Stewards VISTA: Groundwork Bridgeport, Inc.- AmeriCorps

Position Title: Stewards VISTA: Groundwork Bridgeport, Inc.- AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East

Site Location: Bridgeport, CT

City, State or Full Address: 1001 Main St Ste 20, Bridgeport, CT 06604

Terms of Service:

Start Date: 06/02/25

End Date: 06/01/26

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

Living Allowance: $82.51/day ($30,116.15/year)

PLEASE APPLY USING THIS LINK:  My AmeriCorps - Home Page

Purpose:

Groundwork Bridgeport’s AmeriCorps Program is dedicated to fostering environmental stewardship, strengthening community engagement, and transforming underutilized urban spaces into thriving public places. Serving the residents of Bridgeport, Connecticut—a historically under-resourced but resilient community—our program empowers individuals to take an active role in improving their neighborhoods through green initiatives like tree planting, urban agriculture, and public space revitalization. Guided by principles of sustainability, equity, and collaboration, we work to create a healthier, greener, and more connected city.

This AmeriCorps Position will enhance Groundwork Bridgeport’s capacity by strengthening volunteer recruitment, growing partnerships with schools and local businesses, and supporting fundraising efforts. Through coordinating community-led environmental projects and developing outreach materials, the AmeriCorps Member will play a key role in expanding the impact and sustainability of our programs, ultimately helping to build a lasting culture of stewardship in Bridgeport.

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

Description of Duties:

As a Stewards AmeriCorps VISTA with Groundwork Bridgeport, you’ll help grow our community programs and get more people involved in making Bridgeport greener and healthier. Your role will include:

• Recruiting and organizing volunteers for tree plantings, park cleanups, and community garden projects.
• Planning and leading volunteer events, making sure everything runs smoothly.
• Building partnerships with schools, businesses, and local organizations to strengthen our work.
• Creating outreach materials like flyers, social media posts, and newsletters to share our impact.
• Tracking participation and project outcomes to help us measure our success.
• Supporting fundraising efforts, including helping with donor outreach and creating volunteer opportunities for corporate teams.

By the end of your service, you’ll have helped bring more people into environmental stewardship and created resources that keep the momentum going long after your term ends.

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 6/02/25 to 6/01/26, 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.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award* of $7,395.00
  • or choice of cash stipend of ~$1,800.00
• Living Allowance of $82.51 per day, disbursed every 2 weeks
• Professional Development funds available
• 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.

*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare.

*For more information regarding the AmeriCorps VISTA Childcare benefit, please visit https://americorpschildcare.com/.

*For details about Non-Competitive Eligibility, please visit https://my.americorps.gov/trust/help/member_portal/non_competitive_eligibility_overview.htm.

Evaluation and Reporting:

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:

For VISTA related information, contact Addie Gilkerson, agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org

For site related information, contact Tanner Burgdorf, tburgdorf@groundworkbridgeport.org

PLEASE APPLY USING THIS LINK:  My AmeriCorps - Home Page

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.

Salary : $30,116