#AmeriCorps

[directactionforhope]

"Starting this month [June 2024], thousands of young people will begin doing climate-related work around the West as part of a new service-based federal jobs program, the American Climate Corps, or ACC. The jobs they do will vary, from wildland firefighters and “lawn busters” to urban farm fellows and traditional ecological knowledge stewards. Some will work on food security or energy conservation in cities, while others will tackle invasive species and stream restoration on public land. 

The Climate Corps was modeled on Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps, with the goal of eventually creating tens of thousands of jobs while simultaneously addressing the impacts of climate change. 

Applications were released on Earth Day, and Maggie Thomas, President Joe Biden’s special assistant on climate, told High Country News that the program’s website has already had hundreds of thousands of views. Since its launch, nearly 250 jobs across the West have been posted, accounting for more than half of all the listed ACC positions. 

“Obviously, the West is facing tremendous impacts of climate change,” Thomas said. “It’s changing faster than many other parts of the country. If you look at wildfire, if you look at extreme heat, there are so many impacts. I think that there’s a huge role for the American Climate Corps to be tackling those crises.”  

Most of the current positions are staffed through state or nonprofit entities, such as the Montana Conservation Corps or Great Basin Institute, many of which work in partnership with federal agencies that manage public lands across the West. In New Mexico, for example, members of Conservation Legacy’s Ecological Monitoring Crew will help the Bureau of Land Management collect soil and vegetation data. In Oregon, young people will join the U.S. Department of Agriculture, working in firefighting, fuel reduction and timber management in national forests. 

New jobs are being added regularly. Deadlines for summer positions have largely passed, but new postings for hundreds more positions are due later this year or on a rolling basis, such as the Working Lands Program, which is focused on “climate-smart agriculture.”  ...

On the ACC website, applicants can sort jobs by state, work environment and focus area, such as “Indigenous knowledge reclamation” or “food waste reduction.” Job descriptions include an hourly pay equivalent — some corps jobs pay weekly or term-based stipends instead of an hourly wage — and benefits. The site is fairly user-friendly, in part owing to suggestions made by the young people who participated in the ACC listening sessions earlier this year...

The sessions helped determine other priorities as well, Thomas said, including creating good-paying jobs that could lead to long-term careers, as well as alignment with the president’s Justice40 initiative, which mandates that at least 40% of federal climate funds must go to marginalized communities that are disproportionately impacted by climate change and pollution. 

High Country News found that 30% of jobs listed across the West have explicit justice and equity language, from affordable housing in low-income communities to Indigenous knowledge and cultural reclamation for Native youth...

While the administration aims for all positions to pay at least $15 an hour, the lowest-paid position in the West is currently listed at $11 an hour. Benefits also vary widely, though most include an education benefit, and, in some cases, health care, child care and housing. 

All corps members will have access to pre-apprenticeship curriculum through the North America’s Building Trades Union. Matthew Mayers, director of the Green Workers Alliance, called this an important step for young people who want to pursue union jobs in renewable energy. Some members will also be eligible for the federal pathways program, which was recently expanded to increase opportunities for permanent positions in the federal government...

 “To think that there will be young people in every community across the country working on climate solutions and really being equipped with the tools they need to succeed in the workforce of the future,” Thomas said, “to me, that is going to be an incredible thing to see.”"

-via High Country News, June 6, 2024

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Note: You can browse Climate Corps job postings here, on the Climate Corps website. There are currently 314 jobs posted at time of writing!

Also, it says the goal is to pay at least $15 an hour for all jobs (not 100% meeting that goal rn), but lots of postings pay higher than that, including some over $20/hour!!

[truth-has-a-liberal-bias]

DOGE Cuts Pull AmeriCorps Volunteers Off of Disaster Relief Jobs

Workers for the National Civilian Community Corps were sent home due to “new operational parameters.” The program’s long-term fate is unclear.

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What is AmeriCorps? What to know about the latest organization impacted by DOGE cuts

Thousands of young workers assigned to disaster response, conservation projects and other community service programs across the United States were sent home this week as part of the Trump administration's latest efforts to cut the size of the federal government.  

AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps discharged workers on April 15 in an email obtained by USA TODAY. The message says DOGE cost cutting initiatives impacted its “ability to sustain program operations.” Members have been placed into administrative hold and will be formally dismissed on April 30.  [...]

[reasonsforhope]

"Seven federal agencies are partnering to implement President Biden’s American Climate Corps, announcing this week they would work together to recruit 20,000 young Americans and fulfill the administration's vision for the new program. 

The goals spelled out in the memorandum of understanding include comprehensively tackling climate change, creating partnerships throughout various levels of government and the private sector, building a diverse corps and serving all American communities.

