Application Now Open for the 2025-2026 ECCHO Cohort Program

Opportunities available in Rock and Milwaukee counties. Commitment: two years (March 2025 – December 2026).

About the role

ECCHO (Engaging Communities to Change Health Outcomes) is a civic engagement training program that aims to improve community health outcomes by engaging those most impacted by generational and systemic racism in Milwaukee and Rock counties. During the two-year training program (March 2025 – December 2026), participants work together as a cohort to design and implement a community-based project that meets the health and civic health needs of their community. Civic health is defined as the civic, social, and political strength of a community, determined by the degree to which citizens participate in their communities, from local and state governance to interactions with friends or family.

Each cohort is overseen by a Local Program Coordinator who compensates participants for their work and provides them with the training and resources needed to successfully implement their project, drive policy change, and transform local systems of power.

Responsibilities

• Live in either Milwaukee or Rock county.
• Design and implement a community-based project addressing health and civic health needs.
• Attend and fully participate in cohort meetings twice a month (approximately 3 hours each).
• Complete 6 hours of tasks and assignments each month outside of meetings, including:
  • Responding to discussion questions.
  • Completing project-related tasks.
  • Attending community events.

Skills

The first 9 months of the program will focus on learning key concepts and skills for planning and implementing a community-based project, including:

• The Use of Radical Imagination for Social Change
• The Impact of the Social Determinants of Health
• Community Organizing 101
• How to Assess Community Needs
• Civics 101
• Power Building and Power Mapping
• The Power of Storytelling
• Leadership Development

The last 9 months will be dedicated to implementing the cohort's community-based project, with continued meetings and tasks assigned by the cohort and Local Program Coordinator.

No prior experience is needed. All are welcome to apply, regardless of educational or professional background. The only requirement is a desire to create positive change within your community.

Pay

$20/hour for approximately 15 hours/month.

Schedule

Flexible, with evening and some weekend hours required for cohort meetings and tasks.