Urban Greening Fellow

Project summary

The California Climate Action Corps (CCAC) is part of a statewide initiative to address and mitigate the effects of climate change. CCAC matches Fellows with organizations to mobilize community members to take direct climate action through education, volunteer mobilization, and assessment focused on urban greening, organic waste diversion and edible food recovery, and wildfire resiliency. This is a climate-focused, workforce development program for emerging climate and environmental leaders.

Opportunity description

Our City Forest (OCF) has been steadfast in its commitment to uplifting underserved communities and enhancing urban greenery in San Jose and neighboring areas. We're on a mission to provide free trees to priority communities across the South Bay. Fellows will be instrumental in maximizing our impact, ensuring that as many trees as possible are distributed within the final year of our grant. Fellows will immerse themselves in various facets of OCF's operations, contributing to planting, nursery, outreach, and education initiatives. While participating in various tasks like field projects, volunteer events, recruiting, and workshops, Fellows will also focus on tree care in our nurseries, volunteer events, recruitment, and conducting educational workshops. Fellows will play a vital role in helping us hit our annual goals of planting over 2,000 trees, maintaining 3,500 trees, and distributing 2,000 native plants. Fellows will collaborate with a diverse community to organize events, deliver presentations, and develop environmental education curriculum. Duties include, but are not limited to: Coordinate residential tree plantings, identifying potential sites, obtaining permits, and facilitating conversations between residents and stakeholders. Recruit, train, and coordinate volunteers for events - such as community plantings, LawnBusts, and Nursery Workdays - using email, Eventbrite, Golden Volunteers, and social media. Guide nursery visitors through the Free Tree process, plan seasonal events, assist in propagation and collection activities, and ensuring the care of nursery stock. Encourage volunteer retention, share project updates through social media and newsletters, craft videos and social media content, and cultivate relationships with Neighborhood Associations and other potential Free Tree interested community groups to maximize outreach. Deliver presentations for youth groups, developing workshops, curriculum, educational materials and activities to inspire and empower the next generation of environmental stewards.

Benefits

• $33,600 stipend
• $10,000 education award
• 340 hours of professional development
• Minimum essential healthcare
• Loan forbearance
• Food and childcare assistance (for those eligible)