Princeville is the oldest town chartered by freed blacks in America. Historically, the Town of Princeville has been populated primarily by African-Americans and struggled early-on with social and economic difficulties relating to racism. Over time, the citizens of Princeville have developed a strong sense of pride in their history and in their community and the Town stands as a symbol of African-American determination and endurance.

Conservation Trust for North Carolina seeks to inspire and enable people to build resilient, just communities. A resilient community is defined as one where people are meaningfully engaged and empowered, where leadership is responsive to community needs as defined by its residents, and where its people are able to respond to climate-related disasters by rebuilding or adapting in ways that make them stronger and more prepared for future challenges. 

This 2023-2024 AmeriCorps position will have a start date (for new full-time 11 month members) of September 5th, 2023 (or soon thereafter), and an end date of July 31st 2024 (or 11 months after start date). 

**Please make sure you upload all of the required documents - Resume & Cover Letter. 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 2023-2024 service year, Resilience Corps NC offers a living stipend that will range from $25,500 to $30,000 for 11 months (this is taxable and the final amount is dependent on federal funding granted by AmeriCorps in July, and candidates/applicants will be notified of that amount), health insurance reimbursement for premiums, childcare assistance, and professional development opportunities (some examples are three AmeriCorps cohort trainings that cover project management to strengths assessments, individual self-directed trainings, enrollment in NC Environmental Education Certificate Program, and conferences in conjunction with VolunteerNC). Members are also eligible to sign up for SNAP benefits. Participants who complete the program will receive a Segal Education Award of $6,895 (taxable in the year used, not the year awarded) from the National Service Trust. 

CTNC, the fiscal sponsor of Resilience Corps NC, is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate because of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual preference or familial status.

Resilience Corps NC 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.

The purpose of the position

The Princeville Garden Outreach Coordinator will work alongside a diverse group of community partners, congregation members and nearby students, residents, and others, to strengthen and expand the community’s understanding of and access to locally-grown and sustainably sourced food options. The position works directly with the Town of Princeville leadership under the supervision of the CTNC Director of Community Innovation to focus on developing best practices and programs that support the work of the Town of Princeville’s resilient recovery initiatives: sustainable gardening practices, youth leadership, and environmental stewardship, sustainable land use, and flood resilience. 

This opportunity provides a unique experience to learn how a group of community partners work together to address social determinants of health in a rural community with limited financial resources. The member will also gain insights into how nontraditional partners can engage in community-led conservation work and environmental outreach in a community setting.

Position responsibilities and duties 

The Princeville Garden Outreach Coordinator will work with staff to build educational programming, provide outreach opportunities to low-income residents, and recruit and manage volunteers for workdays and other engagement activities. 

Duties include:

• Plan and execute educational programs about environmental topics around sustainable agriculture, community gardens, and positive health outcomes 
• Conduct outreach to engage nearby residents in the Town of Princeville’s recovery efforts and collaborative partnerships that achieve resilience to flooding and climate change impacts 

• Conduct listening sessions with residents and community partners to inform a community-led engagement plan for long-term success
• Collect data on visitation and usage of the market and gardens, progress to meet grant deliverables, and other metrics deemed relevant 
• Complete an assessment of various garden and small-scale agriculture land-use types that could meet Princeville’s needs while providing access to healthy food 
• This position will be based in Princeville/Edgecombe County.

Qualifications 

Required knowledge, skills and experience:

• Cultural Empathy
• Community Engagement
• Creative Thinking
• Communication Skills
• Time Management/Organization
• Responsibility/Ability to work independently and in group settings
• Adaptability/Flexibility
• Interest in education, outdoor environments, community engagement, and/or food/agriculture Familiarity with gardening, farming, and sustainable agriculture
• Ability to build consensus among diverse partners
• Experience working with children and adults in a professional or volunteer setting

 Preferred knowledge, skills and experience:

• Interest in education, outdoor environments, community engagement, and/or food/agriculture Familiarity with gardening, farming, and sustainable agriculture
• Ability to build consensus among diverse partners
• Experience working with children and adults in a professional or volunteer setting

Essential Functions/physical demands

The successful candidate must be comfortable working in outdoor settings, including high temperatures throughout the summer and performing basic gardening tasks such as digging in the soil, handling insects and plants, and harvesting and cleaning produce. Precautions will be taken to ensure the safety of the member and participants, including scheduling outdoor work times early in the day, rescheduling work days in extreme heat or other adverse weather conditions, and following sun safety protocols.

Other essential functions include:

• Ability to navigate a garden terrain and use hand tools
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds 
• Ability to be outside in all types of weather
• Ability to communicate with diverse groups orally and in writing
• Ability to present educational material to all ages
• Ability to work in an office environment

What is AmeriCorps?

AmeriCorps is a bridge builder, a force multiplier, a way to connect individuals and organizations to support their communities in tackling challenges. AmeriCorps programs across the country address a variety of community needs like education, economic opportunity, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, disaster response, and veteran & military family services.

What does Resilience Corps NC do?

CTNC’s AmeriCorps program, Resilience Corps NC, seeks to address our state’s changing climate by expanding access to environmental education, increasing eco-literacy, promoting disaster resiliency, and utilizing communities to identify and address climate-related issues.

Who should apply for a position with Resilience Corps NC?

Our program is a great opportunity for:

-Recent graduates looking to build experience and a strong professional network

-Established professionals seeking a career change

-Passionate conservationists wanting to give back to their community

What benefits do Resilience Corps members receive?

-Living stipend, paid twice monthly

-Education award (upon completion of service)

-Healthcare premium reimbursement

-Childcare assistance

-SNAP eligibility

JOB CODE: Princeville