AmeriCorps - Health Promotion & Placemaking

Concrete Safaris has prepared youth in East Harlem and beyond to lead healthy lives and shape their environment through outdoor education, play, exploration, and community engagement since 2008. This is an opportunity for individuals (ages 18+) enrolled in a STEAM-related college major to apply for an AmeriCorps Member role at Concrete Safaris’ PlacemakingCorps. Concrete Safaris’ PlacemakingCorps offers individuals 300, 450, and 675-Hours of national service (like the Peace Corps but in the United States) to explore a career in public and environmental health and placemaking, while supporting youth development and community building. This AmeriCorps Member’s Purpose in the Program will be to deliver workshops for youth on the Social Determinants of Health and Health Promotion through Placemaking, providing referrals for health-related wrap-around services.

Different Service Options Below:

Starting: November 2025 - June 2026 or January to August 2026

Reduced Half-time position ( 21 hours/week ) - Must complete 675 hours. Receive a Living Allowance of up to $8,087 (broken up into 2 week increments), Segal Education Award of $2,817.14 plus Concrete Safaris’ Scholarship of $3,375 (Once you complete all trainings and hours).

Quarter Time position ( 14 hours/week ) - Must complete 450 hours. Receive a Living Allowance of $5,393 (broken up into 2 week increments), Segal Education Award of $1,956.35 plus Concrete Safaris’ Scholarship of $2,250 (Once you complete all trainings and hours).

Summer Associate position - Must complete 300 hours. Receive a Living Allowance of $3,595 (broken up into 2 week increments), Segal Education Award of $1,565.08 plus Concrete Safaris’ Scholarship of $1,500 (Once you complete all trainings and hours).   

AmeriCorps members serve children and youth with outdoor, experiential education to build environmental, health, and placemaking skills during school, after school, and camp within public housing based gardens and on city streets. 

Role Responsibilities:
Through health promotion and placemaking, AmeriCorps members will gain skills and confidence to develop as leaders. AmeriCorps Members deliver workshops on the Social Determinants of Health and Health Promotion through Placemaking as a Loneliness Intervention, providing referrals for health - related wraparound services when requested for the youth and families we serve (ages 14-24).

Research: Members need to able to conduct independent research on social determinants of health, services available to the East Harlem community, placemaking as a health promotional tool to decrease loneliness and various survey methods in an urban environment. 

Educational Outreach: Members will teach youth about the Social Determinants of Health and the fields of Health Promotion and Placemaking, including how to conduct related surveys for youth, children, and community in CS programs, and how to host activities to teach other people skills to reduce loneliness through contact with nature and making places in the community. 

Administrative Tasks: Members will track and collect data on community engagement through workshops / outreach and submitting regular reports to PlacemakingCorps Coordinator.

Physical Stamina: The service is physically demanding and is done outdoors in all types of weather. You must be able to lift heavy items (like wheelbarrows, tables, and garden, photo, or outdoor play equipment, as it relates to your role), and stand / squat for long periods of time.

Qualifications and Requirements:
Must be age 18+
Must be currently enrolled in a college/university
Must be a US citizen or US national or lawful permanent resident
Must pass criminal background checks
Must be interested in pursuing a career in the field of public health or a STEAM-related field
Must be able to and willing to get to and from Concrete Safaris’ East Harlem campus
Must be fully COVID vaccinated
Must be able to ride a two-wheeled bicycle in NYC traffic
 

Benefits:
Up to $8,087 bi-weekly living allowance (paid in increments every other week if you meet your minimum required service hours)

Up to $2,817.14 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of the program (includes required service and eduction/training hours)
 

Student loan forbearance
Up to $3,375 Concrete Safaris’ Scholarship (includes required service and eduction/training hours)
 

Work Schedule:
Approximately 14 - 27 Hours/Week, or 300 - 675 hours of service during the school year, summer, or overlapping. See more details here: https://concretesafaris.org/csplacemakingcorpsservice2025to26/
Monday-Friday, Select Saturdays
Program Start/End Date
450 and 675 Hour Terms: November - June or January - August
300 Hour Term: June - August
 

Benefits:

Living Allowance every other Friday if minimum hours are met. Living allowances are taxed.

Segal Education Award, upon successful completion of Trainings/Education and Hours of Term. Awards are paid directly to the college/university by the U.S. Federal Government.
 

Scholarship, upon successful completion of Education/Trainings and Hours of Term. 

Scholarships are paid directly to the college/university by Concrete Safaris.
 

Public Health Foundations Certificate
 

Trainings in environmental health literacy topics
 

Must be a US citizen or able to work in the USMust have a High School diploma or GED equivalent

All application materials, incl. background checks, must be completed before start date.

To learn more and apply visit: https://concretesafaris.org/csplacemakingcorpsservice2025to26/ or send resume to Christopher Hartsfield, Program Director at christopher@concretesafaris.org