Energy Communities VISTA: Community Engagement Coordinator

The Center for Community Growth, Indiana PA; Indiana (PA); On-site; USD 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization is seeking a Stewards VISTA member to support community engagement efforts within coal-impacted areas of Indiana County, Pennsylvania. The role involves building relationships with local residents, facilitating workshops, and supporting strategic planning initiatives. This position offers valuable experience in community planning and nonprofit development while contributing to sustainable community development.

Benefits

Relocation Allowance ($750 if eligible)

Healthcare Coverage if eligible

Childcare Coverage if eligible

Training and Professional Development Opportunities

Access to wellness programs and mentorship

Qualifications

• Must be a United States citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Willingness to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with local residents and leaders to understand community needs.
• Plan and facilitate community workshops.
• Assist in developing actionable strategic plans from workshop feedback.

Skills

Community Engagement

Workshop Coordination

Strategic Planning

Data Analysis

Education

4 Year Degree

Job description

• Location Conservation Legacy,Pennsylvania, PA, 17101,United States
• Base Pay $24962.35 - $24962.35 / Year
• Job Category Conservation , AmeriCorps
• Relocation Expense Covered Yes
• Employee Type VISTA
• Required Degree 4 Year Degree
• Manage Others No

Contact information

• Phone [phone]

Description

Position Title: Stewards VISTA: Center for Community Growth- AmeriCorps

Site Location: Indiana, PA

City, State or Full Address: 85 Oak Street #10, Indiana PA, 15701

Terms of Service:

Start Date: 07/14/25

End Date: 07/13/26

Must serve a 365-day (1 year) service term

Living Allowance: $68.39/day ($24,962.35/year)

Indiana County Thrives (ICT), an AmeriCorps Program, aims to build inclusive and resilient coal-impacted communities in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. ICT is designed to strengthen local capacity through place-based development, strategic workshops, and community-driven collaboration. The program seeks to connect each community’s identity, assets, and goals to create vibrant and sustainable places to live, work, and play.

This AmeriCorps Position supports ICT by advancing community engagement, facilitating strategic workshops, conducting local needs assessments, and helping to develop actionable strategic plans. The member will contribute to sustainable, community-led change by maintaining key planning tools, analyzing data, and supporting energy transition efforts, ensuring that Indiana County's most impacted communities are meaningfully included in shaping their future.

The AmeriCorps VISTA member will build capacity and develop sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in underserved communities.

Description of Duties:

The AmeriCorps Member will serve with Indiana County Thrives to support community development efforts in coal-impacted areas of Indiana County, PA. Their responsibilities will include:

· Community Engagement : Build relationships with local residents, organizations, and leaders to better understand community needs and priorities.

· Workshop Coordination : Help plan, organize, and facilitate community workshops that explore local assets, challenges, and opportunities.

· Strategic Planning Support : Review and organize feedback gathered from workshops to help create detailed, goal-oriented plans (SMART goals) for community improvement.

· Data and Reporting : Maintain tools such as a grant opportunity tracker and skills mapping database, and assist in preparing reports that summarize program progress.

· Event Participation : Take part in local events and meetings related to sustainability, workforce development, and energy transition as a representative of Indiana County Thrives.

· Capacity Building : Help develop materials and systems that will support long-term success of local programs and initiatives, even after the AmeriCorps term ends.

This position offers the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in community planning, civic engagement, and nonprofit development work while helping communities prepare for a more sustainable future.

Qualifications:

· United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien

· At least 18 years of age

· College Graduate

· Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

· Typically, this position is expected to serve full-time (35-40 hours) from 7/14/25 to 7/13/26, but exact schedules may vary.

· Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

· Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

· Member will receive a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) from VISTA on their first day of service.

· Segal AmeriCorps Education Award* of $7,395.00

o or choice of cash stipend of ~$1,800.00

· Living Allowance of $68.39 per day, disbursed every 2 weeks

· Relocation Allowance ($750) if Eligible

· Healthcare Coverage* if Eligible

· Childcare Coverage* if Eligible

· Loan forbearance if Eligible

· Interest Payments if Eligible

· Training and Professional Development Opportunities

· Employee Wellness Program (access to a licensed, professional counselor and 24/7 support)

· Non-Competitive Eligibility* (NCE) status upon successful completion of the term

· Networking and Mentorship

*For more information regarding the Segal Education Award, check out this link as well as alternative uses for the award here .

As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed their required year of service; the member has satisfactorily completed assignments; and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets, accomplishment tracking, and quarterly reporting.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.