Host site application
Now accepting applications from organizations interested in hosting an AmeriCorps member for the 2019-2020 program year. The MPCA plans to place up to 42 full-time members with various host sites across the state. Members serve approximately 40 hours a week for 11 months from September 2019 through August 2020.
Member application: Coming soon
Members serve with local governments, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions statewide. Members serve 40 hours a week for 11 months, from late September through the following August.
The Minnesota GreenCorps program is a statewide initiative, coordinated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, to preserve and protect Minnesota’s environment while training a new generation of environmental professionals.
The program places AmeriCorps members with host organizations around the state to assist communities and local governments in addressing a variety of statewide needs, aiming to:
- Reduce solid waste and increase recycling in Minnesota communities.
- Reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and other air pollutants.
- Reduce water runoff and improve water quality.
- Assist community members to take eco-friendly actions.
- Increase community resilience and build local capacity to respond to the threats of climate change.
- Train new environmental professionals.
Minnesota GreenCorps is an AmeriCorps program. Funding is provided through a grant from ServeMinnesota and the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Members serve at their host sites for 11 months, from mid-September through mid-August. More than 240 GreenCorps members have served at over 130 organizations across Minnesota. Former and current host site organizations include cities, counties, public schools, universities, watershed districts, and non-profit organizations.
Since the program’s launch in 2009, Minnesota GreenCorps members have engaged and educated nearly 200,000 volunteers in communities around the state through service projects, including assistance with environmental fairs, multi-modal transportation events, energy benchmarking, waste sorts, tree inventory/citizen foresters, invasive species removal, tree planting, and building rain gardens. Many of these projects help to increase resilience of Minnesota communities to the impacts of climate change, such as increasing heat and heavy precipitation.
For more information
For more information, please email: mngreencorps.pca@state.mn.us
Currently there are 42 Minnesota GreenCorps members serving at host sites around the state.
Project summaries: Program Year 2018-2019 (p-mgc1-10)
2018: Member - Aaryn Wilson
About me. I’m from Minneapolis and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Plant Science, and a track in sustainable food systems. After quitting culinary arts school, I began volunteering in my neighborhood community garden which eventually led to me interning on an organic vegetable farm. Learning about plant and food systems in a variety of ways has made me more passionate about the health of the land. Environmental racism has a deep connection to communities being displaced from the land. My service year is teaching me that people can care for the environment in a variety of ways. When I am not thinking about food you can find me creating community with elders and youth, watching a good TED talk, reading a good book, or practicing yoga.
About my service. I am a member of the Waste Reduction, Recycling, and Organics Management Track, hosted by Augsburg University. My service focuses on training and educating the campus and surrounding Cedar-Riverside community on reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting. Currently, I am working with a number of stakeholders including facilities management and Hennepin County to improve waste management education and outreach. I’m coordinating a compost audit with a number of student volunteers to use as a benchmark before signage improvements and trainings are offered to dining services staff.
Why I serve. In some way, this service will help my host site and Minnesota be a greener state for all calling this place home. This opportunity to serve allows me to explore many of my interests—including food systems, education, outreach, and youth development—in a supportive way that builds character. Additionally, Minnesota GreenCorps offers opportunities for me to build valuable professional development skills I would otherwise not have the chance to in our competitive job market.
My favorite place to visit in Minnesota. The Mississippi River from its headwaters to the gentle creeks like Minnehaha that feed into it. I’m very fortunate to have grown up with it in my backyard.