Energy Communities VISTA: Capacity Team Coordinator - Coalfield Development

Direct capacity building for coal-impacted communities that enables resiliency and a just transition! Join our team to empower Appalachians to sustainably rebuild our economy from the ground up!

As energy opportunities expand, coal and power facility jobs are declining across the United States. The Energy Communities AmeriCorps VISTA project will develop and advance programs that increase environmental awareness and stewardship, job training, employment pathways, and access to existing federal and community resources for low-income individuals living in energy transition communities. Energy Communities AmeriCorps members will serve low-income energy communities that are experiencing energy transformations. VISTA members will be placed with local organizations to help assess environmental impacts, identify existing supports, and develop economic transformation and revitalization goals with their communities. 

IMPORTANT:

Please note that this VISTA term is:

• Full time, 
• 1-year in length,
• Begins in December 2024 and ends in December 2025

The living allowance for Energy Communities VISTAs is $88.39 per day (including weekends). This is equivalent to $15.51/hour ($32,262.35/year).

For more information about Energy Communities AmeriCorps, please visit our website.

For any questions, please contact Shelby Street at sstreet@conservationlegacy.org

To apply, please use the AmeriCorps link here.

About the Site and Position:

Our Mission is to inspire the courage to grow, activating the creativity to innovate, and cultivating communities of opportunity in central Appalachia through 4 core capabilities: designing and scaling new programs in emerging sustainable sectors, incubating and Investing in well-paying employment social enterprises, facilitating personal, professional, and academic growth for people facing barriers to employment, and advancing, completing, and/or managing community-based revitalization projects. We are located in Huntington, WV but have offices and projects throughout southern West Virginia where we have trained over 3,000 people and leveraged over 250 megawatts of renewable energy in coal-impacted communities. The ecosystem for community-based organizations is fragile, and our work provides the much needed support to help local organizations build a foundation that perpetuates funding opportunities for their community! Wayne County is registered as an at-risk county by the Appalachian Regional Commission with thousands of jobs lost during the decline of the coal industry. The surrounding region has a 39% labor participation rate. This role will facilitate the deployment of just energy transition opportunities, capacity building at the hyper-local level, and grant writing for coal-impacted communities! This VISTA will work directly with our Capacity Team to identify hyper-local nonprofit and community organizations, establish goals and opportunities together, and directly invest into those organizations through funding, technical assistance, and capacity building to catalyze future resources.

Member Duties:

The VISTA will jump right in with our Capacity Team to coordinate the following for each coal community in our service region:

1. Engage with local nonprofits to establish baseline capacity, limitations, and opportunities 
2. Engage with local nonprofits to identify goals to build capacity (funding, partnerships, TA, etc.) 
3. Engage with Coalfield's Capacity Team to map out resources for the goals identified 
4. Connect local nonprofits with the ecosystem of the Appalachian Climate Technologies Coalition 
5. Identify patterns with other regional nonprofits and propose collective impact solutions 
6. Develop resources with Coalfield's grants team for grant proposals that actualize identified goals 
7. Engage with local nonprofits to onboard successful grants 
8. Engage with local nonprofits to identify and develop financial sustainability strategies 
9. Build regional relationships with federal/philanthropic agencies

Program Benefits:

VISTA service provides an excellent opportunity for the member to develop professional skills and experience, build their network, and make a tangible impact on critical community needs. VISTAs also access the following benefits:

• Segal Education Award ($7,395) OR Cash Stipend (~$1,800) upon successful completion of service
• Living Allowance ($88.39/day, disbursed every 2 weeks)
• Relocation Allowance
• Regular Training and Professional Development Opportunities (free and virtual)
• Employee Wellness Program (access to a licensed, professional counselor and 24/7 in-moment support)
• Childcare*
• Healthcare*
• Non-Competitive Eligibility upon successful completion of the term*
• Access to a nationwide cohort of like-minded peers

*For more information regarding the Segal Education Award, check out this link: https://americorps.gov/members-volunteers/segal-americorps-education-award.

*For more information regarding the AmeriCorps VISTA Childcare benefit, please visit https://americorpschildcare.com/.

*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare.

*For details about Non-Competitive Eligibility, please see https://americorps.gov/sites/default/files/document/americorps-vista-alumni-nce-2023.pdf

What is an AmeriCorps VISTA?

AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members are dedicated individuals who serve full-time in their assigned communities to build capacity, support economic development, and foster sustainable programs. They receive various benefits, including a living allowance, education award, professional development, healthcare and childcare, and non-competitive eligibility for federal jobs after service completion.

What is Energy Communities AmeriCorps?

Energy Communities AmeriCorps offers technical support to help communities impacted by previous or pending coal mine and power plant closures. This program bridges the gap between environmental and economic concerns by focusing on a more diversified economic portfolio. Creating opportunities in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, small businesses, tourism and more strengthens communities and builds for the future.

The Basics:

• • Funding: More than $12.5 million is available to support the project, funded by federal agencies and philanthropic sources.
  • Duration: The initiative is set to run for three years, starting in fall 2024.
  • Locations: Nine priority Energy Communities, including Appalachian Ohio, Eastern Kentucky, Illinois Coal Basin, Four Corners, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Wyoming, and Montana.

What is Stewards Individual Placements?

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards) provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health.

Stewards VISTA Program is a national intermediary sponsor with 22 years of experience operating VISTA projects that support economic development and environmental stewardship in coal mining communities. Since 2002, Stewards has engaged over 1,200 VISTA members, securing $41 million in grants and in-kind resources, recruiting 100,000 volunteers, and developing capacity for organizations to strengthen mining communities.

Stewards Individual Placements is a program of Conservation Legacy, a national organization with a 25-year history of operating AmeriCorps VISTA and State and National programs.

For more information regarding Stewards, please visit our website.

Stewards Individual Placements does not and will not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application, interviewing, and/or onboarding process, please send your request to the hiring manager in your preferred method of communication.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Environment
• Non-profit Management
• Business/Entrepreneur
• Fundraising/Grant Writing
• Social Services
• Computers/Technology
• Community Organization  
• Communications
• Writing/Editing
• Leadership 
• Teamwork
• Project management
• Interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail

Candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

Applicant must have earned an undergraduate degree.