Earth Force, Inc. is a non-profit organization committed to engaging youth as active citizens who improve the environment and their communities – now and in the future. For more information, please see our website at: http://www.earthforce.org.

Job Purpose Summary
This staff member works with the program team to train and support partners, support program implementation through community-based, governmental, corporate, and school-based organizations, and implement programming for the Youth Leadership Team.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities for the Position
• Recruit partners, adult leaders and sites to facilitate Earth Force programs.
• Provide comprehensive, quality training and support of Earth Force partners.
• Maintain ongoing contact with program partners, including: site visits, calls, meetings, and emails. Build rapport with school and community-based organization administrators.
• Cultivate and maintain partner support-networks that both adult facilitators and youth participants can access as part of their Earth Force experience.
• Implement programming for the approximately 25 Youth Leadership Team (YLT) members and build partner organizations to strengthen YLT Projects.
• Support program implementation through a variety of partners including community-based, governmental, corporate, and school-based organizations.
• Find recognition and appreciation opportunities for partners, educators, and young people for their projects in local media.
• Administer evaluations and ensure their collection.
• Supervision of volunteers working to support educators or the program
• Program development and innovation
• Must have the ability to travel within and potentially outside the region

Ideal Skills for Position
• Innovative thinking
• Demonstrated writing, communication and presentation skills
• Organized and able to juggle multiple tasks
• Self-motivated and able to provide follow-through
• Passionate commitment to youth, the environment and community change
• Work effectively both individually and in a team setting
• Collaborative, flexible approach to challenges
• Competency in Microsoft, Access, e-mail, Internet

Ideal Experience for Position
• Experience as a teacher, trainer and/or facilitator .
• Proven track record in working with youth as change agents.
• Understanding of and experience in local community/environmental issues, service learning, environmental education and/or community-based work.
• Knowledge of community organizations and agencies.
• Work with inner city/urban youth; familiarity with the Kensington-Fishtown-Port Richmond neighborhoods of Philadelphia a plus.

The event was inspiring. It was great to see so many environmental and community organizations working together to celebrate our city and help it become as sustainable as possible. Often times, in a big city with an old infrastructure like Philadelphia, it can seem like positive environmental change happens very, very slowly. We hear the complaints all the time: “Nothing is happening!” “Where are my tax dollars going?” “Why isn’t Philadelphia as ‘green’ as other cities?”

Well, change IS happening all around us. It will take some time, but Philadelphia has already made some really great strides in the realm of greening. Read the report here and check out all the amazing progress that’s been made citywide in just one year!

This article from the Philadelphia Daily News spells out some of the achievements:

Divert 70 percent of solid waste from landfills - In other words, increase the recycling rate. And it is ticking up. Over the past year, the diversion rate was 16 percent of waste, compared with 12 percent during the previous year. Officials expect it to go even higher now that the recycling-rewards program is set to go citywide.

Provide park and recreation space within 10 minutes of 75 percent of residents – The plan is to add 500 acres of public space. Gajewski said the city is working with neighborhoods to figure out what they want.

Plant 300,000 trees – This is one of the more ambitious goals. Since Greenworks started, 2,846 trees have been planted. In April, the Department of Parks and Recreation kicked off a tree-planting campaign called “Green Philly, Grow Philly.” It is seeking partnerships with private businesses, nonprofits and other organizations to increase the number of trees. But Nutter last week said he would cut $2.5 million the city budgeted to tree-planting, due to financial constraints, which will undoubtedly slow this effort.

Double the number of green jobs – Last year, the city said it wanted to increase the number of green jobs – loosely defined as jobs with an environmental benefit – from 14,379 to 28,800. So far, it has created at least 520 jobs, largely through stimulus funding for types of construction work.

Of course, here at TTF, we are most excited by all the great progress made in the arena of stormwater management, thanks in large part to the Philadelphia Water Department’s Green City, Clean Waters plan. We’re looking forward to the 2011 progress report. In the mean time, we’ll keep doing our part to help make Philadelphia the greenest city in the country!

Job Title: Model Neighborhood Liaison

Job Description:
Seeking a full-time AmeriCorpsVISTA* for the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, Inc. (TTF), a non-profit connecting residents, businesses and government as neighbors and stewards of this impaired, but critically important watershed in the Philadelphia metro region.

