They must quickly master the basics of a variety of issues, and then reach out to a range of people, media outlets and organizations to build visibility and gain their support. This year, Field Associates built powerful coalitions, released reports to the press, organized media events, lobbied legislators and organized grassroots support for measures to protect the last wild areas in our national forests from logging, reduce air pollution from trucks and SUVs, and clean up coal-burning power plants. Training A key part of the state PIRGs' mission is to train leaders who are capable of designing a winning public interest campaign, from the first steps of research to the last news conference where the governor signs a public interest bill into law. State PIRG trainings emphasize basic and advanced skills. Mass. Fellows attend four additional national trainings throughout the year.
Training includes lectures, discussions, skills workshops and issue briefings.
In addition, participants in the Fellowship Program receive ongoing supervision and training from a senior staff director. Placement Fellowship candidates are hired on a national basis and placed in state PIRG offices across the country. Fellowship candidates who wish to be placed only in certain locations will be asked to identify those locations during the interview process. Candidates who are offered Fellowship positions will be guaranteed placement in one of their desired locations. Final placement, including location and position, happen during the August training in Boston.