The agencies—which included the departments of Commerce, Interior, Agriculture, Labor and Energy, as well the Environmental Protection Agency and AmeriCorps—also vowed to ensure a “range of compensation and benefits” that open the positions up to a wider array of individuals and to create pathways to “high-quality employment.”  

Leaders from each of the seven agencies will form an executive committee for the Climate Corps, which Biden established in September, that will coordinate efforts with an accompanying working group. They will create the standards for ACC programs, set compensation guidelines and minimum terms of service, develop recruitment strategies, launch a centralized website and establish performance goals and objectives. The ACC groups will, beginning in January, hold listening sessions with potential applicants, labor unions, state and local governments, educational institutions and other stakeholders. 

The working group will also review all federal statutes and hiring authorities to remove any barriers to onboarding for the corps and standardize the practices across all participating agencies. Benefits for corps members will include housing, transportation, health care, child care, educational credit, scholarships and student loan forgiveness, stipends and non-financial services.

As part of the goal of the ACC, agencies will develop the corps so they can transition to “high-quality, family-sustaining careers with mobility potential” in the federal or other sectors. AmeriCorps CEO Michael Smith said the initiative would prepare young people for “good-paying union jobs.” 

Within three weeks of rolling out the ACC, EPA said more than 40,000 people—mostly in the 18-35 age range—expressed interest in joining the corps. The administration set an ambitious goal for getting the program underway, aiming to establish the corps’ first cohort in the summer of 2024. 

The corps members will work in roles related to ecosystem restoration and conservation, reforestation, waterway protection, recycling, energy conservation, clean energy deployment, disaster preparedness and recovery, fire resilience, resilient recreation infrastructure, research and outreach. The administration will look to ensure 40% of the climate-related investments flow to disadvantaged communities as part of its Justice40 initiative.  

EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the MOU would allow the ACC to “work across the federal family” to push public projects focused on environmental justice and clean energy. 

“The Climate Corps represents a significant step forward in engaging and nurturing young leaders who are passionate about climate action, furthering our journey towards a sustainable and equitable future,” Regan said. 

The ACC’s executive committee will hold its first meeting within the next 30 days. It will draw support from a new climate hub within AmeriCorps, as well as any staffing the agency heads designate."

-via Government Executive, December 20, 2023

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This news comes with your regularly scheduled reminder that WE GOT THE AMERICAN CLIMATE CORPS ESTABLISHED LAST YEAR and basically no one know about/remembers it!!! Also if you want more info about the Climate Corps, inc. how to join, you can sign up to get updates here.

[deadhorsepress]

It’s going to be hard to impress upon you the depth of this, but I’ll try*. Large swaths of this country do not have paid fire departments. Some are lucky to have a small group of volunteer firefighters or rescue workers. They do not have emergency management departments to speak of. What’s more, most people in these areas are under- or uninsured. Therefore, millions of people are at immediate risk for complete devastation in the event of any natural disaster – and those will only increase as we continue to push the climate past its crisis point. The sustainability and mitigation fields will need an immense amount of labor if we’re even to survive. That’s not even talking about the egregious lack of food, housing, and medical care that faces so many of us**.

And what did AmeriCorps do? It provided that work. It provided labor. It did so at negligible cost to the taxpayer, to the benefit of everyone involved. And instead of recognizing NCCC for the good it did and the vast potential it had to ameliorate some of the most pressing issues facing the people of this country, the administration killed it.

God forbid real work be done by and for the people.

[gnomian]

Lost my job today because DOGE shut down Americorps. We were paid $200/week as VOLUNTEERS to help out sponsor organizations, mostly the national parks, food banks, homeless shelters, and VITA (free tax preparation) sites. Dirt cheap labor for solely good causes, and shit almost nobody would be willing to do. And they axed us out of cruelty.

[wayward-ghost]

btw youth corps programs have been affected by the nps/usfs federal firings too. musk and trump just killed the gateway into those agencies. young adults between 18-30 have lost access to the beginnings of our careers. we need this experience to build towards full time positions. this is our passion, this is our way of life. we are the next generation to take over when our experts and elders eventually retire. this career is not for the weak, it takes willing and able people who truly care about their work and protecting the environment. we need to organize and end this tyranny before we have nothing left to protect.

[ravioliraz]

I don’t see a lot of coverage out there about the gutting of AmeriCorps. Another cruel and needless casualty of the DOGE imbeciles.

Today I remember the AmeriCorps oath I took many years ago:

Faced with apathy, I will take action.

Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground.

Faced with adversity, I will persevere.

I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond.

[megankoumori]

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5255458-gavin-newsom-california-americorps-trump-administration-legal-action/

Those bastards just gutted AmeriCorps. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

We tutored kids. We were camp counselors. We picked up litter from parks and the side of the roads. We cleaned up a graveyard abandoned by the property owners. We worked in thrift shops and did clean up at a women's shelter. During the pandemic, we were the first to tutor over Zoom. We handed out food to people in the community. We were a hell of a lot more proactive than Trump was. Do you who was the first to tell me that a pandemic was coming? I didn't hear it on TV from the government. It was my boss, Jay.

I'm out of the AmeriCorps program now. You can only serve four years maximum. But I still relive the time I spent with those kids every day. Little moments that sometimes even work their way into my writing. My character Grub was renamed after something a four year old said to me. Meena was inspired by two little girls I worked with.

AmeriCorps has absolutely been worth the cost. For me. For our community. For our kids.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from USA Today:

Thousands of young workers assigned to disaster response, conservation projects and other community service programs across the United States were sent home this week as part of the Trump administration's latest efforts to cut the size of the federal government.  

AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps discharged workers on April 15 in an email obtained by USA TODAY. The message says DOGE cost cutting initiatives impacted its “ability to sustain program operations.” Members have been placed into administrative hold and will be formally dismissed on April 30.  

The firings didn't only apply to the cross-country program. On April 16, hundreds of staff in AmeriCorp's Washington, D.C. headquarters were placed on paid administrative leave, according to reports from the Washington Post and Politico.  

AmeriCorps was created in 1993 by the Clinton administration to build on service programs created in the wake of the Great Depression.  

Each year, it sends more than 2,000 young adults between the ages of 18-26 to work with nonprofits and government organizations, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Forestry Service, for 10–11-month long programs.

They're charged with helping community organizations on projects related to land conservation, disaster relief, education, housing and development. In exchange, the agency pays for members' housing, meals and health benefits. It also pays them a living allowance and awards them $7,000 for educational expenses at the end of the program. 

AmeriCorps estimates that more than 1.25 million Americans have served in the NCCC program across 36,000 locations.

The Trump administration in an April 17 comment called AmeriCorps a "target-rich environment for President Trump’s agenda to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse," pointing to its audit failures in recent years.

NCCC funding totaled nearly $38 million in the last fiscal year, according to the Associated Press.

[buggest]

me and about 2,000 other americorps members lost our jobs today. some doge employee decided at 11:00 that NCCC was inefficient, and by 4:00 we were packing our things. NCCC is not perfect by any means, and i can’t say my feelings on leaving are in any ways simple, but i’ve given the last six months of my life to this program, to preventing wildfire and maintaining trails and building affordable housing. and it’s… all gone. i’m lucky in a lot of ways, many of my coworkers have no place to go back. this morning, the board of the county we are working with was recognizing us and thanking us for the work we did. we were celebrating the end of the round.

there’s no point to this. the program is gone, at least for now. i know a lot of people have it a lot worse than me, but right now, i hurt for the future that could have been. fuck elon. fuck trump. fuck doge. fuck everyone who voted for this.

in the americorps pledge, we say “faced with apathy, i will take action.” that part actually resonated with me. please do not give into the apathy. please keep fighting this administration. for our land, for our health, for our people.

[macgyvermedical]

Hello! I wanted to ask about Americorps. :) First off, are they always taking people? Given the difficulty of finding a job as of late, I was wondering if hiring/the acceptance of applications has slowed any. Second, what's the pay like? Is it just enough to live on, or enough that you could put some towards college debt or savings? Third, where could you apply; are there recruiting centers or is it all online? Fourth, what's life like in the corps, per your experience?

Here are the programs currently accepting applications (6/4/24). The applications are pretty much always open for at least one entry time (there are 3 entries per year- Fall, Winter, and Summer). I know that the acceptance rate changes with the number of applications, and some years they take everyone, while other years they take fewer applicants. The only way to know if you get in is to apply.

You can use the search feature below to see what programs are available. Make sure the "AmeriCorps NCCC" and "AmeriCorps NCCC Team Leaders" buttons are clicked, click nothing else, and hit "search".

Since it's service, the pay is a stipend. When I was in NCCC in 2018, the stipend for CMs was $300/month and the stipend for TLs was $800/month. I think it's more now so if anyone knows please let me know so I can give more updated info. Keep in mind that:

All your basics- food, transportation, lodging, etc... is covered in full

Any federally backed student loans you have go into forbearance and the interest is paid by AmeriCorps

You get an education award of about $7,000 per service term (up to 2) that can go toward future education, job training or to pay off existing student loans

Basically the only thing you pay for while in NCCC is your cell phone bill and any personal care items, personal clothing, etc...

I saved about half of my stipend while I was in NCCC

Other AmeriCorps programs, like VISTA, pay essentially the local poverty line, since part of the program is learning to live on very little.

