Position: Indigenous/Native Partnerships Outreach Coordinator
Organization: National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program
Apply at https://americanyouthworks.org/programs/txcc/txcc-individual-placement-overview/.
The position will focus on conducting outreach and identifying potential projects/ partnerships with Indigenous communities in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado. The intern can choose to work remotely or at the Austin office (gathering restrictions permitting). The application deadline is March 12.
The position will run from May 17 - Sept 3, with flexible dates for students returning to school in the fall. Benefits include $710 weekly stipend and AmeriCorps service award. For more information about the position, please see the attached announcement. Native/Indigenous youth are encouraged to apply. Applications will be received by Americans Youthworks here: https://americanyouthworks.org/programs/txcc/txcc-individual-placement-overview/.
Organizations
National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program
In addition to protecting and managing America’s national parks, the National Park Service also operates programs in communities throughout the nation to connect all Americans to their parks, trails, rivers, and other special places. This AmeriCorps position is within the NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program, which helps community groups, nonprofits, state and local governments, and tribes plan parks and trails, conserve and improve access to rivers and natural areas, and create recreation opportunities through locally led partnerships.
American YouthWorks and Texas Conservation Corps
The mission of American YouthWorks is to provide young people with opportunities to build careers, strengthen communities, and improve the environment through education, on-the-job training, and service to others. Along with many other youth-serving programs, American YouthWorks manages the Texas Conservation Corps, which conserves and improves natural landscapes and recreation areas across the Central Southern United States.
Position Description
This rigorous AmeriCorps position provides an opportunity for someone with strong communications, community organizing, and outreach skills to help advance the National Park Service’s community assistance efforts in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado. The selected candidate will also support American YouthWorks ongoing research and outreach to Indigenous communities in Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana. The selected candidate may choose to work at the Austin office or to work remotely (from home) if the candidate has access to reliable internet and phone service. If travel and gathering restrictions allow, the selected candidate is expected to visit Austin for in-person orientation. Optional travel to relevant communities and projects may be possible if government and organizational travel guidelines permit. The dates and hours can be adjusted to accommodate selected candidate’s fall school schedule.
The project goals are to:
- Establish relationships with Indigenous communities and tribal officials in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado.
- Identify potential projects with Indigenous communities that might benefit from RTCA assistance.
- Showcase RTCA success stories involving collaboration with Indigenous communities.
- Increase awareness about RTCA assistance among BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado.
- Increase awareness about conservation corps program models and build partnerships where appropriate.
AmeriCorps Member Position
The position will be hired through AYW as an AmeriCorps member. AmeriCorps is a national service organization, connecting thousands of Americans of all ages and backgrounds with the opportunity to serve their communities. Indigenous and Native applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.
Consideration will be given to all eligible applicants without regard to politics, religion, labor organization affiliation or non-affiliation, marital status, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, non-disqualifying physical handicap, age, or any other non-merit factor.
Major Duties
The selected candidate (“member”) will research local organizations, community groups, and key stakeholders in Indigenous communities in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado. The member will engage with those organizations, through direct interviews, site visits (as appropriate) and focus groups, to identify recreation and conservation needs/goals, as well as the necessary support to meet the identified conservation/recreation goals. The member will also research case study examples and document successful collaboration between RTCA and Indigenous communities. With support from RTCA staff, the member will interact with the identified communities and present information about RTCA and how it can assist with conservation and recreation planning.
The final products of the position will be:
- A detailed strategy that will help RTCA staff effectively engage with and assist Indigenous communities in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado.
- Three or more RTCA success stories involving Indigenous/Native communities.
- List of potential RTCA projects in Indigenous/Native communities in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado.
- List of potential collaborative opportunities with American YouthWorks in Indigenous/Native communities in Texas and Oklahoma.
Selection Criteria
Applicants must be a US Citizen, National, or Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States. Candidates must possess or be nearing completion of a Bachelor’s or Associate Degree OR have significant life experiences—such as community involvement, traditional knowledge, volunteer experience, work experience, etc.—that have led to the development of related skills and abilities. Candidates will be evaluated based upon their experience, training, education, awards, volunteer work, self-development achievements, and any other aspects of their background related to the qualifications below.
Requirements:
- Age 16 to 30 for Public Land Corps eligibility
- Possess US citizenship or permanent residence
- Have a strong interest or relevant experience in areas pertaining to, but not limited to, history, outreach, sociology, park and recreation planning, urban studies, Native American studies, public engagement, social work.
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing, including preparing documents, summarizing information, and establishing contact with groups and officials
- Strong motivation and ability to work independently to develop, organize and implement project tasks, establish priorities, deliver products and meet deadlines.
Additional desired qualifications:
- Knowledge of Indigenous communities and tribes in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, and Colorado.
- Experience working with Indigenous communities
- Outgoing personality or willingness to reach out and connect with dozens of relevant contacts in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado.
- Traditional indigenous knowledge or affiliation with Indigenous nation/tribe/group
Benefits
By affiliating with AmeriCorps, Fellow positions include several key benefits.
|
Length
|
Full-time, 4 month position
(Can be completed as part-time if returning to
school in the fall)
|
| Location |
Austin, Texas or remote |
| Living Allowance |
$710 per week (totaling $11,366) |
| AmeriCorps Award |
AmeriCorps members are eligible for an
AmeriCorps education award upon
successful completion of the program.
Value of the education award is $2417.14. |
| Student Loans |
Student loan forbearance during the term
of service (where qualified) |
| Paid Days Off |
Government holidays |
| Public Land Corps Hiring Authority |
Successful completion of this
position qualifies candidate
for Public Land Corps hiring
authority, a federal noncompetitive
hiring status valid for two years after
the AmeriCorps program completion
date. Completion of this program
does not guarantee candidate a
position in the federal government.
|
| Start and End Date |
May 17, 2021 – September 3, 2021. Flexible
or students returning to school in the fall. |
| Application Due Date |
March 12, 2021 |
How to apply
Please apply at https://americanyouthworks.org/programs/txcc/txcc-individual-placement-overview/
For more information contact:
Emily Kraeske
Recruitment & Outreach Coordinator, Texas Conservation Corps
ekraeske@americanyouthworks.org, (512) 744-1900 ext. 1313
Gibrán Lule-Hurtado
NPS Community Planner
gibran_lule@nps.gov
