Jobs & Internships:

Service Term: August 12, 2024 - August 11, 2025
Hours: 35 hours/week; some evenings/weekends 
Location: Sharing Our Roots/Carleton College, Center for Community and Civic Engagement
Benefits: Full Americorps VISTA benefits
(click to view job description as a PDF)

The Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA program places AmeriCorps VISTA members in full service with our campus and community partners for a one-year period. During this year, members spend 35 hours per week on their host site’s campus or with one of that campus’s community partners to work on building systems and programs that support low-income college students and community members.

The VISTA member’s work is to build capacity, meaning that rather than directly serving the community, they’re enhancing or creating systems, structures, and resources that support the direct anti-poverty work. Campus Compact functions as the central VISTA program hub, performing program administration, offering training and support to VISTA members and their projects, and connecting the work happening in individual projects both to similar work happening nationwide and back to AmeriCorps. For detailed program information and FAQs, please visit our website.

SERVICE TERM:

August 12, 2024 - August 11, 2025.

Please note that this start date is subject to change. Start dates are based on a federal calendar and are not flexible. Regardless of start date, the term of service lasts exactly one year.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Sharing Our Roots supports land access for immigrant and emerging farmers and food security efforts in Rice County, MN. The VISTA Member will support our commons-based farmer cohort team with on-the-ground support, assist with resource navigation, and implement a volunteer management system in collaboration with Carleton College and other community partners. This position is based primarily on our 163-acre farm in Northfield and the Carleton College campus during student breaks in the year.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supporting a Commons-based agriculture structure with SOR’s Farmer Cohort Program Manager, SOR Cohort farmers, and the Cohort Working Council.

• Implement a newly created volunteer management system for SOR.

• Collaborate and coordinate with staff and students at Carleton College’s Center for Community and Civic Engagement to expand the partnership between them for student learning activities at the farm.

• Collect data on volunteer engagement, Cohort Program measures, and partnership progress and planning.

• Attend orientation, weekly meetings, days of service, and trainings/retreats coordinated by Campus Compact.

• Complete data collection and reporting activities required by Campus Compact and AmeriCorps.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working with groups in grassroots organizing capacities

• Technical knowledge of volunteer management systems or applications

• Understanding of basic principles of regenerative agriculture

• Bilingual in Spanish or Swahili

REQUIREMENTS:

• BA/BS or relevant agriculture, ecology, organizing experience

• US Citizen, national, DACA status, or legal permanent resident

• Must be able to complete federal background check

• Reliable transportation to and from work as necessary (e.g. bike, car, public transport)

LOGISTICS:

Status: In-person

Hours: 35 hours/week; M – F hours between 9-5 pm, occasional weekends or evenings.

BENEFITS:

AmeriCorps VISTA Benefits:

• Bi-weekly living allowance of $877.66

• End of service award (AmeriCorps member must choose one of two options; requires completion of full term of service to receive)

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award ($7,395)

  • End-of-Service Cash Stipend ($1,803.10)

• Relocation stipend for candidates moving more than 50 miles ($750)

• Mileage reimbursement for candidate moving more than 50 miles ($0.40/mile)

• Healthcare benefits (AmeriCorps member must choose one of two options)

  • Healthcare allowance for out-of-pocket expenses

  • Basic healthcare coverage

• 10 Days Sick Leave

• 10 Days Personal Leave

• 14 Days Holiday Leave

• Child care assistance for children under 13 years of age (income dependent)

• Student loan forbearance or deferment for certain loans

• 1 year of noncompetitive eligibility for federal positions

• Access to professional development opportunities provided by Campus Compact & AmeriCorps

Additional Host-Site Benefits:

• Housing Stipend paid directly to Landlord $500.00/month

• Work-related Clothing/Gear Stipend [one-time $250.00]

• Non-cash Support [Trainings and workshops $300.00]

HOW TO APPLY:

You can apply to this position two ways:

1) My AmeriCorps.gov Application

Visit the AmeriCorps Portal and apply to the position through the my.AmeriCorps.gov system.

Note: The myAmeriCorps system is sometimes finicky and can be hard to update – if that website says “no longer accepting applications,” please feel free to reach out to our team via email at vista@compact.org to check.

2) Apply Directly to the Site

Reach out to the site contact, Dawn Wegscheid, dawn@sharing-our-roots.org with your resume, cover letter, and references. Title the email “VISTA Application: Your Name” to ensure it’s not missed.

DEADLINE:

The last day to submit an application for this position is 7/3/2024 ; however, positions are filled on a rolling basis, and we recommend applying as soon as possible.