Community Impact Fellow (Strategic Twin-Counties Education Partnership) - RPC

About the role

The Rural Partners Corps (RPC) is a service fellowship from Lead For America (LFA) designed to help rural communities build the local capacity, partnerships, and talent needed to expand economic opportunity for children and youth—from cradle to career. Through RPC, rural place-based backbone organizations host a dedicated AmeriCorps Member who spends a full service term working alongside local partners to strengthen the systems, relationships, and infrastructure that help young people and families thrive.

Strategic Twin-Counties Education Partnership (STEP) improves educational opportunities for students in the Twin Counties area—cradle to career—by facilitating collaboration between schools, community colleges, community-based organizations, and employers.

Working alongside STEP staff and community partners, the Fellow will help advance the Local Education Attainment Collaborative by strengthening community engagement, expanding participation in its three working groups, and sprinting collaborative efforts to improve educational and workforce outcomes. The Fellow will also contribute to STEP's broader strategic initiatives by identifying opportunities to strengthen partnerships, improve organizational systems, document outcomes, and expand the reach and sustainability of the organization's work. This position offers an opportunity to build relationships across education, business, and community sectors while contributing to meaningful, long-term progress in the Twin Counties.

Responsibilities

• Support LEAC Collaboration: Assist with planning, preparing for, and co-facilitating community team meetings, including follow-up on goals, priorities, and action items.
• Strengthen Working Groups: Support the growth and engagement of the three working groups focused on literacy, FAFSA completion, and career preparation aligned with regional labor market needs.
• Build Community Partnerships: Identify and engage potential partners, resources, and stakeholders to expand collaboration across education, business, workforce, and community organizations. Coordinate outreach and partnership activities with STEP staff; refer organizational commitments and decisions to authorized staff.
• Advance Strategic Initiatives: Provide capacity-building support for STEP's broader strategic priorities, including career awareness, career exploration, career preparedness, and work-based learning.
• Review and Improve Tracking Systems: Assist in evaluating existing data collection and tracking processes and recommend improvements to strengthen efficiency, consistency, and usefulness. Share recommendations with STEP staff for review.
• Document Outcomes and Impact: Help collect, organize, and analyze information to track progress, identify trends, document successes, and demonstrate the impact of STEP's initiatives. Follow STEP's applicable confidentiality and data-handling procedures when accessing, recording, and sharing information.
• Research Opportunities for Growth: Research community needs, best practices, potential funding and partnership opportunities, and strategies to expand the reach and sustainability of STEP's work. Provide research findings and recommendations to STEP staff for consideration.

All functions and activities performed by the AmeriCorps Fellow are completed under the guidance, supervision, and direction of program and host site staff.

Learning & development

• A week-long virtual orientation with the national cohort to kick off the service year.
• A week-long, in-person national Winter Institute convening with your cohort — travel, lodging, and a per diem stipend are fully covered.
• Twice-monthly virtual training on skills for service, including project management, asset-based community development, grant writing, and serving vulnerable populations, plus self-paced curricula with opportunities to earn badges and credentials.
• A structured community listening tour at the start of service to understand local needs, assets, and opportunities.
• Dedicated 1:1 support from a Lead For America Program Coordinator and twice-monthly peer pod meetings for networking and professional development.
• Access to a national network of RPC Fellows, alumni, and community partners.

Requirements

• Passion for community service and connecting your neighbors to the digital tools, skills, and opportunities they need to thrive.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Interest in gaining experience in community development or digital inclusion.
• Be a U.S. Citizen, National, or Lawful Permanent Resident.
• Hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Be 17 years of age or older by the start of service.
• Have not already served four (4) or more AmeriCorps State/National terms.

Timeline

Fellows will serve from December 7, 2026 through August 13, 2027, full-time (approximately 40 hours per week), completing 1,200 hours of service over the course of the term.

Benefits

• A $23,300 living stipend (dispersed bi-weekly over the course of the service term).
• A $5,220 Segal Education Award through AmeriCorps, which can be applied to education-related expenses after the program concludes (including repayment of qualifying student loans).
• Healthcare coverage (if applicable).
• Access to childcare benefits.
• Student loan forbearance during your year of service.
• Fully-funded Winter Institute during the year.