Summer Associate - Capacity Building

Summer Associate - Capacity Building

Stewards Individual Placements connects AmeriCorps members with nonprofit organizations and public agencies to strengthen organizational capacity in rural and underserved communities. Through service, members develop systems that expand economic opportunity, improve environmental stewardship, and increase long-term community resilience. Summer Associates may serve with a range of host organizations working in workforce development, environmental stewardship, conservation, food systems, community planning, or economic development. Many of these communities experience persistent poverty, limited career pathways, and environmental challenges linked to geographic isolation, economic transition, or the legacy of extractive industries. Across host sites, organizations often require stronger planning systems that organize workforce initiatives, document environmental priorities, and coordinate partnerships that expand training and employment opportunities. The VISTA will build capacity by developing workforce planning resources, environmental research summaries, and organizational planning tools that guide future program implementation. These resources will organize labor market information, document training providers and community assets, and outline workforce pathways connected to environmental restoration, conservation, and community resilience initiatives. This project will break the cycle of poverty by strengthening systems that expand access to workforce training and environmental career pathways for individuals in low-income and rural communities. Products resulting from VISTA efforts may include workforce resource inventories, environmental planning summaries, partnership documentation frameworks, and community asset mapping tools. Staff will use these resources to guide workforce initiatives, coordinate environmental programs, and pursue long-term economic development strategies after the service term. Further help on this page can be found by clicking here.

Member Duties : The Summer Associate will focus on capacity-building activities that produce internal planning resources, documentation tools, and community engagement materials. Duties may include compiling labor market research summaries, developing workforce resource inventories, creating community asset maps, organizing environmental data sets, drafting partnership coordination frameworks, designing planning templates and resource guides, and assisting with public-facing informational workshops, outreach campaigns, or site observations. Activities are designed to strengthen host organizations' capacity, guide long-term workforce and environmental program development, provide tangible connections between planning tools and community needs, and support measurable outcomes in workforce access, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.

Program Benefits : Living Allowance , Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend .

Terms :

Car recommended , Permits working at another job during off hours , Permits attendance at school during off hours .

Service Areas :

Environment , Community and Economic Development .

Skills :

Fund raising/Grant Writing , Environment , General Skills .