative event planning.

Without the award funding, I would have had to return to the United States to work a part-time service job. Instead, I was able to dedicate my summer to meaningful work, building relationships with organizers and expanding my knowledge of Canadian environmental advocacy.

Thank you again, Ms. Heather Sokoloff and Mr. Lev Bukhman, for your generous support of the Lev Bukhman Arts Internship Award. This experience has been invaluable in my academic journey and career path, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to the ACCN’s work and learn from its inspiring members.