Fellowship Opportunities

FELLOW APPLICATIONS EXTENDED!
CivicSpark is continuing to accept applications on a rolling basis until all positions are filled!

LAUNCH A MEANINGFUL CAREER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES!

CivicSpark and Climate Action Corps offer unique opportunities for those passionate about environmental and community resilience to gain direct experience, build strong networks, and gain professional, technical, and leadership skills through service.

What does it mean to be a CivicSpark Fellow?

CivicSpark Fellows serve with State, local, and community-based organizations tackling the most pressing environmental and social equity issues through planning and policy support for community resilience.

As AmeriCorps members, all CivicSpark and Climate Action Corps Fellows focus on getting things done through capacity building and direct action, professional development through training and service experiences, and strengthening communities through volunteer mobilization.

While all projects are unique, Fellows’ service will follow the steps below:

Gap Assessments: Fellows identify project needs and set the scope of their service.
Service Projects: Fellows conduct research, planning, or implementation projects to address community needs.
Volunteer Engagement: Fellows mobilize volunteers to take action in their communities.
Knowledge Sharing: Fellows sustain progress by training staff or sharing outcomes with local partners.

Fellows gain experience serving with regional leaders and community members implementing community resilience projects. Fellows graduate with a strong understanding of local environmental and social equity needs and solutions. Fellows receive coaching and individualized professional development through:

Project supervision and professionalism coaching.
Training on sector-specific tools and techniques.
Statewide networking with local, regional, and state leaders.
An outcome-driven project management experience in critically important fields.

Project Types

Projects for the upcoming 2021-22 service year will be added in mid-March 2021. Past projects are available on Our Projects page.

COMMUNITY RESILIENCE

Climate

Housing

Mobility

Water

CLIMATE ACTION MOBILIZATION

Urban Greening

Wildfire Mitigation and Recovery

Food Waste Recovery

Qualifications

AmeriCorps Requirements

Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States of America.
Ability to pass FBI, CA Department of Justice, out-of-state, and National Sex Offender Public Registry background checks prior to service.

CivicSpark and Climate Action Corps Requirements

Minimum of a 2-year AA degree from an accredited college or university
Commitment to the full term of service (11 months, 1,700 hours)
Ability to work in a professional office or virtual office setting
Strong communication and teamwork skills

Strongly preferred

A degree in a related field
One year of relevant experience
Past service experience (e.g., volunteering, community service, etc.)
Experience with, or training in, outreach, facilitation and/or education

Desirable

Experience with local government operations and structures
Comfort with quantitative work, including data collection and analysis

This is an equal opportunity position and we prefer to place candidates who already live in the communities they will serve. *At this time, we are unfortunately unable to accept applicants with student visas (such as F1 or F2 student visas, J1 or J2 exchange visitor visas, G series visas, etc.), or those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.

Benefits

$22,000 Living Allowance
$6,345 Segal Education Award and $3,655 California For All Educational Award (A total of $10,000)
SNAP (CalFresh)
Student Loan Forebearance
Health insurance
Childcare assistance
Professional development training
Network development
CivicSpark, CAC and AmeriCorps alumni support

CivicSpark and Climate Action Corps Side-by-Side

Program differences at a glance

	CIVICSPARK	CLIMATE ACTION CORPS
FOCUS AREAS	Climate Change Water Management Affordable Housing Mobility	Urban Greening Wildfire Mitigation & Prevention Food Recovery
TYPE OF SERVICE	Capacity Building: Research Action Planning Program Implementation (outreach & education, gathering data, evaluating results)	Direct Action: Program Implementation (outreach & education, gathering data, evaluating results) Recruiting and managing volunteers
HOST PARTNERS	Local governments Tribal governments Non-profits* State agencies* Educational institutions* *Must identify a local public beneficiary	Local governments Tribal governments Non-profits Educational institutions
HOURS BREAKDOWN	At least 80% Project Service Up to 20% Other Activities (Fellow Training, Volunteer Engagement, Service Days, etc.)	At least 80% Project Service (including Volunteer Engagement) Up to 20% Other Activities (Fellow Training, Service Days, etc.)
YEAR LAUNCHED	2014	2020
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF ALUMNI	Currently 300+, will increase to 380+ in July 2021	60+ in August 2021

2021-22 Fellow Application Calendar

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March 1 - 30

Priority Application Period

March 29

Program Interviews begin

April 1 - 30

Regular Application Period

May 1 - 30

Late Application Period

May 1

Partner Interviews Begin

June - August

Project Placements Finalized

21-22 Service Term Dates

September 13, 2021

Program Orientation

September 20, 2021

Project Start Date

August 13, 2022

Last day of Fellow Service

Questions?

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