Youth Education Coordinator – Mill City Grows (MassLIFT AmeriCorps Program)
The Massachusetts Land Initiative for Tomorrow (MassLIFT) 2016 Youth Education Coordinator Position Opening with Mill City Grows
The MassLIFT-AmeriCorps program was initiated and is managed by Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust as a collaborative effort of regional conservation organizations (including urban conservation and gardening efforts) seeking to increase their capacity to engage with more people and do more community conservation projects across Massachusetts. This year, 30 MassLIFT-AmeriCorps members will help their hosting organizations meet critical community needs for land protection, stewardship of protected lands, outreach to the broader community, and youth education opportunities to engage young people in conservation. To learn more about MassLIFT-AmeriCorps, visit masslift.org.
AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 men and women in intensive service each year through more than 15,000 nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. AmeriCorps members help communities tackle pressing problems and also leverage their service by mobilizing volunteers to help address community needs for environmental stewardship, health, education, economic opportunity, disaster services, and support to veterans and military families. To learn more about AmeriCorps, visit americorps.gov.
MassLIFT-AmeriCorps is a grant program contingent upon renewal of federal funding from the Corporation of National and Community Service (CNCS). CNCS grants to AmeriCorps programs in Massachusetts are administered by the Massachusetts Service Alliance. The Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA, mass-service.org) is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as the state commission on community service and volunteerism. MSA’s mission is to catalyze the innovation and growth of service and volunteerism by creating partnerships that maximize resources, expertise, capacity, and impact. MassLIFT is one of 22 AmeriCorps programs for which MSA currently administers funding and supports program implementation.
AmeriCorps Member Eligibility Requirements
This year’s MassLIFT program will run from August 29, 2016 through July 28, 2017. All MassLIFT-AmeriCorps members are expected to serve full-time, commit to serve for the entire eleven-month term, and complete at least 1,700 hours of service, including time spent in trainings and service with the full MassLIFT team. Weekly service averages 35 hours and commonly includes some night and/or weekend activities.
Applicants must also meet the following AmeriCorps requirements:
* a US citizen, US national, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the U.S.
* at least 18 years old
* a minimum of a high school diploma or GED
* no more than three previous terms as an AmeriCorps member
* pass a criminal history background check, including an FBI check
AmeriCorps programs provide equal employment opportunities. MassLIFT will recruit and select persons in all positions to ensure a diverse and inclusive climate without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, color, political affiliation, creed, national origin, marital status, or any other status as protected by federal, state, and local laws. We encourage applications from individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations for interviews and service upon request.
Member Compensation and Benefits:
* MassLIFT-AmeriCorps members will receive a living allowance of $12,530 over the 11-month term of service, which is $522.08 per 24 biweekly pay periods.
* MassLIFT assists members in obtaining health insurance coverage through healthcare.gov. Reimbursement of costs may be available.
* Childcare assistance may be provided in cases of financial need.
* Upon successful completion of a term of service, AmeriCorps members receive a $5,775 education award that can be used for future education or to pay off existing school loans. See nationalservice.gov/resources/edaward for info and restrictions.
* AmeriCorps members are eligible for forbearance of most federally-guaranteed student loans, as well as payment of interest accrued during service.
* MassLIFT-AmeriCorps members gain skills in land conservation, attend a statewide conference, and participate in team trainings and other professional development opportunities.
* AmeriCorps members experience the personal rewards of national service and community engagement.
Note: MassLIFT-AmeriCorps members are responsible for their own housing and must have access to reliable transportation.
Positions
The 2016 MassLIFT-AmeriCorps program will support thirty full-time AmeriCorps members, serving in one of four positions: Land Stewardship Coordinator (LSC), Regional Conservation Coordinator (RCC), Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC), and Youth Education Coordinator (YEC). The positions differ in their emphasis on land protection, stewardship, community outreach, and youth or adult education. All members will carry out capacity building projects; educate or train individuals in environmental stewardship; recruit, train, manage, and support community volunteers engaged in land conservation activities; and identify new individuals and groups to participate in education, recreation, or service opportunities that address land conservation needs. All positions include computer-based administrative and reporting duties. The specific responsibilities and goals of members in each position differ as described below.
Mill City Grows will host a Youth Education Coordinator for the 2016-17 service year. Information about all MassLIFT positions is available at: masslift.org.
