MHC Corps

Position Title: Sustainable Solutions Manager

Host Site: City of Eastpointe

Position Type: On-site

Site Supervisor: Ian McCain

Slot Type: Full term (11 months)

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

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

Stipend: $35,200

Location: Eastpointe, MI

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.

The City of Eastpointe's mission is to support a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable community that enhances the quality of life for all its residents. Guided by core values of equity, transparency, and collaboration, Eastpointe is dedicated to addressing the needs of its diverse population, which includes historically underserved and marginalized groups. The city prioritizes environmental sustainability, economic revitalization, and social equity, aiming to create a safe, healthy, and prosperous environment for everyone. By actively engaging with community members and stakeholders, Eastpointe strives to build a strong, resilient local narrative and promote civic pride and participation. Through innovative initiatives and strategic partnerships, the city is committed to driving positive and sustainable change, ensuring that all residents have access to essential resources and opportunities for growth and development.

• The MHC Corps member will work on the Civic Pointe Environmental Resiliency Hub project, which aims to revitalize underutilized spaces in Eastpointe and address environmental inequities through a comprehensive and community-driven approach. The member will co-coordinate a series of Rapid Climate Vulnerability Assessment (RCVA) workshops, which are designed to engage community members in identifying climate, health, and racial equity stressors. Specific activities include facilitating workshops, utilizing the RCVA toolkit to help community members identify goals and priorities, and managing the completion of worksheets that explore the interconnectedness of project goals, strategies, climate influences, and solutions.
• The member will also be responsible for collecting and analyzing data from these workshops, developing a comprehensive Vulnerability Index that integrates multiple climate risk factors into a single analytical tool. This process will involve extensive community outreach and coordination, as well as collaboration with data analysts and GIS specialists to visualize the data through mapping. Additionally, the member will assist in refining the Vulnerability Index based on community feedback and presenting the final version to the community, stakeholders, and policymakers.
• Beyond the RCVA workshops, the Corps member will play a key role in organizing and launching a marketplace atmosphere at Civic Pointe, including a weekly farmers market in collaboration with the Urban Seed local nonprofit. The member will work closely with partners like the Detroit Collaborative Design Center, Kilowatts for a Cause, Clinton River Watershed Council, The Belle Isle Nature Center, and Macomb County's Planning and Economic Development Department to ensure the project’s success. They will also support educational and training sessions on sustainability and climate resilience, aiming to reach and engage a broad segment of the Eastpointe community. Overall, the Corps member’s involvement will be crucial in driving the Civic Pointe project forward, fostering community engagement, and enhancing Eastpointe’s climate resilience and environmental equity efforts.

• 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.

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

The appropriate candidate will have a strong interest and at least a year of professional experience working on environmental issues, coalition building, community organizing, project management, and grant writing. An academic background pertaining to environmental sustainability studies is preferred as well. 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 Office Suite and Google Applications. Members are required to work the standard office hours of their host communities.

No specific 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

• 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
  
  

Members will receive a living allowance of $35,200 distributed in even increments, bi-weekly. Members will receive student loan forbearance for qualified loans, health care benefits, 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.