Urban Conservation and Community Fellowship Program

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

In 2024, The Conservation Fund’s Parks with Purpose program will launch the inaugural cohort of the Urban Conservation and Community Fellowship Program. The UCC Fellowship Program is aimed at identifying high-potential individuals interested in working with community-based, nonprofit organizations. Each UCC Fellow will be placed with a nonprofit, community partner host organization and develop a twelve (12) month work plan in collaboration with the host, the Fund and the UCC Fellowship Advisory Council. The UCC Fellowship Program will provide full-time experience working at the community-scale assisting communities realize park, trail or other greenspace visions and related social, economic and environmental benefits.

The UCC Fellowship Program is designed to adapt to the needs of each community host organization to build their programmatic and operational. Current Parks with Purpose community-based projects include new neighborhood parks and nature preserves, improved park parks, greenspace amenities, trails and healthy food producing. Our projects often encompass job- or skills training, environmental learning programs, community-based stewardship training and linkages with affordable housing, health and mental health promotion using outdoor settings, childcare and youth learning, historically and culturally relevant art and other forms of community-development and quality of life improvement. Community partners need various types of expertise and capacity, such as public relations and marketing, communications, technology, community engagement, programming and event management, educational programming, grant writing and reporting, landscape design and hands-on volunteer project management. Fellows will have a variety of avenues to contribute to advancing equitable access to parks and nature, and equitable community development.

IN THIS ROLE, UCC FELLOWS WILL:

• Gain working knowledge of the effort to incorporate the improvement of outdoor spaces into federal, state and local policies that invest in disadvantaged neighborhoods across the nation.
• Connect with early environmental educators, local community leaders and conservation professionals to build a broader professional network.
• Attend virtual and in-person training sessions and/ or certification programs to further develop professional skills.
• Write and edit grant applications.
• Work with the Partners to develop strategies for working with local government entities and community members.
• Coordinate the development and implementation of advocacy tactics; this may include drafting content for policymakers, media and both internal and external partner audiences.
• Working with Partnership Managers, lead the creation of a network of equitable green space leaders, thereby building a cohort of influencers and advocates across the nation.
• Work with Partner organizations to strengthen community engagement tactics.
• Help Parks with Purpose partners produce or update data-driven charts, maps and graphics for different target audiences.
• Perform administrative duties and help with shared office tasks as needed.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WILL URBAN CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY FELLOWS RECEIVE?

Urban Conservation and Community Fellows will share their ideas and experiences, forge new alliances, expand networks and support communities in planning and implementing Parks with Purpose projects.

Fellows will:

• Community Engagement: Gain a comprehensive understanding of reparative spatial justice frameworks, tools and strategies that challenge the status quo and pave the way for equitable housing and land use. Incorporate meaningful community-driven change through direct community input.
• Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Learn how to advocate for practices that address historical injustices, center community priorities and expose racial inequities in land use and housing policies — all with the aim of influencing national policy conversations and ushering in a new era of housing and land equity.
• Non-Profit Fundraising and Proposal Writing: Learn and understand how non-profits gain funding through various grants, including but not limited to federal grants, foundation grants and private entity grants.
• Project and Budget Management: Learn and understand how non-profits manage funds through different means, such as grants, donations, and membership fees. Gain an understanding of grant reporting, and project tracking with different funding sources and matching methods.
• Narrative Power: Acquire the skills to shape and change the narrative about reparative spatial justice, both internally and externally, to create a broader understanding of its importance.
• Coalition Building: Explore how to engage a diverse range of allies and partners in the pursuit of shared equity goals, amplifying your impact in the housing and land justice movement.
• Peer Exchange: Connect with like-minded fellows in a collaborative learning environment. Exchange ideas, lessons and tools that will support fellows to build new partnerships and a strong sense of solidarity that will drive transformative change.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

The Conservation Fund seeks applicants interested in building a career related to environmental conservation, community engagement, park planning and management, water conservation or GIS, or non-profit organizational management at the community scale. The UCC Fellowship Program is a good fit for high potential, emerging leaders committed to social justice and seeking to expand their management acumen.

Qualifications:

• Previous experience with community-based groups, environmental justice, conservation, or any other related field. This can be educational, volunteer, or professional experience.
• Have an interest in supporting community-driven initiatives designed to make neighborhoods safer, greener and more equitable.
• Interest in building a career working within nonprofit, organizing or public sector careers
• Excellent verbal and communication skills
• Knowledgeable about social and economic justice issues affecting underserved communities
• Self-starter able to work effectively in both a team-based and independent environment.

UCC FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM TIMELINE

• Application Opens: June 3rd  2024
• Selection and Placement: Mid-August 2024
• Fellows start at Host Organizations: September 3rd, 2024
• Program Kick-Off, Professional Development Training: September 23-25, 2024
• Parks with Purpose Peer Exchange: September 25-27th, 2024
• Convening 2: January 2025 Rotating locations
• Convening 3: May 2025 Rotating locations
• Final Convening 4: August 2025 Rotating locations
• Fellowship Program End: August 2025

Fellows must be available to fully participate in the kick-off convening and all in-person and virtual training workshops.

FELLOWSHIP DETAILS

The 12-month fellowship will provide fellows with ongoing support and opportunities for growth, including:

• A stipend to support their work in the fellowship and to help advance the capacity of local community-led organizations.
• Quarterly convenings throughout the fellowship term for shared learning, group discussions and professional development.
• In-person convenings to build relationships with other fellows, advisors and staff.
• Coaching and mentorship from expert advisors.

COMPENSATION + WORK EXPECTATIONS

Fellows will receive a salary as a full-time paid employee of the hosting organization in which they are placed. Fellows should anticipate working some evenings and weekends to participate in community meetings and programs as needed.

APPLICATION

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Individuals from underserved communities and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

FAQ’S

1.  
   1. Relocation What is the salary for this position?
      a. The anticipated salary range for this position is $40,000-47,000 per calendar year. Final terms of employment will be determined by host organizations. Compensation will include benefits that host organizations provide to their employees, such as health insurance.
   2. Can I only apply for 1 location?
      a. Preferably, yes. This position does not cover the financial costs of relocation, and each location has a different community partner with different community needs. If you do want to apply for more than 1 location, please submit an application for each position- changing just the preferred location for each application.
   3. Relocation
      a. This fellowship does not cover relocation costs. Host organizations may be able to assist in identifying possible housing options.

Locations and Host Organizations

• Durham, North Carolina- Merrick Moore Community Development Corporation: The Merrick-Moore Community Development Corporation, in its diverse community, exists for charitable and educational purposes, to improve the overall quality of life of the poor, underprivileged, and disenfranchised by strengthening the bonds amongst our residents, which include but not limited to providing a forum for the sharing of information, promoting activities/events, fulfilling the community needs and through enhancing the homeowner’s property values. This candidate will work on community organization, assist with marketing and communications, and grant writing. Fellow will assist in planning and organizing community events, facilitating discussions and engagements, and ensuring diverse community programs fit various individuals' needs. Fellow will also plan and oversee campaigns and events to raise money and other donations, which will help MMCDC grow and meet the needs of the Merrick-Moore Community. Preferred qualifications include proficiency in speaking Spanish.

• Washington, D.C.- Anacostia Park and Community Collaborative: APACC is a network of organizations committed to maximizing the value of public spaces along the Anacostia River to residents of Wards 7 and 8 in the District of Columbia. This candidate is ideally an urban emerging professional interested in marketing and communication with the Anacostia Parks and Community Collaborative. The fellow will help to elevate APACC’s presence on social media that includes twitter, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. The fellow will be working with disfavored communities that include single moms with children, public housing tenants, seniors, students and returning citizens. The fellow will also be required to attend meetings and events on behalf of APACC in an effort to help build capacity, recruit possible new members for APACC and spread the word on the wealth of information that APACC makes available to the east of the river community on the website

• Flint, MI- The Genesee County Land Bank Authority (GCLBA): GCLBA seeks to participate as a host site for the Conservation Fund, Urban Conservation & Community Fellows (UCC) Program. The GCLBA holds nearly 10,000 vacant lots across Genesee County, MI and supports innovative solutions to address challenges associated with large scale vacant land maintenance, enhancement, and restoration. These spaces will help to mitigate the impacts of raising temperatures and flooding associated with Climate Change while improving the quality of life within neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by racial and environmental injustices.
  
  The UCC Fellow will support community-engaged green infrastructure development through the Land Bank’s Clean & Green program, a community-based volunteer program supporting 65+ neighborhood groups in maintaining and beautifying otherwise vacant land within Genesee County. Groups are directly connected to the neighborhoods in which they work, and include neighborhood associations, block clubs, and faith-based organizations and many engage youth. The fellow would provide technical assistance, training, organizing, and fund raising to support these efforts and to assist other groups in developing green infrastructure, including native plants gardens, and pocket parks, and food gardens.