AmeriCorps Members at Concrete Safaris' PlacemakingCorps explore a career in public and environmental health and placemaking, while supporting youth development and community building. Through direct service, planning, and leadership of child and youth-centered environmental health service learning projects, AmeriCorps Members will gain skills and confidence to develop as leaders. AmeriCorps Members will educate children and youth on environmental health, facilitating implementation of their visions for a healthy neighborhood through gardening, outdoor play, and photography interventions for neighbors. AmeriCorps Members will teach public health and placemaking workshops, and address the loneliness epidemic. They will provide much-needed, local referrals for medical and public health services, and support volunteerism in our gardens and play spaces.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Must be age 17+
Must be currently enrolled in a college/university
Must be interested in pursuing a career in public health or STEAM-related fields
Must be a US Citizen or US National or Lawful Permanent Resident
Must be able and willing to get to and from CS' East Harlem campus
Must pass criminal background checks
Must be fully COVID vaccinated
WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER GOALS?
Are you interested in delivering outdoor, direct-services to children, youth, and community? Are you eager to build a community of volunteers that beautify open space and streets? Review the role descriptions below to learn about each opportunity before you apply.
Skills Sought
Child / Youth Development
Gardening
Environmental Science Education
Outdoor Fitness & Biking
Photography
Placemaking
Public Health
Leadership
Public Speaking
Teaching
Team Work
Conflict Resolution
AmeriCorps Members will conduct child- and youth-centered environmental health literacy and place-based service-learning interventions in East Harlem. As a result, young people will transform their worlds starting in their own backyards, and improve their healthy decision-making skills. AmeriCorps Members lead children and youth in outdoor, experiential education to:
- Build environmental, health, and placemaking skills during school, after school, and camp within public housing based gardens and on city streets.
- Apply learned citizenship to collaborate with neighbors and policy makers to create spaces for physical activity.
- Utilize and lead events in open spaces for community building, forming new gardens, art expos, and fitness challenges that neighbors respect and utilize. Some places where activities occur may have been previously developed, and others may be expansions or new.
- AmeriCorps Members participate in public health and professional development trainings, maintain activity records, and assist with evaluations and fundraising to support programs. Members get outdoors, active, dirty, and sweaty in rain, shine, snow, wind, and other urban conditions.
Skills Sought
Youth Development
Public Health
Education
Counseling
Teaching/Tutoring
Leadership
Writing/Editing
Public Speaking
Social Services
Team Work
Conflict Resolution
General Skills
AmeriCorps Members will deliver public health workshops for youth (ages 14 - 24) and provide referrals for health-related wraparound services when requested. The role will involve:
- Teaching youth (ages 14 - 24) about the Social Determinants of Health and the fields of Health Promotion and Placemaking;
- Training youth to conduct related surveys for youth, children, and community in CS programs;
- Preparing youth to host activities to teach other people skills to reduce loneliness through contact with nature and making places in the community;
- Meeting one-on-one with youth to refer them for medical and public-health wrap-around services that are accessible, affordable, and safe for them.
Skills Sought
Volunteer Leadership
Community Organization
Writing/Editing
Public Speaking
Communications
Team Work
Recruitment
Conflict Resolution
General Skills
AmeriCorps Members will conduct outreach within local schools, community-based organizations, public housing developments, and businesses to increase volunteerism outdoors in CS' gardens and play spaces, and support overall programming through community outreach. They will:
- Recruit, On-board, and Engage Volunteers
- Maintain accurate records of activities and participation
- Create and distribute marketing materials
- Conduct outreach calls and emails
- Create and execute volunteer recognition and retention plan
- Assist with program evaluations
WHAT IS PLACEMAKING?
Collaborating with community to create places people love that are inclusive, visionary, practical, sharing responsibility, flexible, and adaptable.
WHEN
675-HOUR TERMS:
November 2025 - June 2026 OR January - August 22, 2026
Sample Hours: 1 - 6PM
450-HOUR TERMS:
November 2025 - June 2026 OR January - August 22, 2026
Sample Hours: 8AM - 2PM or 1 - 6PM
300-HOUR TERM:
June - August 22, 2026
Sample Hours: 9AM - 5PM
Note: You may only be selected for one term per Program Year.
TIMELINE
APPLICATION OPENS
October 6, 2025
APPLICANTS MAY BE INTERVIEWED
Through April 2026
APPLICATION CLOSES
October 31st for November Start, December 1st for January Start
April 15th for June Start
DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.
WHERE
AmeriCorps Members lead groups of children, youth, and/or volunteers during the school year and summer in the great outdoors of East Harlem. CS' campus spans from East 97th to 116th Streets between Central Park and Randall's Island. Workshops and events will be located in CS' gardens, located within Jefferson and Washington Houses, on East Harlem's streets, and in local parks.
AmeriCorps Member Benefits
LIVING ALLOWANCE, SEGAL EDUCATION AWARD, SCHOLARSHIP, OH MY!
AmeriCorps Members may serve 300, 450, or 675 hours per term, and can receive a living allowance when minimum service hours are met. Upon completion of the full service hours AND required education/training hours, the AmeriCorps Member will be eligible for a Segal Education Award and a Scholarship, both of which will be sent directly to the Member's college.
Note: AmeriCorps is National Service. It is not a job or employment, and therefore there is no hourly wage.
675-Hour Term
- $2,817.14 Segal Education Award
- $3,375 Scholarship
450-Hour Term
- $1,956.35 Segal Education Award
- $2,250 Scholarship
300-Hour Term
- $1,565.08 Segal Education Award
- $1500 Scholarship
DO YOU HAVE...
Interest in helping individuals access resources to lead healthier lives?
Ability to interact positively with individuals of all age levels and backgrounds?
Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills, and ability to multi-task?
High initiative, and an ability to take direction, structure tasks, establish priorities, and set goals?
Experience or education in Public Health, Youth Development, Recreation, Outdoor Education, Photo, Communications?
Interest in learning, growing, and participating in a community of learners and leaders?
Experience delivering project-based, service-learning experiences for young people?
High level of professionalism, integrity, service ethic, accountability, and responsibility?
Bilingual skills in English AND Spanish, Mandarin, or Cantonese?
Ability to interact positively with individuals of all age levels and backgrounds?
Ability to solve problems, mediate conflicts, and exercise sound judgment?
Experience in and passion for the outdoors and leading a healthy lifestyle?
Linkages to East Harlem or the surrounding community?
Understanding of our mission, vision, and theory of change?
Potential to benefit from a year of serving with PlacemakingCorps?