You apply online. Call 1-800-942-2677 if you need any help with the application.

[isaysboo]

Americorps NCCC has just been disbanded. This is not the end and we cannot cave in to apathy. What now?

I've listed actionable steps below.

Step by step:

Sign petition and leave a response of why you signed and your personal experience.

Use templates provided bel (or write your own) to contact who you can. Calling is more effective than emailing, but either will do. Add your own personal experiences to the templates if you'd like.

Make sure your immediate circle is aware, especially people who are alumni of any program, partners, close friends and family. Send the link and make sure they know the steps.

Share what is happening on social media. Make a video, text post, post it on a story. Include the link and a bit about why it's important to you. Encourage others to share the link and post.

Talk to people in real life. Coworkers, classmates, people you attend religious services with and folks you volunteer with. If you're a more social person, even seeing if you can do this in a public place is awesome. Save the QR code so it's easily accessible.

Below are links and templates:

Link to petition: https://chng.it/VybhKkxyKJ

QR Code for Petition:

Call Script for elected officials if needed:

Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent from [Your City, State].

I’m calling to express my concern about the defunding and shutdown of AmeriCorps NCCC. This program has provided service to communities across the country for decades — from disaster relief and environmental conservation to education and public health.

NCCC gives young adults a chance to serve their country while gaining valuable experience and leadership skills. It’s a program that builds stronger communities and future leaders. It's a loss that will affect so many people and communities Nationwide.

I urge [Senator/Representative Name] to support the continued funding and future of AmeriCorps NCCC. We need programs like this now more than ever.

Thank you for your time.

E-mail/Written message:

Subject: Please Support AmeriCorps NCCC

Dear [Senator/Representative Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I am a resident of [Your City, State]. I’m writing to express my deep concern over the recent defunding and effective shutdown of the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).

NCCC has been a vital service program for decades, mobilizing young adults to respond to community needs — from disaster recovery and infrastructure improvement to environmental conservation and education. It has not only benefited countless communities across the U.S., but it has also shaped the lives of thousands of young people who served through it.

This program embodies the values of community engagement, national service, and resilience. Losing it would be a significant step backward at a time when service and unity are more important than ever.

I respectfully urge you to support the restoration of funding for AmeriCorps NCCC and advocate for its continued operation.

Thank you for your time and your service.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]

[Your City, State]

[Optional: Phone Number / Email]

Mesaged previous sponsors/ Community members you may be in contact with:

Hello,

As you may have heard, AmeriCorps NCCC has recently been defunded and effectively shut down. Many of you know the positive impact NCCC teams have made across communities throughout the country — perhaps you’ve even worked with a team before.

You can help by spreading the word among staff, colleagues, and community members. If you or your organization believe in the value of NCCC, we encourage you to reach out to your state and federal representatives to express your support.

We've also created a petition (linked below) to ensure our voices are heard. After all the work NCCC members have done in service to communities nationwide, it’s critical that we speak up now.

Thank you so much for your support,

[Your name]

Petition link: https://chng.it/VybhKkxyKJ

[onlytiktoks]

Literally, just look up americorps + your state, and they are already suing the federal government over the federal funding cuts. Or the news is explaining how it's going to impact your state. 25 states are already suing.

[sacred-coffin]

This is not something I would usually post on this blog, but it means a lot to me, so I will. Sorry for the long post.

I spent the week in rooms full of people who like me, cared about me, and wanted me to be there with them. People who were there because they want to help people, and they are helping people. They really are.

The world is a beautiful place full of people who care. And those people care a lot. In those rooms, there were a lot of people who have experienced so much hardship and pain, and people who weren't able to make it back to those rooms this year. We do important work, hard work, but it's worth it to care for others.

We do not all agree on everything. There were all kinds of people. People with wildly different backgrounds, from different groups. But the only group that mattered in those rooms was the one that brought us together, and it was the service we do for others.

I think it's important to remember that these people are out here. But it's also important to know that they need your help too. These people are Americorps members, and I encourage you to learn more about Americorps if you don't already know. To put it briefly, it is an organization of volunteers that do work all over the United States to support people who need it most, those who are poor or suffering from natural disasters, students who need a guiding hand or someone to lean on, and people who just have no one else to turn to for help.

Right now, the government is trying to take away its funding. This isn't unusual, it has happened before and it will happen again. However, nothing is ever certain, especially not now. Already, there have been several grants cut in the middle of people's service, leaving many suddenly without income, homes, or financial awards that they were depending on.

As an active Americorps member, I have to be careful with what I say. But I hope you understand.

[gayhee-for-jaehee]

americorps nccc owes me 80 us dollars and a will to fucking live