Internship Description
Organization: The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP)
For nearly two centuries Pittsburgh, PA and the surrounding region has experienced some
of the worst air quality in the nation. In 1969, the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP)
was founded by concerned citizens. In the years since, the organization has been a diligent
watchdog, educator, litigator, and policymaker on many environmental issues with a focus on air
quality. Today, GASP’s work is as relevant as ever. The Pittsburgh region continues to be
plagued by toxic air, a reality which translates into elevated rates of cancer, childhood asthma,
and thousands of preventable deaths each year. The health burden is especially acute in
communities that border the remaining industrial facilities generating much of this toxic
pollution: a classic example of environmental injustice. As an intern, we will invite you to take
an unvarnished look at the extremely complicated landscape of air quality governance in
Pittsburgh, PA, and involve you in the day-to-day of our non-profit as we strive to make an
impact in our community.
Position Description:
Internship Tasks/Responsibilities
1. Social Media Support: create a summer series of educational reels/TikTok’s that
communicate GASP’s current and historical work in an engaging way.
2. Author guest blog posts for GASP every other week (we will help generate topics for
and with you).
3. Assist with organizing and digitizing GASP’s extensive document collection. This
may involve coordinating with the University of Pittsburgh’s Archives, the current
home of some of GASP’s documents.
Workplace
We expect the GASP intern to join the weekly GASP staff meeting and work from the
office a minimum of 2 days a week. The intern may telework the other days. This will
amount to ~30 hours a week, M-F.
Supervision
You will be supervised by GASP’s Executive Director, Patrick Campbell, and GASP
board member, Chie Togami (Williams ‘13).
Experiential Outings
We want to make the most of your time in Pittsburgh, so we will help coordinate several
experiential outings relevant to GASP’s historic and ongoing work:
(1) Allegheny County Board of Health Meeting
www.gasp-pgh.org 1133 S. Braddock Ave. Suite 1A Pittsburgh, PA 15218 (412) 924-0604
(2) Smoke Reading at an Operational Steel Facility (e.g. Edgar Thomson, Clairton Coke
Works)
(3) Sustainability Salon
(4) Carnegie Mellon University Create Lab
(5) Donora Smog Museum
(6) Rivers of Steel Industrial Tour
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Dates of Internship: flexible (6-8 weeks preferred)
Contact Information: Patrick Campbell ([email protected])
Other details: We will do our very best to assist our prospective intern with securing an
affordable housing option. Most likely, this would be a room in a shared home. There are also a
number of airbnbs that may accommodate a long-term stay. For convenience sake, you may want
to find accommodation close to the GASP office located at 1133 S Braddock Ave #1a,
Swissvale, PA 15218. Swissvale is a borough just outside the city of Pittsburgh on the Eastern
side, and adjacent to a small commercial district known as Regent Square.
Applying: If you are interested in being GASP’s 2023 summer intern please send: 1) a 1-page
cover letter explaining your interest in the position and why you think you would be a good fit;
2) your resume/CV; and 3) a writing sample (such as a blog post, paper for class, etc.) to Patrick
Campbell ([email protected]). Please also cc Chie Togami ([email protected]).
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