Position Title: VISTA – AmeriCorps 

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East

Site Location: Ashley, PA

 

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

 

Contact informationAddie L. Gilkerson304-533-1211agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org

 

 

Member Duties : The VISTA will strengthen EPCAMR’s outreach and communications to support coalfield revitalization. They’ll help tell local success stories, create press materials, support social media, and recruit volunteers. They’ll work with staff on fundraising, grant research, and creating outreach tools like fact sheets and community materials. The VISTA will also develop protocols for stream monitoring, mapping mine impacts using GIS, and developing educational content for schools and volunteers. This role supports a future where former mining communities lead their own recovery—restoring their land, creating jobs, and protecting water for the next generation.

Purpose:

Service Description : Join the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR) and help coal country communities lead their own comeback. As federal clean energy policies and executive orders accelerate changes across the energy landscape, EPCAMR works alongside towns across 16 counties to ensure they aren’t left behind. For nearly 30 years, EPCAMR has helped restore abandoned mine lands, clean up waterways, and create local opportunities for growth. This VISTA project will build EPCAMR’s capacity to support more communities through outreach, education, and communications. The member will help tell the story of coal country restoration—sharing local successes, developing educational materials, and strengthening volunteer engagement. They’ll assist with fundraising efforts, grant research, and the creation of public-facing tools such as fact sheets and project summaries. The member will also support technical efforts such as stream monitoring protocols, GIS mapping of mine-impacted areas, and the development of environmental education resources for youth and volunteers. EPCAMR is also advancing innovative projects involving geothermal energy from mine pools, rare earth element recovery, and land reuse for economic development. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who values local control, practical solutions, and community pride. Serve where your work helps preserve natural resources, restore working landscapes, and support economic renewal in coal country—on terms defined by the people who live there.

 

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards) VISTA Program is a national intermediary sponsor with 22 years of experience operating VISTA projects that support economic development and environmental stewardship in coal mining communities. Since 2002, Stewards has engaged over 1,200 VISTA members, securing $41 million in grants and in-kind resources, recruiting 100,000 volunteers, and developing capacity for organizations to strengthen mining communities. Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards) is a program of Conservation Legacy, a national organization with a 25-year history of operating AmeriCorps VISTA and State and National programs.

 

 Description of Duties:

Duties listed here and general and will be specified for each host site’s project and mission. The VISTA will:

 

Service Description : Join the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR) and help coal country communities lead their own comeback. As federal clean energy policies and executive orders accelerate changes across the energy landscape, EPCAMR works alongside towns across 16 counties to ensure they aren’t left behind. For nearly 30 years, EPCAMR has helped restore abandoned mine lands, clean up waterways, and create local opportunities for growth. This VISTA project will build EPCAMR’s capacity to support more communities through outreach, education, and communications. The member will help tell the story of coal country restoration—sharing local successes, developing educational materials, and strengthening volunteer engagement. They’ll assist with fundraising efforts, grant research, and the creation of public-facing tools such as fact sheets and project summaries. The member will also support technical efforts such as stream monitoring protocols, GIS mapping of mine-impacted areas, and the development of environmental education resources for youth and volunteers. EPCAMR is also advancing innovative projects involving geothermal energy from mine pools, rare earth element recovery, and land reuse for economic development. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who values local control, practical solutions, and community pride. Serve where your work helps preserve natural resources, restore working landscapes, and support economic renewal in coal country—on terms defined by the people who live there.

 

Other tasks:

Review community assessment and asset map to identify areas for shared resources and coalition buildingDevelop a database of local community stakeholders including information on local organizations, coalitions, and volunteer groupsWith support from supervisor, the VISTA will develop partnerships and/or coalitions to align community priorities Create strategic plans outlining next steps in programming Define strategic goals that align with community needs based on community assessment data collectedDevelop a strategic plan and supporting resources that facilitate implementation of the plan, ensure clear communication, and provide the necessary tools for community membersPresent strategic plan to sponsor organization staff for approval and next steps Ensure program sustainability Develop Legacy Binder for the next VISTA or program staff that includes all projects completed during the performance period, next steps to sustain each project, and important partnerships in the communityMeet with community stakeholders and program staff to provide clear steps for end of service transition

 Qualifications:

For AmeriCorps

United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien At least 18 years of age Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check

Preferred For VISTA

Has received a four-year undergraduate degree

 

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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the 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

 

Benefits:

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award* of $7,395.00 or choice of cash stipend of ~$1,800.00 Living allowance of $68.39 per day (including weekends), disbursed every 2 weeks Relocation allowance ($750), if eligible Healthcare coverage*, if eligible Childcare coverage*, if eligible Loan forbearance, if eligible Interest repayment, 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.

 

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.