Position Title: Climate Equity Project Coordinator

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Host Site: Eastside Community Network

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Position Type: On-site

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Site Supervisor: Erin Stanley

Slot Type: Full term (11 months)

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Hours: Full-time placement (40 hours/week)

Dates of Service: November 13th, 2024 - October 17th, 2025

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Stipend: $35,200

Location: Detroit, MI

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MI Healthy Climate Corps:

Join the MI Healthy Climate Corps (MHC Corps) and make a lasting impact on Michigan's carbon-neutral future! The MHC Corps accelerates Michigan's climate action through capacity building and leadership development. Members serve across the state to advance the MI Healthy Climate Plan's (MHCP) goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The plan, unveiled by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in April 2022, aims to avert the worst impacts of the climate crisis; create good-paying jobs; position Michigan as a climate action leader; and build a healthier and more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable Michigan for all Michiganders.

About the Host Partner:

For 40 years the Eastside Community Network (formerly Warren Conner Development Coalition) has worked tirelessly to develop programs and resources that center the needs of east side residents and amplify their voices with respect to the development of their communities.

Our mission is to develop people, plans and places for sustainable neighborhood growth. We envision the eastside of Detroit as a community of choice where residents can live, work, play and thrive. Our organization values are equity, justice, sustainability, and inclusive social well-being.

ECN works in several programmatic impact areas including: climate equity, power building & advocacy, sustainable housing, community economic development, youth development, and cultivating wellness. Our organization runs the Stoudamire Wellness and Recreation Hub which has over 2,000 members and offers classes on a variety of topics, health coaching, community events, a childcare hub, food, housing, and health services, and also serves as a climate resilience hub during times of distress.

We serve the eastside of Detroit as a whole, but our priority service areas are the following zip codes: 48213, 48214, 48215, 48224, and 48207. The neighborhoods we serve are over 90% Black, face concentrated poverty, and cumulative environmental, social, and economic stressors impacting access to wellbeing. The area we serve is designated as a Disadvantaged Community per the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) mapping tool. Our organization follows our Neighborhoods First Engagement Model and strives to incorporate and cultivate resident leadership in everything we do.

MHC Corps Member Role and Responsibilities:

• Community Education and Capacity Building

  • The member will help support an inaugural community workshop series through the Stoudamire Wellness Hub that will focus on deep learning and engagement around three overarching topics: climate equity and sustainability; power building and advocacy; and community leadership. This workshop series will build off of our LEAP Sustainability Membership, which we've graduated and support 4 cohorts of members through. The workshops will engage former members in ongoing skill building as well as introduce other community members to these topics and potentially engage them in joining future cohorts. Capacity building activities may also include supporting membership alumni with events and project implementation in the community.

• Community Mobility Projects Implementation

  • ECN is in the process of awarding around 7 community mobility project grants. The member will work with the Climate Equity Program Manager to help resident leaders and community groups that are awarded these grants implement their projects. The activities could include communication and coordination, support ordering supplies, planning events or volunteer work days, and navigating permitting/permissions.
  • The Stoudamire is also working to become a mobility hub and has an EV car share, so tasks may arise to help support this project implementation as well.

• Community Science Projects

  • The member will help support and facilitate several community science initiatives ECN has, including a National Weather Service Cooperative Station, a portable air monitor library, stationary community air monitors, and semi-truck counting. The tasks will include developing processes, engaging residents around reporting and tracking data, translating data into policy advocacy, and identifying any gaps or potential new community science projects. Tasks will also include participating in collaborative meetings with our partners and planning events for our community as needed.

• Climate Equity Department Support

  • The member will also be engaged in other work that our team leads, such as the Eastside Climate Action Coalition, the Detroit River Watershed Management Plan, and the Resilient Eastside Initiative. This may involve event support, outreach and engagement, meeting attendance and note-taking, supporting the activation of our resilience hub if need be, developing and sharing communications around emergency preparedness, and policy advocacy.

• Empower the community to access federal and state climate resources by planning meetings, educational programs, and/or other activities to consistently share information.

• Participate in MHC Corps member development shared learning and collaboration activities including four MHC Corps in-person convenings, MHC Corps monthly virtual trainings (refer to calendar attachment), and Michigan's AmeriCorps activities.

• Members will host a community input session with their host site to collect community feedback and advance the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan.

Evaluation and Reporting:

• Members will complete a Mid-year Performance Evaluation during the term.
• Other reporting requirements (bi-weekly timesheets, monthly data reports, quarterly narrative reports).

Preferred Qualications:

The appropriate candidate will have a strong interest and/or background in environmental issues, coalition building and/or community organizing, and communications or a combination of such interests. The appropriate candidate must possess strong verbal and written communication skills, excellent attention to detail, the ability to work within a team or as an individual and be familiar with the Microsoft Oce suite and Google Applications. Members are required to work the standard oce hours of their host communities.

No specic background or education is required to join the MHC Corps!
But a minimum of 2 years of experience in these types of situations is essential for success:

• Experience facilitating a meeting with people who have more experience than them

• Complete their work independently and without constant supervision

• Experience overcoming obstacles in work situations in the past

• Experience managing multiple professional relationships

• Comfortable working outside of the typical 9 am - 5 pm to attend community events

• Ability to use or teach oneself new software in a fast-paced role with little oversight

Minimum Qualications:

• Live in Michigan

• Ability to travel to four in-person MHC Corps convenings around the state. Carpools will be available and encouraged.

• Be at least 18 years of age. Applicants must have a high school diploma, GED, or be working toward the completion of one.

• U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident of the U.S.

• Pass the following National Service Criminal History Checks: State of Michigan background check, State of residency (if not Michigan), FBI Fingerprinting, and National Sex Offender Registry.

Compensation:

Members will receive a living allowance of $35,200 distributed in even increments, bi-weekly. Members will receive student loan forbearance for qualied loans, health care benets, child care assistance upon eligibility, and continual professional development. Upon successful completion of service, an education award in the amount of $7,395 will be issued. Members will serve approximately 40 hours per week (a total of 1,700 hours during the service term).

The MI Healthy Climate Corps Program is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations will be made for interviews and service as needed.