“The TPC was an amazing program. It teaches teens awareness of environmental issues in a very unique way. The guest speakers come from different backgrounds and teach us so many different things about the environment. I have definitely changed. I learned how to meditate, unlock my artistic abilities and appreciate nature more. Everyone should care about Rising Earth’s work because they’re literally doing it to help everyone.”
Applications for the 2023 TPC now open!
Calling all artistic and environmentally conscious teens in NYC and LA to apply for the Rising Earth Teen Production Council Internship!
Deadline to apply is Monday, June 5th, 2023.
Internship dates: June 28th - Aug 11th, 2023!
This summer internship is the perfect place to explore your interest in the environment, get creative, and nurture your passion for our planet's ecological repair--all while experiencing what it's like to work in a collaborative space where the thoughts of youth are honored, encouraged, and amplified! In order to create materials that are engaging and relatable for youth—we team up with you, to make sure they are!
Through Zoom meetings, meetups in nature, service learning opportunities, engaging with expert guest speakers, and personal assignments, the Rising Earth Teen Production Council will learn to process and transform their eco-anxiety and concerns about the environment into action and connection--to be part of the change that needs to happen. Your culminating project of a graphic short story will present facts/history about nature in such a way that your peer readers can connect to the information in a deeper way. Together, we can share a new worldview about nature with others--one that inspires caretaking, relationship, and responsibility.
Barefoot on the Grass (2019). How one urban teen connected with nature during an awareness exploration.
Service trip to Billion Oyster Project.
Zoom meeting with a beekeeper guest speaker about giving personal narrative to nature.
Giving feedback on storyboards for our graphic novel, Luna.
Soul Fire Farms (2021). Cover art for a TPC member’s graphic short story.
Nature hike, exploring our different senses in the natural world.
A visual expression after a meditation practice.
Agricultural Waste: Factory Farm Pollution. (2020). Excerpt from one TPC member’s graphic short story.
Zoom meeting with a journalist guest speaker about speaking to your audience.
Nature hike, shifting one’s worldview of the natural world.
Lessons learned from foraging training in nature.
XIUHTEZCATL MARTINEZ, one TPC member’s studies for a potential book character.
Zoom meeting with an artist guest speaker about storyboarding graphic stories.
Stand Up (2022). Excerpt from one TPC member’s graphic short story.
Meetup in nature to learn Earth Living skills.
“What makes the Teen Production Council great is the fact that it changed my mind about how I thought about environmental things ... And my opinions and artwork were actually being valued and considered. To me, that’s something that I really feel proud of. I feel like I’ve been much more confident in what I believe and do.”
—Layton (11th Grade)
“This is the first internship where people truly wanted to know my opinion because I provided a unique insight as a teen. I'll definitely encourage people this year to apply to this internship because it really changed the way I view myself and how I affect the earth.”
—Luna (10th Grade)
“I certainly believe that I’ve changed as a result of this program … making me a better student, leader, and even a better human being. I truly felt empowered by this program.”
—Jerome (10th Grade)
“I loved the Teen Production Council because it allowed me to combine two of my passions: the environment and art. I have found confidence finding my voice and as an artist.”
—Kate (11th Grade)
WITHIN THIS INTERNSHIP YOU WILL:
Gain experience in the art of graphic storytelling by creating a graphic short story of your own! Your piece will accompany Rising Earth's very own graphic novel Luna: Julia Butterfly Hill and the 738 Day Tree Sit.
Get coached by environmental journalists and professional writers and illustrators through group discussions and individual feedback.
Enhance your knowledge of our ecological issues and solutions while focusing on a topic of personal interest and conducting research, both informational and visual.
Participate in the different stages of the creative process, like manuscript writing, storyboard sketching, line art, and editing. No artistic background required!
Experience nature within your city as we meet up with foragers, Earth living skills educators, beekeepers, composters, and a bunch of amazing nonprofits that are helping to regenerate urban landscapes.
Participate in different activities and reflective practices that will help you explore your relationship within nature and explore your own environmental footprint.
Explore aspects of Indigenous worldviews, and acknowledge the importance of Indigenous peoples in our ecological repair.
REQUIREMENTS:
This program is a hybrid of virtual meetings and 6 required in-person days on Fridays. Requirements:
Must be a high school-age student in the New York City or Los Angeles area.
Must commit to approximately 10-15 hours per week.
Able to work remotely with access to a computer and internet.
Able to travel one day a week to a location in your area (Times of meet-ups vary in depending on the activity). No meetup the first week of the program.(For LA applicants: Please state on your application if you will have difficulty traveling to in-person activities and our team will reach out to you!)
SCHEDULE:
Zoom Meetings - 9am PT/ 12pm EST:
- Wednesday, June 28th, 2023
- Friday, June 30th, 2023
- Wednesday, July 5th, 2023
- Monday, July 10th, 2023
- Monday, July 17th, 2023
- Monday, July, 24th, 2023
- Monday, July 31st, 2023
- Monday, August 7th, 2023
In Person Meetups (Times Vary):
- Friday, July 7th, 2023
- Friday, July, 14th, 2023
- Friday July, 21st, 2023
- Friday July, 28th, 2023
- Friday August 4th, 2023
- Friday August 11th, 2023
Contact Us if you’d like more information.
* Additional hours and service service learning experiences are available through our Alliance Partnership Program that connects youth with hands-on community/service experiences with our partnerships. Please apply to that program in addition to this one if you want to do more this summer!
**Upon completion of our program, interns will receive a signed acknowledgement letter with a logged number of hours for either work-based learning or community service hours.
***Interns will also have the opportunity to join our Alumni program the following year, which is a paid internship.
GRAPHIC SHORT STORIES & THE CONTEST:
Every Teen Production Council member graduates the program by creating a graphic short story on a different theme each year.
Last year, we piloted our first ever Graphic Short Story Contest where 6 winners each received an award of $500. As a part of the TPC this year, you'll get opportunities to enter multiple contests--all with cash awards.
Check out our 2022 contest winners here.
Below is a sample of last year’s culminating graphic short stories. Read them in full here.
