AmeriCorps Member - Campus Climate Action Corps Connecticut (UConn Health)

Campus Climate Action Corps is a nationwide AmeriCorps program through Campus Compact, a coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to advancing the public purposes of higher education. In Connecticut, through the Campus Climate Action Corps Connecticut (CCAC CT) program, 40 AmeriCorps members will be leveraged by higher education institutions and their community partners to support the CCAC CT program areas of Energy Efficiency, Ecosystem Health, and Education & Public Awareness. CCAC CT is an AmeriCorps Connecticut Program.

We are currently seeking one (1) Half-Time (900-hour) AmeriCorps Member to join our CCAC CT team for the 2024-2025 service year.

The AmeriCorps Member will work closely with CCAC CT staff, their host site supervisor, other AmeriCorps members, community partners, volunteers, and campus staff and students to design and implement a Climate Action Plan. The Climate Action Plan will support CCAC CT’s community-focused program activities and may also support campus-based projects. The Member will be responsible for developing campus and community partnerships and coordinating program activities that aim to increase energy efficiency and improve at-risk ecosystems for underserved households and communities.

CCAC CT Benefits:

As a Half-Time AmeriCorps member, you will receive:

• A living allowance of $8,500 total for the service term. It will be distributed evenly in bi-weekly installments via direct deposit and is taxable income.
• A $3,697.50 Segal Education Award. This award is contingent upon the successful completion of the program, is good for 7 years, and can be used to pay for college or technical school or to pay back qualified public student loans
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments for qualifying members
• Professional development training and access to 700+ Employers of National Service
• Additional benefits from assigned host site, such as housing and/or meal plan, where available

Service Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be at least 17 years old
• Must be a U.S. Citizen, National, or Lawful Permanent Resident
• Must pass a National Service Criminal History Check
• High school diploma or equivalent is required
• Must be located in or willing to relocate to a host site area
• Valid driver’s license and car, and/or dependable transportation
• Personal commitment to climate action and environmental stewardship
• Motivated team player with exceptional organizational skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and comfortable with public speaking

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience engaging community partners and/or college students
• Experience with outreach, volunteer recruitment & management, or event planning
• Experience in environmental education, environmental stewardship, sustainability, or home energy efficiency

Essential Functions:

General Responsibilities:

• Collaborate effectively with the host site supervisor, other AmeriCorps members, community partners, volunteers, and campus staff and students to design and implement a Climate Action Plan
• Develop community partnerships and leverage volunteers to support CCAC CT program activities

Energy Efficiency:

• Conduct basic home energy assessments with low-income households in the local community
• Provide households with energy conservation strategies and resources to reduce carbon emissions and increase cost savings
• Implement low-tech interventions to reduce energy use and increase cost savings for underserved households (e.g. weatherization, LED light bulbs, window-insulation inserts)
• Serve as a home energy navigator, educating low-income households on government programs and assisting households to apply for rebate and subsidy programs

Ecosystem Health:

• Plan and execute a community-driven project that improves a local at-risk ecosystem (e.g. removal of invasive species, tree planting, installation of rain gardens)

Education and Public Awareness:

• Coordinate and facilitate education events in underserved communities to increase awareness about climate change, environmental/financial impacts of energy usage, and strategies for reducing personal energy use
• Support CCAC CT’s national public awareness campaign on the local level on campus and in the community

Evaluation & Reporting Requirements:

• Complete and submit accurate and timely biweekly timesheets and monthly data reports
• Develop a Sustainability Guide that ensures the long-term viability of projects
• Member performance will be assessed through a mid-term evaluation and end-of-term evaluation

Training Requirements:

• Attend a week-long virtual orientation at the beginning of the service term
• Complete Early Service Training
• Engage in ongoing training sessions to support green career pathways, if occurring during the member’s service hours
• Attend weekly virtual All Corps Meetings, if occurring during the member’s service hours
• Participate in Life After AmeriCorps training workshops and career action planning activities in June, if occurring during the member’s service hours
• Participate in an AmeriCorps Day of Service

The responsibilities above are essential position functions and are subject to reasonable accommodations.

Non-Essential Functions:

The Member may be required to perform other position-related instructions within the scope of their normal service activities as requested by their site supervisor and/or AmeriCorps program staff in alignment with the grant and not unallowable or prohibited activities.

AmeriCorps Disaster Requirements:

In the event of a local, state, or federal disaster declaration, AmeriCorps Members may be asked on a volunteer basis or be required by AmeriCorps to activate to assist in disaster response and recovery activities within their communities. This may involve virtual service opportunities or in-person service opportunities. This may include service opportunities outside of the Member’s standard service hours or in place of their standard service duties. In the event of a large-scale, high needs local, state, or federal disaster, AmeriCorps Members may voluntarily or be required by AmeriCorps to deploy to an area outside of their service area to assist in disaster response and recovery activities.

Term of Service: The Half-Time AmeriCorps member must complete at least 900 hours during the service term, which will run from January 6, 2025 through August 29, 2025 (averaging 30 hours/week).

Location: UConn Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, Connecticut 06030

To Apply: For more information about CCAC CT, please email Nicolas Lombardo at nlombardo@compact.org. The application priority deadline is Monday, December 23rd, 2024. Applications are received on a rolling basis after that.

About AmeriCorps: AmeriCorps is the federal agency connecting individuals and organizations through service and volunteering to tackle the nation’s most pressing challenges. Campus Climate Action Corps in Connecticut (CCAC CT) is an AmeriCorps Connecticut Program.

About Campus Compact: Campus Compact is a coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to advancing the public purposes of higher education and an intermediary sponsor for the AmeriCorps Campus Climate Action Corps program. We support our member institutions—helping them build the knowledge, skills, and capacity needed to enable a just, equitable, and sustainable future.

Campus Compact does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, height, weight, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member), or any other basis prohibited by law.