Goals & Responsibilities:

The goal of the Model Neighborhood Project is to promote watershed awareness and appreciation, to beautify the Germantown/East Mt. Airy neighborhood and to help build community pride. The Model Neighborhood Liaison will coordinate neighborhood meetings, collect residents’ ideas about neighborhood improvement and combine those ideas with stormwater management and watershed improvement projects including volunteer activities, community events and educational programs. Activities include:

• Receive training in stormwater management, watershed education, neighborhood issues, etc. Assist TTF staff and partners with community activities (e.g. clean ups, school presentations, plantings, tours, events).
• Form new relationships with at least five community groups in the model neighborhood.
• Provide update presentations to all existing model neighborhood partner organizations.
• Draft and implement an event/activity plan for the model neighborhood. Work with TTF staff to create a six-month plan based on community feedback for at least six model neighborhood events/projects (e.g. neighborhood clean-ups, educational tours, workshops, installations).
• Participate in additional events and activities in other areas of the watershed (as training for, or expansion of, model neighborhood activities).

Job Salary: VISTA Living Allowance

Education Requirements: Bachelor’s degree or substantial related experience

Language Requirements: English

Other Requirements:

• Must have excellent interpersonal skills
• Must enjoy the outdoors and meeting new people
• Must have access to a car and valid driver’s license (transportation expenses will be reimbursed)
• Must be able to lift 25 lbs
• Must have basic word processing and data entry skills
• Must be available to attend VISTA training August 11- 14, 2009
• Must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen, national, or legal permanent resident alien of the United States.

How to Apply:
Send resume and cover letter via email to Katie Donnelly, TTF Program Director: katie@ttfwatershed.org. For more information, email Katie or call 215.539.0457.

Application Deadline: July 17, 2009

*About VISTA:
Thirty-seven million Americans live in poverty. Through VISTA, you can make a tangible difference. Find the fulfillment that comes from using your knowledge and skills to help those in disadvantaged circumstances turn their dreams into reality.

VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 40 years.

VISTA members commit to serve full-time for one year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency. VISTA efforts are focused on building the organizational, administrative, and financial capacity of organizations that fight illiteracy, improve health services, strengthen community groups, foster economic development, and otherwise assist low-income communities. With passion, commitment, and hard work, you’ll create or expand programs designed to bring individuals and communities out of poverty.

By serving through VISTA, you’ll gain new skills, friends, and experiences—plus you’ll get the satisfaction that comes from helping others. During your service, you’ll also receive a modest living allowance, health care, childcare assistance, a relocation allowance if eligible, and student loan forbearance or deferment for qualified loans. Upon completing your service, you can choose to receive either an education award worth $4,725 to pay for college or $1,200 cash stipend, as well as one year of noncompetitive status for federal government jobs.

For more information about VISTA, visit americorps.gov/vista, call toll-free at 800-942-2677, or email your questions to questions@americorps.org.

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is pleased to announce the following job vacancies:

Schuylkill Action Network (SAN) Coordinator
Responsibilities include:

• providing staff support to the SAN’s Planning Committee
• organizing and attending the SAN’s events and activities
• working with the SAN’s workgroups and members to develop and seek funding for collaborative projects
• managing and utilizing the SAN’s new website, SchuylkillWaters.org, for watershed-wide communications

Experience desired:

• Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in environmental science, and three years experience or more

Web-development Intern (10 weeks, Full Time)
Responsibilities include:

• creation of new content, including: custom Google maps, headers, Web forms, Web pages, and more
• website enhancements for ecoDelaware.com and DelawareEstuary.org, including the latter’s “Information Gateway”
• other duties as assigned, including limited data entry

Experience desired:

• Coursework or proficiency in computer science

Environmental Science Intern (10 weeks, Full Time)
Responsibilities include:

• aid in several ongoing field initiatives including monitoring, assessment, and restoration projects
• work closely with the PDE’s restoration specialist on a variety of tasks

Experience desired:

• Coursework or proficiency in the sciences and monitoring / sampling

Please visit www.delawareestuary.org for the full position descriptions and application instructions.

Please see the .pdf flyer for more information.