Blue River Watershed EJ Advancement With HCA

Blue River Watershed EJ Advancement with HCA

Located in Kansas City, MO, Heartland Conservation Alliance's (HCA) mission is to work with partners to protect, connect, and restore the Blue River watershed and its urban greenspaces for the benefit and enjoyment of all. Currently, HCA is working on improving education, community resources, healthy access to green spaces, and neighborhood resilience by providing tools to projects that can be done in their backyards and at parks located within their neighborhoods.

HCA also leads community volunteer days that focus on invasive species removal and native plant reintroduction. The Green VISTA Corps Member will support community engagement efforts by providing education materials to described communities.

They will advance capacity building by facilitating leadership development and identify community leaders and organizations in the watershed's most vulnerable communities.

They will work to develop meaningful relationships with them and share information about how Blue River stewardship helps aid community challenges. Additionally, the VISTA would support advancing participation in democracy by engaging underinvested neighborhoods advocate for and secure resources to improve their environment, health, and access to natural recreation which would invest in mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The overall goal is to provide the initial tools, which will then empower communities to take collective action.

This VISTA assignment is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 Green VISTA Corps Program which seeks to help historically underserved communities support environmental stewardship and anti-poverty efforts. The program is focused on creating new partnerships with local organizations in the Region 7 geographic area to support capacity-building projects that will support poverty alleviation and advance efforts to protect human health and the environment. Further help on this page can be found by clicking here.

Member Duties : Review workshop materials about restoring vacant lots in urban neighborhoods, support the EJ program manager in planning and facilitating workshops, identify ten low-income communities along the Blue River watershed who disproportionately face EJ challenges, engage with community leaders, craft effective social media posts to enhance presence and engage communities, gather and organize subaward applications, and support community neighbors by coordinating a schedule of when to plant, water, trim, and weed planted areas. The VISTA will support selected communities in developing a system to gather other community neighbors, volunteers, tools, and to create a long-term maintenance plan.

Program Benefits : Health Coverage* , Relocation Allowance , Childcare assistance if eligible , Training , Education award upon successful completion of service , Living Allowance , Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend .

Terms :

Car recommended , Permits working at another job during off hours , Permits attendance at school during off hours .

Service Areas :

Community Outreach , Environment , Health , Community and Economic Development , Education , Neighborhood Revitalization .

Skills :

Education , Environment , Marketing , Communications , Fund raising/Grant Writing , Leadership .