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Stewards VISTA: Mountain Roots - Community Engagement & Development

Stewards Individual Placement Program
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Position Title: Stewards VISTA: Mountain Roots - Community Engagement & Development - AmeriCorps 

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East

Site Location: 107 E Georgia Ave Suite 3B 

City, State or Full Address: Gunnison, CO 81230

 

Terms of Service:

Start Date: July 13, 2026

End Date: July 12, 2027

Must serve a 365-day (1 year) service term

Living Allowance: $68.39/day ($24,962.35/year)

 

 

Purpose:

Mountain Roots is a Colorado-based nonprofit and an AmeriCorps Program working to build a resilient, community-driven food system in the rural Gunnison–Crested Butte region—a area better known for world-class skiing and outdoor recreation than for the food insecurity that quietly affects many of its residents. Despite its scenic appeal, the Gunnison Valley is a Class 2 food desert, where geographic isolation, economic hardship, and cultural barriers make it difficult for many households to access healthy, affordable food. Rooted in the values of regenerative agriculture, community stewardship, and local resilience, Mountain Roots serves vulnerable households, local food producers, and students across the valley through programs in Farm to School, community farming and gardening, workforce development, and food access—all set within a close-knit mountain community with a strong culture of collaboration and care.

The AmeriCorps VISTA member will serve with Mountain Roots to help strengthen the organization's long-term financial sustainability and expand community participation in its programs and mission. In this AmeriCorps Position, the member will develop strategic plans for fundraising, grant writing, volunteer coordination, outreach, and marketing, while also improving the internal systems—such as communications tools and volunteer leadership pathways—that help the organization run effectively and grow. By building these foundations, the member will play a critical role in ensuring that Mountain Roots can continue to expand access to healthy food and opportunity for all residents of the Gunnison Valley for years to come.

 

The AmeriCorps VISTA member will build capacity and develop sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in underserved communities.

 

Description of Duties:

  • Create fundraising plans, research grants and develop donor outreach plans for staff use
  • Strengthen volunteer leadership and engagement tracking systems
  • Create marketing and storytelling content for staff use in community engagement
  • Develop funding strategies that sustain food access, youth education, and regenerative agriculture

 

Qualifications:

  • United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien 
  • At least 18 years of age 
  • College graduate 
  • Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check

 

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

 

Time Requirements

  • Typically, this position is expected to serve full-time (35-40 hours), but exact schedules may vary.  
  • Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

 

Orientation and Training:

  • Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
  • Member will receive a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) from VISTA on their first day of service.

 

Benefits:

·        Segal AmeriCorps Education Award* of $7,395.00

o   or choice of cash stipend of ~$1,800.00

·        Living Allowance of $68.39 per day, disbursed every 2 weeks

·        Relocation Allowance ($750) if Eligible

·        Healthcare Coverage* if Eligible 

·        Childcare Coverage* if Eligible

·        Loan forbearance if Eligible

·        Interest Payments if Eligible

·        Training and Professional Development Opportunities

·        Employee Wellness Program (access to a licensed, professional counselor and 24/7 support)

·        Non-Competitive Eligibility* (NCE) status upon successful completion of the term

·        Networking and Mentorship

*For more information regarding the Segal Education Award, check out this link as well as alternative uses for the award here.

*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare.

*For more information regarding the AmeriCorps VISTA Childcare benefit, please visit https://americorpschildcare.com/.

*For details about Non-Competitive Eligibility, please visit https://my.americorps.gov/trust/help/member_portal/non_competitive_eligibility_overview.htm.

 

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed their required year of service; the member has satisfactorily completed assignments; and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets, accomplishment tracking, and quarterly reporting.

 

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

For VISTA related information, contact Addie Gilkerson, agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org

For site related information, contact Matt Neufeld, matt@mountainrootsfoodproject.org

 

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.