AmeriCorps

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ICHD AmeriCorps State Program

Commonly known as the “domestic Peace Corps,” AmeriCorps is a national service program governed by a federal agency – the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) – and administered in Michigan by the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC). AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects Americans in intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs in education, public safety, health and the environment. AmeriCorps members serve with nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based and community organizations. Since 1994, AmeriCorps State members have provided needed assistance to millions of Americans across the nation. 


The ICHD AmeriCorps State Program places members within Ingham County to work directly with neighbors in areas of food access and healthy lifestyle programming. Through member's community involvement and programming the AmeriCorps Program strives to alleviate hunger, install healthy habits within neighbors, reduce chronic diseases, and work towards a food sovereign community. AmeriCorps State members placed through the ICHD program will provide workshops to neighbors on gardening, nutrition and exercise to increase healthy lifestyles and reduce chronic diseases. Assist and organize food distributions, pantries, meal programs or manage the production of fresh produce for distribution to alleviate hunger, and support community garden programs through garden management, assistance to gardens & gardeners to work towards food sovereignty with neighbors. 


Apply to be an AmeriCorp State 2021-22 Spring Member!

Join us for our 13th year of food programming to Ingham County neighbors! 2021-22 AmeriCorps State Spring Members will:

  • Will serve March 28, 2022 - August 24, 2022
  • Receive a living stipend of $3,994. Stipends are distributed bi-weekly through the term
  • Upon successful completion of service, receive an education award of $1,718.25
  • Be eligible for student loan forbearance for eligible student loans
  • Receive continuous professional development training
  • Engage in hands-on experience in local food systems
  • Have the opportunity to address community needs!

Our 2021-22 AmeriCorps State Spring positions include: 

Garden Development Specialist, part time position:
Our Garden Development Specialist is housed with the Ingham County Land Bank with their Garden Program. The Ingham County Land Bank established its Garden Program in 2009 to serve as a liaison between the Land Bank, the City of Lansing, local residents, and potential gardeners in encouraging and supporting community-based agricultural projects on the Land Bank’s vacant lots. Our Garden Development Specialist will utilize the Land Bank’s parcel inventory to connect residents with land on which to develop gardens, maintain ongoing communication with all program participants, and ensure that all resources are sourced, transported, and delivered in a timely fashion. This member will serve 20-25 hours/week.  To view the full position description CLICK HERE. 
Community Garden Coordinator, part time position: 
Our Garden Development Specialist is housed with the Ingham County Land Bank with their Garden Program. The Ingham County Land Bank established its Garden Program in 2009 to serve as a liaison between the Land Bank, the City of Lansing, local residents, and potential gardeners in encouraging and supporting community-based agricultural projects on the Land Bank’s vacant lots. Our Community Garden Coordinator will maintain ongoing communication with refugee garden leaders to ensure that all resources are sourced, transported, and delivered in a timely fashion. In addition, the member will maintain and expand our community U-pick plantings such as fruit tree orchards, berry patches, asparagus & rhubarb patches, pumpkin patches, and sweet corn fields. This member will serve 20-25 hours/week. To view the full position description CLICK HERE. 

Community Garden Support Specialist, part-time position:
Our Community Garden Support Specialist is housed with the Garden Project, a 30+ year program of the Greater Lansing Food Bank (GLFB), which provides access to land, how-to education, free seeds and plants, tool lending, a networking hub and more, so that all community members can have access to fresh, healthy food through gardening opportunities. Our Community Garden Support Specialist will work on infrastructure repairs, tilling, mowing, resource and tool delivery and providing basic community garden site maintenance, all in efforts to increase garden sustainability. The CGSS will also lead volunteer groups and foster on-site community leadership to create more inclusive growing spaces. This member will serve 20-25 hours/week. To view the full position description CLICK HERE. 


To apply submit a COVER LETTER and RESUME indicating which positions you're applying to. Questions and applications can be sent to program staff at pbartkowiak@ingham.org.
Deadline to apply is February 6th, 2022 at 8 PM.

 

  

Apply to host a 2021-22 AmeriCorp Member!

Join us for our 13th year of food programming to Ingham County neighbors! As an AmeriCorps State host site:

  • All member benefits are provided by the program (living stipend, liability insurance, health insurance for FT members, loan forbearance & education award),
  • Support in recruiting and selecting qualified individuals,
  • Ongoing support to the member and site supervisor,
  • The opportunity to increase your organizational capacity to address local needs.

