The County of Hawaii comprises all of Hawaii Island, and our offices are located in Hilo and Kailua-Kona. Across three agencies (the Office of Research & Development;

Office of Housing & Community Development; and Recovery Division) we will host ten VISTAs to establish and sustain a Community-Based Participatory Practice that engages and builds the capacity of community to identify, define, address, solve, and evaluate issues in partnership with academia and local government.

The mission of the County's VISTA program is to help restore regenerative governance on Hawaii Island. Regenerative governance more effectively and equitably addresses the social, economic, and environmental determinants of health and well-being that challenge the Island's most vulnerable families and communities.

VISTA work will focus on Indigenous entrepreneurship, food sovereignty, digital equity, equitable mobility, clean and renewable energy, housing and homelessness, and disaster recovery and resilience.

• Across their specific roles, VISTAs will perform activities such as facilitating community outreach and engagement and cross-sector dialogue;
• conducting needs assessments and network / stakeholder analyses; gathering, analyzing, and visualizing data; identifying potential funding and financing sources;

building effective community organizational relationships and capacity; and documenting program impact and assessing viability.

All VISTAs will be expected to ground themselves in our island culture by learning the mookuauhau (Indigenous genealogy and ancestry) of Hawaii Island.

The VISTAs will contribute to co-learning and sustainability of their efforts via a Community of Practice, in which peers gather to share information and reflect upon their efforts to advance regenerative governance.

Those from Hawaii Island or with existing connections to our island communities are highly encouraged to apply. Apply through MyAmeriCorps;

no calls please. Mahalo! Further help on this page can be found by clicking here.

Member Duties : The Energy Solutions Coordinator VISTA will help to ensure Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed (ALICE) and rural communities can be more resilient during the alternative energy transition.

Responsibilities will include : Data & Research Implement and monitor the island energy transformation, County fleet electrification, and other renewable energy generation with a social equity and access lens.

Project Development & Outreach Advance a reduction in greenhouse gasses to result in stabilization and lowering of energy costs for the ALICE and rural population, enabling them to fulfill other unmet needs, improve quality of life, and improve individual and public health.

Skill Building & Continuous Learning Grow individually and collectively with VISTA cohort peers through group-led, peer-to-peer learning sessions relating to Hawaii and professional and personal development.

Program Benefits : Living Allowance , Training , Relocation Allowance , Housing , Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend , Education award upon successful completion of service , Health Coverage* .

Terms

Permits attendance at school during off hours , Permits working at another job during off hours .

Service Areas

Tribal , Health , Community Outreach , Environment , Community and Economic Development , Education , Technology .

Skills

Environment , Team Work , Community Organization , Public Speaking , Computers / Technology , Leadership , Writing / Editing , Social Services , Communications , General Skills .

Last updated : 2024-05-14