RTCA Indigenous Communities Project Fellow Santa Fe, NM

Title: Indigenous Communities Project Fellow

Stipend: $600.00 Weekly Living Stipend

Dates:   Starting date negotiable between April and May 2023

Term: 47 weeks, full time

Reports To:  National Park Service - Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program

Location: 1100 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87505

Status:  1700-hour AmeriCorps Service Term 

Benefits:  Health benefit eligible, AmeriCorps Education Award of $6,345.00, eligible for Public Land Corps Hiring Authority after successful completion of term.

**Deadline to apply: February 15, 2023**

Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps’ Mission

It is the mission of the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps to lead our nations back to cultural and ecological well-being. The Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps is specifically designed to engage Native American youth and young adults with offices in Acoma, Albuquerque, Gallup, Zuni, and Hopi.  *Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps serves local tribal communities in the regions we operate and across the Unites States.  Native American applicants are preferred. *

National Park Service Mission:

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.  The NPS cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

NPS - Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program Overview:

The NPS operates programs in communities throughout the nation to connect people across the country to their parks, trails, rivers, and other special places. This fellowship position is within the NPS- Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program, which helps community groups, nonprofits, state and local governments, and tribes plan parks and trails, conserve and improve access to rivers and natural areas, and create recreation opportunities through locally led partnerships.

NPS Rivers Trails and Conservation Assistance Fellowship Overview:

This fellowship is a meaningful endeavor to help the National Park Service better engage and collaborate with indigenous and underrepresented communities in New Mexico. Specifically, these target efforts are part of NPS' mission statement to "extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country." The NPS-Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance program is tasked with accomplishing this portion of the NPS mission.

It is NPS-RTCA's goal to ensure that our program is supporting access to conservation and outdoor recreation for all communities and work along with communities where historical disparities and lack of representation exist. Representation and being reflective of the communities we are serving is a component to how we can better serve communities that historically have been marginalized. RTCA is striving to work closely with indigenous and underrepresented communities, this fellowship can reconcile, and build bridges for indigenous communities through outdoor recreation, conservation and stewardship projects by providing a voice and engaging in the planning and development process of multiple projects. Therefore, the focus of this internship will be coordinating outdoor, conservation and stewardship projects in New Mexico in various communities.

The diverse set of projects support the fellow through opportunities such as: building and developing collaboration and partnerships, outdoor recreation and conservation planning, community outreach and civic engagement, management and leaderships skills, and other technical skills such as facilitation, creative design, and communication. The fellow will have an opportunity to work on projects where a diverse set of skill sets can be applied such as leading teams, meetings, groups, on-site or in a virtual setting.

Essential functions and responsibilities:

With the support of an RTCA site supervisor and RTCA project teams the fellow will assist with the following project elements:

1. Community Outreach and Civic Engagement

 Perform inventory assessments and analysis, conduct demographic study & research strategic outreach and developing planning documents.

Provide cultural awareness by demonstrating culturally sensitive knowledge about working with different groups, identify key community groups, cultural leaders and social networks. Conduct research to learn more about partners and understand the history, cultural norms, and contexts of the community.

Use tools and techniques to collect data and community input. Use tools to represent and collected data.

2. Facilitation

Support with facilitation of meetings and workshops for in-person and virtual settings.

Evaluate meetings and workshops.

Communicate appropriately with a variety of audiences.

Engage participants in conversation, meetings, workshops.

3. Plan Projects

Participate and work on different stages of planning cycles and report on the project status and/or site visits.

Support multiple projects.

Support defining scope, vision, goals, outcomes and determine capacity.

Recognize ways to help the project team accomplish objectives.

Required Skills:

• Analytical and critical thinking skills
• Ability to work effectively with a variety of people.
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong oral and written communications skills
• Possession of a current valid driver’s license
• Must be 21 years or older.
• Must be a US Citizen, National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the United States. Fellows must undergo a government background check if selected.