Our AmeriCorps member provide services to Ingham County residents to increase food access and healthy lifestyle habits through workshops, distributions, and community garden support. Activities our AmeriCorps members can provide your organizations can include any combination of tasks listed below:

Healthy lifestyles workshops:
Members provide free workshops to community members to increase healthy lifestyle habits. Members can lead or organize workshops on topics of gardening, nutrition and exercise. Examples of what members could do include: gardening 101 classes, creating a weekly walking club, how to shop at a farmers market workshop, couponing class, how to prepare seasonal foods, and more! 

Food distributions: 
Members provide free food to the community to increase access to help alleviate hunger. Members can manage, assist with management, or participate in day of distribution. They can also lead hot meal programs, grow produce for donation and distribute seeds and starter plants.  Examples of what members could do include: establishing partnerships with grocers to glean food that will be thrown out, growing food in a hoophouse and donating it to a food pantry, and placing and picking up food orders.  

Community garden support: 
Members provide assistance to low-income or BIPOC gardeners individually or via a network of gardens. Examples of what members could do include: assistance to gardeners via garden infrastructure maintenance and upkeep, providing tools and resources to gardeners, assisting with water systems, setting up a new community garden, and being a community garden leader. 

Members receive a modest living stipend, federal student loan forbearance & interested accrual repayment, and an education award. Full-time members receive healthcare and childcare upon eligibility.


To learn more about the AmeriCorps State Program, contact Paige Bartkowiak at pbartkowiak@ingham.org.

Now Accepting AmeriCorps VISTA Applications!



The Ingham County Health Department's AmeriCorps VISTA Program is accepting member applications for the following positions, to begin in May 2020! 

AmeriCorps VISTA is a national service program that has been working to alleviate poverty in America since 1965.  VISTA members serve as catalysts for change, living and working alongside community members to advance local solutions.  Members in the VISTA program commit to a year-long, full-time position with a sponsor organization, often nonprofits, faith-based and community organizations, and public agencies and have the unique charge of helping build their sponsoring organization’s capacity through organizational, administrative, and financial capacity.  

The Ingham County Health Department AmeriCorps VISTA Program places VISTA members at host organizations, or host sites, throughout Ingham County to focus on project goals related to economic opportunity, education, and healthy futures:

MSU Student Housing Cooperative:
The AmeriCorps VISTA member will assist the staff at the MSU Student Housing Cooperative (SHC) with expanding the influence and impact of the cooperative. This includes exploring options for sustainable policies and initiatives that would reduce costs of maintaining, and thereby living, in cooperative housing, as well as researching potential redevelopment opportunities on existing land and assisting in the potential acquisition of new properties by the SHC.
AmeriCorps VISTA members serve full-time (36-40 hours per week) from May 11, 2020 - May 10, 2021.

Benefits of Service:
Living Allowance of $12,491 (distributed biweekly)
​Education Award ($6,195) OR Cash Stipend ($1,803)
Non-Competitive Eligibility
Loan Forbearance for Qualified Student Loans
Professional Development and Training
Healthcare Benefit
Childcare Assistance
Paid Personal and Medical Leave

Questions about the VISTA Program should be sent to Casey Paskus.

Casey Paskus
AmeriCorps VISTA Program Director
cpaskus@ingham.org

About AmeriCorps State

Commonly known as the “domestic Peace Corps,” AmeriCorps is a national service program governed by a federal agency – the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) – and administered in Michigan by the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC). AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects Americans in intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs in education, public safety, health and the environment. AmeriCorps members serve with nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based and community organizations. Since 1994, AmeriCorps State members have provided needed assistance to millions of Americans across the nation.

The Power of We Consortium AmeriCorps State Program places AmeriCorps members throughout Ingham County to increase food security and reduce chronic disease in residents by focusing on two project goals:

1. Increase consumption of healthy foods and reduce food insecurity with gardening, food distribution and referrals.
2. Teach community members the importance of eating healthy foods and strategies to adopt better diets.



About AmeriCorps VISTA

AmeriCorps VISTA, or Volunteers in Service to America, is a national service program that was designed to eliminate poverty through capacity building in American communities. The VISTA program, created in 1965 and conceived by President John F. Kennedy, was formally incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993 and now governed by a federal agency – the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

The Power of We Consortium AmeriCorps VISTA Program began in 2006 and has placed VISTA members at multiple host sites, or sub-sites, at area non-profits, public agencies, and faith and community–based organizations. The VISTA members commit to one year of full-time service in InghamCounty in the areas of education and economic opportunity. They have the unique charge of building their host site’s organizational , administrative and financial capacity. To view The Power of We Consortium current Americorps VISTA team, visit the AmeriCorps VISTA Sites page. 

Health Department