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

Lead For America • Lyons, NY

2d • 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. FLCA is the countywide backbone connecting all 11 school districts in rural Wayne County, New York, with out-of-school-time providers, workforce partners, nonprofits, and local government through the Wayne County Partnership.

The Fellow will support staff in strengthening and sustaining Wayne County’s cradle-to-career system connecting schools, families, employers, and community partners. Service activities focus on coalition documentation, data and evaluation support, staff-led career exploration, countywide resource mapping, and partnership coordination. The Fellow’s work consists of research, information gathering, documentation, outreach and coordination support, and preparing materials for staff and partner review. The Fellow does not independently direct the coalition, establish shared policies or data-sharing agreements, make decisions for partner organizations, or manage program initiatives.

The Fellow will assist with documenting coalition structure and growth, reviewing how partners collect and share information, and supporting evaluation meetings and follow-up. They will contribute to staff-led career exploration activities by assisting with approved planning, outreach, scheduling, activity support, and participant feedback collection under staff direction. They will also gather and organize information for countywide resource maps, support staff-led partner outreach and convenings, and prepare draft tools and resources for staff review.

The service term runs from December 7, 2026, through August 13, 2027. Fellows serve approximately 40 hours per week and complete 1,200 hours over the term. The role begins with a staff-guided listening and learning period and includes regular check-ins with the Host Site Supervisor. Training and support include a virtual national orientation, an in-person Winter Institute, twice-monthly virtual training, self-paced curricula, a community listening tour, individual support from a Lead For America Program Coordinator, peer meetings, and access to a national network.

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.
• Live in or near the rural community where the Fellow will serve.
• Have a meaningful connection to the community and an understanding of its strengths, priorities, and relationships.
• Be committed to serving the community where the Fellow lives.
• 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, with 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.

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 gathering, organizing, and compiling information documenting coalition structure, partnerships, and growth.
• Help staff review how data and information are collected and shared across partners, and share findings and options for staff review.
• Support evaluation and coalition meetings through meeting preparation, documentation, and assigned follow-up.
• Support staff-led career exploration and pathway initiatives for youth and young adults, including approved planning, outreach, and activity support for a pilot with community partners.
• Under staff direction, help organize and engage local professionals and volunteers for 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.
• Gather and organize publicly available and partner-provided information to update countywide maps of youth, family, and workforce resources.
• Support staff outreach and relationship-building across schools, employers, and community organizations, and assist with convening preparation, information sharing, documentation, and follow-up communications.
• Research, compile, and prepare draft tools, guides, and resources that document coalition processes for staff and partner review and approval.
• Complete a staff-guided listening and learning period to understand existing initiatives and partners and identify ways to complement current efforts without 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 completion of the program.
• Access to a national network of fellows, community partners, and alumni, plus one-on-one support.
• Student loan forbearance and childcare support for eligible fellows.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage, if applicable.
• Fully funded training throughout the year.
• Hands-on experience, in-demand skills, and career exploration in community development and digital inclusion.
• Travel, lodging, and a per diem stipend covered for the in-person Winter Institute.
• Twice-monthly virtual training, self-paced curricula with opportunities to earn badges and credentials, and twice-monthly peer pod meetings.

What This Job Offers

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