Are you passionate about sustainability, equity, or community engagement? Do you want to go to work every day knowing you’re making a difference?
CivicSpark offers a unique opportunity to gain professional experience and leadership skills while creating a lasting impact in local communities. Whether you’re passionate about climate resilience, affordable housing, sustainable transportation, or social equity, you will gain direct technical experience and build a robust network in your field.
As AmeriCorps members, all CivicSpark Fellows focus on:
While all projects are unique, your service will include:
CivicSpark Fellows provide capacity-building support to public agencies in advancing their community resilience initiatives.
Example Projects:
- Educating community members about climate change
- Conducting electric vehicle readiness planning
- Inventorying greenhouse gas emissions
- Researching general plan options to incorporate groundwater language
- Updating drought contingency plans
- Implementing water efficiency ordinances
- Implementing a water incentive program
- Developing a community broadband roadmap (speed and access)
- Developing pilot programs for EV readiness and charging infrastructure
- Increasing community awareness and utilization of accessory dwelling unit (ADU) options
Interested in a particular area? Here is more information about common project types:
Climate
Projects focus on climate adaptation and mitigation priorities such as waste reduction, climate action planning, public health, energy efficiency, climate risk assessment, and greenhouse gas reduction.
Housing
Projects focus on housing priorities such as analysis of housing capacity and inventory, planning for increased housing supply, housing equity programs, and disaster recovery and rebuilding development.
Water
Projects focus on water management priorities such as stormwater resource planning, sustainable groundwater management, integrated watershed management, and water-use efficiency.
Mobility
Projects focus on community mobility priorities such as bicycle/pedestrian access and planning, alternative vehicle deployment and infrastructure, vehicle electrification, and shared mobility.
Energy
Projects focus on energy efficiency, project identification, energy building identification and benchmarking, climate/energy action planning, workforce outreach, community education, and other sustainability initiatives.
In addition to the valuable experience gained serving with regional leaders and community members, Fellows receive professional development support through:
- Project supervision and professionalism coaching
- Bi-weekly trainings on sector-specific tools, and techniques; career path mapping and job seeking skills; and interdisciplinary topics critical to the resilience field
- Networking with local, regional, state, and national leaders
- Opportunities to participate in or lead peer affinity groups or other activities
- An outcome-driven project management experience in critically important fields
Benefit (24-25 Service Year)
Full-Term Fellows
Living Allowance*
$34,000 in Colorado and Washington
$35,000 in California
Segal Education Award
$7,395
California For All Award**
$2,605
SNAP (Food Stamps)***
✔︎
Student Loan Forbearance****
✔︎
Health Insurance
✔︎
Child Care Assistance
✔︎
Professional Development and Training
✔︎
Network Development
✔︎
CivicSpark and AmeriCorps Alumni Support
✔︎
*Varies depending on the service state where you are placed. Please see FAQ for the breakdown by state.
** For Fellows serving as Full-Time Fellows (serving 1700 total hours) only. Pending State approval.
***For those who qualify. Qualification may vary based on personal situations.
****Only federal student loans qualify for forbearance. Approval of request is dependent on loan provider, not program or AmeriCorps.
AmeriCorps Requirements
- Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States of America
- Ability to pass FBI, CA Department of Justice, out-of-state, and National
- Sex Offender Public Registry background checks prior to service
CivicSpark Requirements
- Minimum of a 2-year AA degree from an accredited college or university
- Commitment to the full term of service
- Ability to work in a professional office or virtual office setting
- Strong communication and teamwork skills
Strongly Preferred
- A degree in a related field
- One year of relevant experience
- Past service experience (e.g. volunteering, community service)
- Experience with—or training in—outreach, facilitation, and/or education
Desired
- Experience with local government operations and structures
- Comfort with quantitative work, including data collection and analysis
CivicSpark is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all Fellows and employees. The CivicSpark program’s commitment to diversity and inclusion can be found in our Racial Equity Action Plan. We prefer to place candidates who already live in the communities they will serve.
At this time, we are unfortunately unable to accept applicants with student visas (such as F1 or F2 student visas, J1 or J2 exchange visitor visas, G series visas, etc.), or those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.
April 9, 2024: Fellow Applications Open
June 14, 2024: Fellow Application Deadline
Looking ahead to my next chapter after CivicSpark, I feel prepared to enter any future professional space with more confidence and determination than ever before, along with some GIS and staff report writing skills!
The CivicSpark fellowship helped in launching my career in the environmental field. It was an invaluable experience and provided a vast network of connections and resources that I continue to use today.
It is difficult to put a dollar amount on a program that offers you a life-long professional and social network, access to subject matter experts in your field, and challenges you to think critically about issues you are passionate about. If you are not considering a postgraduate program, I would dare to say that you can get equal or greater value from participating in the CivicSpark program.