Organization
Job Posted
February 1, 2022
Job Category
Job Type
Remote
No
Location
United States
Summary
About Climate Corps AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps is a national service commitment that meets a community’s critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. Climate Corps AmeriCorps partners with local government, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations to provide full-time service opportunities in the Bay Area, Southern California, and the Central Valley to support communities’ critical needs for building climate resilience. Climate Corps AmeriCorps Fellows dedicate 900 hours of service in exchange for leadership and career development, and a living stipend supported by an AmeriCorps grant. Climate Corps AmeriCorps is an exciting opportunity for service-minded individuals who are passionate about building climate resilience for communities. For more information, please visit www.americorps.gov or www.climatecorps.org.
About Ecology Action
Ecology Action is an award-winning non-profit organization that provides innovative solutions to climate and natural resource challenges of cities, governments, and utilities across California. We know that when individuals and businesses make simple changes in their behavior, they drive large-scale changes that benefit people and the planet. This translates into reduced carbon emissions, stronger businesses, healthier communities, and a sustainable future for all. Together, we help people, businesses, and communities act now.
Description of duties:
The Central Coast Electric for All initiative is a collaborative effort of community-based organizations, public agencies, businesses, and volunteer EV owners seeking to achieve transportation justice and climate goals by increasing access to electric/zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in low-income communities. The project provides 1:1 rebate/purchase assistance in 14 low-income communities in 6 counties from Oxnard to Watsonville. The project goal for 2022 is to assist 500 residents of low-income and underserved communities toward the purchase of an electric vehicle, resulting in 140 down payment grants submitted and 55 new EV drivers.
The Outreach Assistant will be part of a team to create and implement innovative and collaborative strategies to educate residents in low-income and disadvantaged communities about the economic and environmental benefits of clean vehicle ownership. Training will be provided so that the Outreach Assistant is prepared to speak to these benefits when engaging with potential program participants. Day to day, the Outreach Assistant will be working remotely (during shelter-in-place orders) with the EV Program Manager and other staff, interns, and volunteers to advance electric vehicle awareness and adoption in low-income and disadvantaged communities.
Responsibilities:
- Provide one-on-one electric vehicle purchase guidance assistance to low-income individuals in Spanish and English via phone calls, online video conferencing, and email. Purchase guidance assistance includes guiding program participants through the EV purchase process from understanding the benefits of electrical vehicles, helping participants decide electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid is the right choice for their needs, how to access charging which rebates and grants they may qualify for, assisting the participant to apply for state and local clean vehicle ownership incentives, and navigating financing with local credit unions and auto dealerships.
- Create digital and video content that helps purchase guidance program participants share the news of their EV purchase with friends and family through social media that links back to the purchase guidance program.
- Coordinate scheduling for and conduct in-person outreach at static car shows and Ride and Drive events.
- Identify and recruit businesses and organizations that are willing to promote the purchase guidance program for electric vehicle adoption in target communities. Potential recruitees include large employers, non-profit and community-based organizations, individuals, friends, family, school staff, churches, and clubs using phone calls, social media, job boards, online sources.
- Collaborate with staff and other volunteers to conduct EV 101 presentations in Spanish and English for businesses and organizations in target communities.
- Communicate consistently and professionally with program participants, EA staff, and other team members through email, phone calls Microsoft Teams, and other virtual conference platforms.
- Track purchase guidance client progress using a shared database and in Excel; report on outcomes of your work to supervisor.
Basic Eligibility
- AmeriCorps fellows must:
- Be US citizens or legal permanent residents
- Have a high school diploma/GED
- Be 17 years old or older
- Pass state criminal and FBI background checks, and a national check-in the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Registry
- Test negatively for tuberculosis if working with minors
- Be able and willing to commit to the 6-month service term
- Be able vaccinated against COVID-19 or willing to test weekly
Required Qualifications:
- Reside in Santa Cruz, Monterey, or San Benito County.
- Bilingual in Spanish & English – able to speak, write, create digital content, and present fluently in both English & Spanish.
- Ability to access the internet and phone during work hours to perform work and attend meetings.
- Very strong organizational and record-keeping skills
- Comfort talking to strangers via phone, email, and in-person
- Demonstrated ability to be accountable for individual goals while working on a team
Preferred Qualifications:
- 1 + year(s) community outreach or equivalent experience (online and in-person group presentation)
- Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- A passion for helping people act now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the impacts of climate change
- Interest in learning about electric vehicles, electric vehicle charging, and rebates
- Interest in transportation justice - helping community members find access to safe, healthy, reliable, and affordable transportation that supports access to jobs, education, culture, and recreation
- Strong preference is given to emerging professionals seeking a structured and paid internship opportunity.
Benefits of service
- Receive a living allowance stipend of $2,255 per month
- Receive free MEC healthcare, child care support, and qualifying federal student loan deferment throughout your term of service.
- Upon the successful completion of your 900 hours and term of service, receive a Segal Education Award of $3,172.50.
- Receive ongoing training & support, including orientation, monthly trainings, a 2-day retreat, and personal professional development support.
- Benefit from the robust, ever-growing Climate Corps network of partner organizations and alumni.
- Develop sustainability skills, implement impactful climate change resiliency projects, and build partnerships in your community.
- Gain experience with hard-to-reach community engagement and case management
- Receive training on the electric vehicle marketplace, EV charging infrastructure, state and local rebates available for EV ownership, and auto loan financing.
- Gain a deeper understanding of barriers and solutions to California’s transition to 100% ZEVs sales by 2030
- Network and collaborate with professionals in the region working on climate change and transportation justice.
- Receive support and guidance on career exploration and professional development
Climate Corps AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps is a national service commitment that meets a community’s critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. Climate Corps AmeriCorps partners with local government, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations to provide full-time service opportunities in the Bay Area, Southern California, and the Central Valley to support communities’ critical needs for building climate resilience. Climate Corps AmeriCorps Fellows dedicate 1,700 hours of service in exchange for leadership and career development, and a living stipend supported by an AmeriCorps grant. Climate Corps AmeriCorps is an exciting opportunity for service-minded individuals who are passionate about building climate resilience for communities. For more information, please visit www.americorps.gov or www.climatecorps.org.
BACR employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit weekly COVID-19 test results. BACR covers the cost of testing and associated travel expenses.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement
Bay Area Community Resources, the administrator of Climate Corps AmeriCorps, is an equal opportunity employer. We cultivate an environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all employees and National Service members. We are firmly committed to maintaining an atmosphere in which people of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles may grow personally and professionally. Therefore, we enthusiastically accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, religion or religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, marital status, medical condition, disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local laws or ordinances. Our management is dedicated to ensuring the fulfillment of this equal opportunity policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruitment advertising, pay, and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment.
How to apply: