Location of Service: Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) – 901 N. Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917
About Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC):
KCDC serves as the public housing authority for both the City of Knoxville and Knox County and the redevelopment agency for the City of Knoxville. KCDC provides affordable housing at 19 separate sites for some 3,600 families and individuals while concurrently administering some 4,000 section 8 vouchers.
KCDC strives to improve neighborhoods and communities by providing quality affordable housing, advancing development initiatives, and fostering self-sufficiency. The AmeriCorps member will join that mission by supporting the internal working of the agency and serve in a backbone unit of the organization.
For those interested in additional opportunities to give back, getting involved in our internal Community Involvement Council is a great way provide direct impacts for both residents and employees. There are also opportunities to engage with residents through public events and holiday gatherings.
This opportunity will provide the member with an opportunity to become very familiar with public housing, the importance of affordable housing, and urban planning at the city level.
POSITION SUMMARY:
- Attend planning meetings for the development of new public parks in the Western Heights, First Creek, and Montgomery Village Communities.
- Develop plans for outdoor recreation and educational opportunities for residents at KCDC properties with future park spaces.
- Work on place-based initiatives to bring partners and resources to public housing sites, which could encompass a wide range of activities including healthcare and childcare partners.
- Collaborate with Beardsley Community Farm to maintain community gardens at KCDC properties.
- Work with ongoing efforts around environmental stewardship, including a multi-year Trees Knoxville project, partnerships with Oak Ridge National Laboratory building technologies partnerships, new solar power initiatives, and many more.
- Join the team to develop Shop with Dignity Pantries, a first for Knoxville, at three housing sites.
- Collect best practices, observations, and existing research around activities programming in low-income housing
- Evaluate programming and activities on an annual basis
- Work with other AmeriCorps members to determine needs and partners
- Coordinate the delivery of the activities, events and programs across 2-4 properties
The member(s) in this position will have the opportunity to gain the following skills/credentials:
- Event planning
- Grant writing
SITE PREFERENCES/QUALIFICATIONS:
- High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; social media platforms; Zoom
- Superior written and oral communication skills
- The ability to work well with residents, community partners, and KCDC staff is required
- Event planning experience
- A positive attitude
- Self-directed, with the ability to work alone and in groups
Equal Opportunity Statement: AmeriCorps prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment based on the protected categories of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, generic information, military service, or reprisal.