Hailing from Berkley, California, Lia Mezzio has joined the Evergreen community as the new Campus Organizer to help continue WashPIRG's important work. With the snow of a few weeks ago welcoming her, Mezzio has been very busy putting together a team for WashPIRG's current campaigns. As there has been a high demand for student volunteers and interns, along with a lot of snow, it has been no simple task.
Currently, opportunities abound for passionate students to work on various important issues within the internship and volunteer programs. As an intern, one has ample room to try his or her hand at many different campaign skills such as: event planning, working with the media, building a coalition, recruiting, managing volunteers, and much, much more.
WashPIRG's aim is to take on some of the state's toughtest problems. Over the next two quarters they will work to promote energy efficiency, protect the Pacific Ocean by banning plastic bags, stop agricultural subsidies for junk food, fight back against, "corporate personhood," and last but not least, provide direct service to the hungry and homeless.
WashPIRG is part of a national federation of statewide, student-directed, public interest advocacy organizations. WashPIRG exists because powerful special interest groups like oil, chemical and even textbook companies, have thousands of lobbyists who talk to our politicians every day about issues that can and would have a direct impact on our lives in a negative way. WASHPIRG stands up to these interests by hiring a professional staff of advocates who work to make sure that the public - not just those special interest groups – also have a direct line to the decision makers of our country. They then go out and educate the public and help thousands of people, like you, get their voices heard.
If this interests you, Mezzio and the gang at WashPIRG want to invite you to come hear more about their campaigns and how you can get involved. If you have 10 hours a week for an internship, one hour a week to volunteer, or just one hour the whole quarter, the first step is to make it to an information session.
For more information contact Lia Mezzio at (510) 919-6916 or stop by the office in Sem I, 4116