AmeriCorps VISTA Amanda Krakovitz (at right) served as the first-ever PWD Outreach Ambassador, a position created through AmeriCorps and SERVE Philadelphia. Her year of service with the department ends in July, and applications for the next Outreach Ambassador are due April 19.
Are you interested in helping communities learn more about protecting local watersheds through projects that make neighborhoods greener, more vibrant places to live, learn, work and play?
You could be our new Outreach Ambassador!
Become an AmeriCorps VISTA with the Philadelphia Water Department and serve in a year-long position that focuses on expanding Green City, Clean Waters outreach in Philadelphia neighborhoods and supporting other water-related initiatives that help our communities.
Our ideal candidate has a passion for protecting the environment and improving the quality of life in Philadelphia neighborhoods. We believe arming citizens with knowledge empowers them to advocate for smart infrastructure investment in their neighborhoods and allows them to help others get the most out of City services.
We want our Outreach Ambassador to bring energy to a job that requires engaging people from a variety of backgrounds around complex issues like stormwater runoff pollution, green infrastructure, low-income assistance programs and water quality concerns.
Every day, you'll work with the Philadelphia Water Department team to build public support for environmental investments by empowering residents to become Green City, Clean Waters ambassadors within their community.
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, April 19.
Green City, Clean Waters is a City of Philadelphia program that keeps pollution out of our rivers by improving and expanding Philadelphia Water Department infrastructure and building neighborhood-based green tools that soak up water from storms.
PWD's partnership with AmeriCorps VISTA was established through SERVE Philadelphia, a program of the City's Office of Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service, in spring 2016.
The department's first-ever Outreach Ambassador, Amanda Krakovitz, has spent the last eight months working side-by-side with our Public Engagement Team on variety of efforts and projects.
She organized community cleanups with Southeast Philadelphia's Southeast Asian immigrant community to encourage residential input on local infrastructure investments, installed storm drain signage art created by Philadelphia students, provided construction updates at a community meeting, helped lead walking tours of vacant lots in Point Breeze targeted for Green City, Clean Waters improvements, and more.
“Serving as a VISTA with the Philadelphia Water Department has given me the opportunity to be a part of an innovative, creative solution addressing one of the biggest water pollution issues of our time,” said Krakovitz. “On top of that, my work is about connecting with and supporting various and diverse populations within Philadelphia. It's been an eye-opening, rewarding experience.”
If you think you have what it takes to be an Outreach Ambassador, submit your application before 12 p.m. on April 19.
Since 2010, 103 AmeriCorps VISTA members have served through the Serve Philadelphia and have built capacity in 21 different City departments.
Will you be the next one to make a difference? We hope so!