An Innovative Approach to
Leadership & Service
During service, TerraCorps Members are paired with site supervisors who provide professional mentorship and guidance within each host organization. There, they build their professional skill sets, gain field experience, and develop a network of colleagues that help them launch their careers.Throughout their service, Members also receive ongoing training and support from TerraCorps to ensure their success during service and nurture their long-term professional growth after service.
Within this model, local Service Site partners gain the capacity and expertise to implement their community-based initiatives. TerraCorps believes in the power of local nonprofits to best understand and serve their communities.
Our service model allows Partners to align service work with local needs and priorities. This model provides our Partners with capacity-building support that strengthens their ability to fulfill their missions over time, thereby enhancing the positive impact on the lives and communities they serve.
TerriCorps Members service in a range of Coordinator positions within our Service Site Partner organizations:
TerraCorps Member Coordinator Roles
Community Engagement Coordinator
- Members develop and lead culturally inclusive programming, events, and volunteer opportunities that provide broad social and environmental benefits to traditionally underrepresented beneficiaries.
- Members lead educational events and projects that exhibit how sustainable land use can address inequities in public health, economic opportunity, education, and accessibility.
- Members revitalize urban parks, plant urban shade trees, create accessible camping opportunities, promote nature in the arts, encourage backyard gardening, etc.
Land Stewardship Coordinator
- Members organize volunteers to support hands-on stewardship of open lands.
- Members help service sites utilize Geographic Information Systems and GPS technology, and develop field survey techniques for natural resources inventory, ecological assessment, and monitoring of conservation land.
- Members and volunteers implement land stewardship projects such as invasive species removal, native plant restoration, erosion control, habitat improvement, and build and improve trails for public accessibility.
Regional Collaboration Coordinator
- Members organize and facilitate multi-stakeholder networks to identify community needs, develop collaborative projects, and identify opportunities for resource sharing and funding.
- Members engage partners in strategic conservation planning, food systems assessments, community resource inventory and mapping projects, and community education campaigns
Sustainable Agriculture Coordinator
- Members organize volunteers to help build and manage community farms and gardens so more people can grow and access healthy food. Members train and educate beginning gardeners and farmers to use organic growing practices, plan growing systems, improve soils, and remove invasive species.
- Members and their volunteers help communities restore land, build garden beds and greenhouses, access water, and harvest and distribute food to the community.
Youth Education Coordinator
- Members partner with public schools to lead students on interpretive and inquiry-based field trips to investigate local flora and fauna and evaluate environmental conditions.
- Members use experiential education techniques to build school gardens and teach students to plant, grow, harvest, and eat vegetables.
- Members partner with youth groups to lead land stewardship-focused service learning projects.
Our Partnership with AmeriCorps
TerraCorps is a grant funded program contingent upon renewal of federal funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). CNCS grants to AmeriCorps programs in Massachusetts are administered by the Massachusetts Service Alliance.
AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps engages more than 80,000 men and women in intensive service each year through 15,000+ nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. AmeriCorps members help communities tackle pressing problems. They leverage their service by mobilizing volunteers to help address community needs for environmental stewardship, health, education, economic opportunity, disaster services, and support to veterans & military families.
The Massachusetts Service Alliance
The Massachusetts Service Alliance is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as the state commission on service and volunteerism. They are committed to increasing the number of people engaged in meaningful volunteer opportunities across Massachusetts that are both fulfilling for the volunteers and Corps members and that meet critical needs in our community. The Mass Service Alliance amplifies the impact of volunteerism and service across the Commonwealth by supporting organizations that help our residents and communities thrive. .
ServeRI
ServeRI, Rhode Island’s Commission for National and Community Service, catalyzes inclusive, equitable service opportunities to strengthen Rhode Island by directing national service resources and volunteers to evidence-based programs that make a measurable impact in education, health, housing, and other social services. Service and volunteer programs do more than move communities forward; they serve the participants by providing pathways to new career and leadership opportunities. National service places hundreds of adults each year into intensive service positions in Rhode Island where they learn valuable work skills, earn money for education, and develop a life-long commitment to active citizenship.