CivicSpark AmeriCorps Fellowship

Firm: Local Government Commission
Locations:
Sacramento
San Francisco Bay Area
San Luis Obispo
Eureka
Truckee
Fresno
Los Angeles
Inland Empire

Payment: Paid
Start Date: Oct 3, 2016
Category: Environmental Planning
Contact: Melanie Chu
mchu@lgc.org
(916) 448-1198
Posted: Aug 9, 2016

Apply now to become a CivicSpark AmeriCorps fellow for the 2016-17 service year at http://civicspark.lgc.org/join-civicspark/fellow/.

CivicSpark—a Governor’s Initiative AmeriCorps program dedicated to building capacity for local governments to address climate change, water, and land-use needs—is currently recruiting 68 motivated recent college graduates who are interested in gaining professional experience and developing technical skills while creating a meaningful and lasting impact. During the 11-month service year (October 2016 - September 2017), CivicSpark fellows will complete research, planning, or implementation projects that provide local government agencies with the support they need to advance their climate, water, energy, and sustainability initiatives.

The program offers two fellowship tracks: the CivicSpark Climate Action Fellowship (48 fellows) and the CivicSpark Water Action Fellowship (20 fellows). Climate fellows, organized into eight regional teams (LA, Southern California, Bay Area, Fresno, Central Coast, Sacramento, Truckee, and Eureka) with a Regional Coordinator, work on mitigation and adaptation projects on a range of topics including sustainable transportation, energy efficiency, implementation of climate action plans, and GHG inventories and benchmarks. Water fellows focus specifically on local government challenges related to water and land-use, and serve with local leaders responding to statewide priorities in water resources, such as implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and the California Water Action Plan.

Benefits

AmeriCorps was created to address community needs through service. AmeriCorps members have the opportunity to make an impact in their community while gaining valuable career and life experience. In exchange for their service, each fellow receives the following benefits:

● A living allowance of approximately $14,000 (before taxes) spread evenly over 11 months
● Segal Education Award of $5,775 at the completion of service
● Forbearance on existing qualifying student loans and payment of interest accrued during service
● Health insurance
● Childcare assistance to qualifying fellows, paid to an eligible provider of your choice
● Significant professional development training
● Valuable experience in the sustainability field and the local government sector
● Network development with regional and statewide contacts in the climate and water fields