Community Engagement & Therapeutic Green Space AmeriCorps Coordinator
This position is with El Futuro, located in Durham, NC. El Futuro’s mission is to nurture stronger familias to live out their dreams. We live out this mission by providing bilingual, culturally-responsive mental health and substance use treatment to Spanish-speaking families in central NC. Our professionally-licensed staff - most of whom are first and second generation immigrants themselves - are experts in meeting families where they are and helping to put them at ease in the face of fear of unknown institutions and traditional stigmas about mental health. One key way we meet famlies is through our therapeutic green space.
The 2021-2022 AmeriCorps positions will have a start date (for new full-time 11 month members) of September 1st 2021 and an end date of July 31st 2022.
**Please make sure you upload all of the required documents - Resume, Cover Letter, State or Federal ID, College Transcripts, Birth Certificate (if US Passport not uploaded).** If required documents are not uploaded at time of application, any offer for employment will be withheld until they are provided. All AmeriCorps Members must submit to having a National Sex Offender, State of Residence (if state is different than NC), State of NC, and Federal FBI Background check conducted. Any applicant denying to submit to these checks will be automatically disqualified as per federal regulations.
For the 2021-2022 service year, Resilience Corps NC offers a living stipend of $17,000 for 11 months, health insurance reimbursement for premiums, childcare assistance, and professional development opportunities (individual trainings, enrollment in NC Environmental Education Certificate Program, and conferences in conjunction with the NC Commission on Volunteerism). Participants who complete the program will receive a Segal Education Award of $6,345 from the National Service Trust.
CTNC is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate because of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual preference or familial status.
CTNC seeks to engage applicants from underrepresented communities, particularly of Asian, Black, Hispanic, Multi-Racial, and Native American background, in conservation careers. Connecting more diverse applicants to an employment pathway has led to greater equity, diversity and inclusion of all people in conservation.
Purpose of the Position
The Service Member will work to make environmental education more accessible to the Latino community who is El Futuro’s primary target audience. The member will work collaboratively with our current partners and enlarge our circle of contacts so that we have a greater impact. The service member will connect more North Carolinians to the outdoors. This is especially salient for our work in the mental health sector as stronger connections have been shown to improve people’s mental and emotional wellbeing. In addition, the service member will involve community volunteers by creating systems to ensure our therapeutic green space is thriving and a welcoming environment for the whole community.
Position Responsibilities and Duties
- Work to actively engage El Futuro’s community, staff, clients, and neighbors in the El Futuro Green Space area use and care.
- Attend community meetings and develop partnerships with other organizations to promote the mental health - environment initiative
- Conduct a neighborhood survey for green space/beautification desires to identify elements that will foster healing, celebration of identity, and mental wellness
- Coordinate community and staff to volunteer in activities related to the El Futuro therapeutic garden area. Screen volunteers to ensure good fit and then provide training
- Plan and Coordinate community gatherings, educational programs, volunteer day events in the El Futuro therapeutic garden area as needed in collaboration with Staff.
- Attend Health fairs and community fairs to promote awareness about the mental health - environment initiative, with special emphasis in the Latino population
- Meet regularly with the El Futuro therapeutic garden team to plan and coordinate activities and projects.
- Ensure that El Futuro therapeutic garden area is clean and plants are healthy
- Monitor quality of water in the El Futuro demonstration creek and maintain with purifying treatments to promote safety for children and families
- Address community needs through community surveys, and providing information on resources as well as creating partnerships.
- Lead initiatives relating to environmental education and community engagement in El Futuro
- Continue developing an interactive educational curriculum for community members to learn about mental health, the environment, and conservation.
Qualifications
- Must be fully Bilingual English/Spanish
- Knowledge and experience with organic vegetable gardening and/or farming
- Must possess leadership skills initiative, positive attitude and engaging personality
- Demonstrated ability to engage with individuals of many demographics and histories i.e. youth, elders, immigrants, economically diverse, people of color and the Latino community
- Significant experience with community organizing and community outreach required
- Excellent planning and organizational skills, including the ability to plan events and organize volunteers
- Ability to manage several task lists at once and adapt to changing conditions (weather, volunteer cancellations)
- Ability to work outdoors in all weather (heat, humidity, rain and cold) and do manual labor
- Must possess an outgoing, friendly disposition and professional demeanor at all times
- Strong computer skills and technological aptitude
Essential Functions / Physical Demands
- Highly motivated
- Demonstrated ability to think independently and follow through
- Physical ability to walk, lift, bend and carry up to 50 pounds
- Ability to work some weekends and evenings throughout the year
- Valid driver’s license
Preferred Schedule
Monday thru Friday, some weekends