2016 Youth Education Coordinator Position Opening with Mill City Grows
Mill City Grows
Physical address: 150 Western Ave, B Mill Lowell, MA 01851 millcitygrows.org Mailing address: P.O. Box 7133 Lowell, MA 01852
Mill City Grows is growing a healthier community by creating new opportunities for Lowell residents to access healthy, fresh, affordable foods. Our mission is to foster food justice in Lowell, MA by improving physical health, economic independence and environmental sustainability through increased access to land, locally-grown food and education. We are a young organization with passionate staff and dedicated volunteers, and we’re seeking a motivated and well-organized individual committed to the values of our work to fill the Youth Engagement Coordinator AmeriCorps position.
The Youth Engagement Coordinator will serve within our partner Lowell Public Schools to support outdoor, garden-based learning. Mill City Grows currently partners with 12 schools, delivering in and afterschool education, as well as offering technical assistance and professional development to teachers. The YEC will engage teachers and students in STEM-focused lessons and projects in their school gardens and on our farms during academic field trips that focus on Next Generation Science Standards. These new standards include many environmental and sustainability concepts, preparing students to become active problem solvers in the face of climate change. The majority of LPS students are from low-income households, and represent a rich diversity of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Mill City Grows School Based programs bring relevant, food-focused learning opportunities to thousands of youth annually, engaging young residents in Lowell’s Food Justice movement.
Youth Education Coordinators (YEC) build the long-term capacity of their host to develop and deliver youth-focused service learning projects, science field trips, and outdoor experiential education. They collaborate with schools, libraries, and youth groups on projects that connect young people to the natural world, improve science literacy, and encourage healthy lifestyles. With educators and volunteers, YECs help guide youth in environmental research, school and community garden projects, urban tree stewardship projects, urban pocket park projects, and green jobs training and internship programs. By serving with youth in an outdoor learning environment, they reinforce the connection between people, nature, and community and foster an inclusive land stewardship ethic in future generations.
MassLIFT-AmeriCorps members engage with their supervisors to develop and carry out three or more capacity building projects over the course of the service year. Some of these projects will involve recruiting, training, and/or managing community volunteers. Mill City Grows has proposed the following potential projects for their Youth Education Coordinator:
1) Collaborate with Mill City Grows’ Education Program Manager to create engaging, standards-aligned, STEM-focused, interdisciplinary school garden curriculum
2) Engage youth and their teachers in quality, interdisciplinary school garden lessons
3) Co-facilitate summer farm-based Youth Food Justice Programming for youth ages 4-22 with other Education Program staff
Development of these and other projects will occur during the first two months of service and consider the member’s interests and skills.
Essential Qualifications:
• associate degree; experience may be substituted for education
• experience teaching or leading groups in the outdoors, preferably youth
• experience with curriculum development and lesson planning
• strong presentation skills
• strong writing, communication, and networking skills
• able to serve both independently and as a member of a team
• familiarity with Microsoft Office programs
Desired Qualifications:
• experience with experiential education, service learning, and inquiry-based learning methods
• experience training and managing volunteers
• experience in urban agriculture or gardening
• understanding of food justice and the challenges urban residents face in accessing safe, affordable, nutritious food
• Language proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Spanish, Khmer, Portuguese, Burmese, French
• Knowledge of culture and history of Lowell community
For questions about Mill City Grows’ Youth Education Coordinator service position, contact Val Snowdon at val@millcitygrows.org.
How to Apply
Hosting organizations, service positions, and application procedures are described at the MassLIFT-AmeriCorps website: masslift.org.
A complete member application includes a 1- 2 page cover letter, a resume, three references, and an application form. Download the application from the Join MassLIFT website. Scan your cover letter, resume, and completed form into one PDF file (in that order) and email it to admin@masslift.org.
Member applications will be available for viewing by all of our host sites. Do not send applications directly to a host site.
We strongly encourage application submissions before interviews begin in mid-May. Position offers and acceptances will begin in early June. The program aims to fill all positions by late July, but host sites will continue interviews as needed until all positions are filled.
For questions about MassLIFT-AmeriCorps, contact Sean Pollock, Program Director, at Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust. Email admin@masslift.org or call 978-248-2043 x16.