Conservation Minnesota is partnering with ServeMN and Ampact to hire 10 Sustainability Project Facilitators to start in January. The Facilitators will be hired and compensated by Ampact but managed and mentored by Conservation Minnesota’s Public Engagement Director.
As part of the Community Resilience Initiative of Climate Impact Corps, the Facilitators will help communities connect to climate change information and resources. Facilitators will receive training and opportunities to develop new skills in their role, supporting Conservation Minnesota’s sustainability projects, encouraging local environmental action, and providing education to help community members and local organizations make sustainable choices. Facilitators will serve from August 28th, 2023 to July 13th, 2024 with opportunity to serve another term.
Deadline to apply is August 9, 2023.
Position Title: Community Stewardship Facilitator
Program: Climate Impact Corps
Locations: Bemidji, Moorhead, Saint Cloud, Rochester, or Winona
Position Summary
Community Stewardship Facilitators will build community by leading engaging environmental action activities. Community Stewardship Facilitators are placed with non-profit organizations or public agencies. They will organize community members, institutions, and groups to strengthen social cohesion and connections to their environment. Community Stewardship Facilitators will receive training on best practices for community engagement, group facilitation, and communicating about climate change with a focus on pursuing climate justice. This is an AmeriCorps service member position with the AmeriCorps program, Climate Impact Corps.
Essential Functions
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Community Engagement and Organizing
- Attend community events, gatherings, and meetings to develop relationships between the community and the host organization.
- Create and maintain a community asset map to identify organizations, institutions, groups, community leaders, and places to engage in environmental action activities.
- Organize community environmental action activities in one or more of the following categories:
- Physical changes to the environment (e.g., pollinator gardens tree planting)
- Producing goods and services with the community (e.g., community gardening, winter clothing drive)
- Community education (e.g., community climate conversations, environment-themed public art)
- Community science and inquiry (e.g., water quality testing, air quality testing)
- Maintain an ongoing record of institutions, organizations, groups, and individuals engaged through outreach and environmental activities on behalf of their service site.
- Work with community organizations and individuals to share stories and impact of environmental action activities.
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Facilitate Environmental Action Activities
- Create a safe, welcoming, and engaging environment for community members to participate in environmental action experiences.
- Develop session plans for environmental action experiences including ensuring opportunities for participant introductions, learning, and reflection. Ensure sessions are designed to promote social connections and place-based learning.
- Use training on evidence-based methods of connecting community members’ interest in environmental action activities to climate change issues.
- Use participant, peer, host site supervisor, and staff feedback to improve facilitation practice.
- Document community members’ experiences through use of surveys, observations, interviews, storytelling, and other methods to measure social connections and sense of place.
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Attendance
- Demonstrate regular, timely attendance and adherence to hours as scheduled.
- Commit to service for the full-service term, serving the total commitment of 40 hours starting in January.
- Participate in all required Climate Impact Corps sponsored training sessions, meetings, and travel as necessary.
- Assist with statewide preparedness for, response to, and recovery from disasters which includes supporting schools and communities in disaster relief activities related to COVID-19 closures and social distancing procedures.
- Be an ambassador of the program by submitting Great Stories and participating in outreach activities.
Minimum Qualifications
- Must be 18 years of age or older by two weeks prior to your start date.
- Must have at least a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent (e.g., GED) by your start date.
- Must be either a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States.
- Must pass mandatory National Service Criminal History Checks.
- Must not have served four or more prior terms of service with AmeriCorps State or National.
- Speak, read, and write English fluently.
- Basic computer skills, including the ability to navigate online systems and email.
- Positions that require driving will require a valid driver’s license and the ability to pass a driving record check. Some positions require access to a personal vehicle for transportation.
Physical Requirements
- Some positions will require the ability to lift 50 pounds as well as carry, push, pull, kneel, and squat.
- Some positions will require the ability to work outside in all weather conditions.
Give your time as a Community Stewardship Facilitator and you’ll receive
- A stipend of $1,100 paid every 2 weeks
- $15,400 total for 1,000 hours of service starting in January 2023
- Up to $3,247 for tuition or student loans*
- Federal student loan forbearance and interest repayment
- Individual health insurance—Monthly premium 100% covered
- Child care assistance—Based on family size and income
*The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award can be used to pay tuition or repay qualified student loans. Individuals 55+ may gift their award to their child, grandchild, foster child or step-child
Questions? Contact: join@ampact.us
Ampact will not discriminate for or against any AmeriCorps service member or applicant on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, familial status, military service, or any other category protected by law.
Reasonable accommodations provided upon request. This document is available in alternative formats.