Community Schools Capacity-Building Fellow (Finger Lakes Community Action)

Lead For America • Lyons, NY

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Community Schools Capacity-Building Fellow is a full-time Rural Partners Corps (RPC) AmeriCorps service position with Finger Lakes Community Action (FLCA), serving Wayne County Community Schools. The program connects all 11 school districts in rural Wayne County, New York, with out-of-school-time providers, workforce partners, nonprofits, and local government. The Fellow will support staff and community partners in strengthening and sustaining the countywide cradle-to-career system for youth and families.

The Fellow will contribute to coalition documentation, data and evaluation support, staff-led career exploration initiatives, and countywide resource mapping and partnership efforts. Work consists of research, information gathering, documentation, outreach and coordination support, and preparation of materials for staff and partner review. The Fellow will not independently direct the coalition, set shared policies or data-sharing agreements, make decisions for partner organizations, or manage program initiatives.

The service term runs from December 7, 2026, through August 13, 2027, for approximately 40 hours per week and 1,200 total hours. Fellows receive structured training and support, including a virtual national orientation, an in-person Winter Institute with covered travel, lodging and per diem, twice-monthly virtual training, a community listening tour, one-to-one support from a Lead For America Program Coordinator, peer pod meetings, and access to a national network of fellows, alumni and community partners.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. Citizen, National, or Lawful Permanent Resident.
• Hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Be at least 17 years old by the start of service.
• Have served fewer than four AmeriCorps State/National terms.
• Have a meaningful connection to the community and an understanding of its strengths, priorities and relationships.
• Be committed to serving the community where you live.
• Have strong relationship-building, communication and collaboration skills.
• Show initiative and independence in organizing work and moving projects forward.
• Be able to work across nonprofit, government, education, business and community sectors.
• Demonstrate humility and curiosity and a willingness to learn from community members and local leaders rather than arrive with predetermined solutions.
• Align with the Host Site's mission, values, culture and priorities.
• Be ready to meet Lead For America, AmeriCorps and service fellowship expectations.
• Live in or near the rural community where the Fellow will serve.

Nice To Haves

• Transferable skills in project management, community engagement, youth development, workforce development, partnership development, communications or organizational capacity building.

Responsibilities

• Assist staff and the evaluation team with documenting coalition structure, partnerships and growth by gathering, organizing and compiling information for staff and partner review.
• Help staff review how data and information are collected and shared across partners, and provide findings and options for staff review.
• Participate in evaluation and coalition meetings by assisting with preparation, documentation and follow-up as assigned.
• Support staff-led career exploration and pathways initiatives for youth and young adults, including a pilot with community partners such as the local library system, through approved planning, outreach and activity support.
• Under staff direction, help organize and engage local professionals and volunteers for staff-led career exploration activities; do not independently recruit, supervise or manage them.
• Assist with outreach, scheduling and collecting participant feedback using staff-approved methods and applicable consent, privacy and data-handling procedures.
• Help update countywide maps of youth, family and workforce resources by gathering and organizing publicly available and partner-provided information for staff review.
• Support staff outreach and relationship-building across schools, employers and community organizations, and help organize convenings and follow-up through meeting preparation, information sharing, documentation and communications for staff review.
• Research, compile and prepare draft tools, guides and resources documenting coalition processes for staff and partner review and approval.
• Begin with a staff-guided listening and learning period to understand existing initiatives and partners, and identify ways to complement existing efforts and avoid duplication.
• Participate in regular check-ins with the Host Site Supervisor to share progress, receive guidance and align service activities with program goals.

Benefits

• $23,300 living allowance, dispersed biweekly over the service term.
• $5,220 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful program completion.
• Access to a national network of fellows, community partners and alumni, plus one-to-one support.
• Student loan forbearance and childcare support for eligible fellows.
• Medical, dental and vision coverage, if applicable.
• Fully funded training throughout the year, including covered travel, lodging and per diem for the in-person Winter Institute.
• Hands-on experience, in-demand skills and career exploration in community development and digital inclusion.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED