Together with the Arizona Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith, and Family, the NAU Center for Service and Volunteerism (CSV) is delighted to announce that Arizona will be part of a state-led Climate Corps initiative. With a $945,000 philanthropic grant and federal AmeriCorps funding, Arizona is one of five states recently announced as part of this effort. This Arizona Climate Resilience Corps (AZCRC) project will complement the recently announced American Climate Corps and add to the momentum building to address the climate crisis across the country.
AZCRC will build upon the Environmental Literacy Corps (ELC) program which launched in 2021 with funding from the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family (GOYFF). AZCRC will engage 75 AmeriCorps members this year to enhance outreach, improve education, and coordinate projects to help mitigate climate crises and to promote climate resilience in communities throughout Arizona. AmeriCorps members participating in this project will receive the maximum allowable AmeriCorps stipend, equivalent to more than $19 per hour, making this opportunity more accessible to a broader range of participants. Upon completion of the program, members will receive a Segal Education Award, which can be used to pay for tuition or student loans and help launch careers in the environmental field on strong footing.
Thanks to the additional funding supporting AZCRC, sites hosting members will not be required to supply matching funds, removing a key barrier for many small nonprofits or communities with limited financial resources.
“Arizona – home to the Grand Canyon, the Sonoran Desert, the largest stand of Ponderosa pine in the world, six distinct biomes, world-class hiking, whitewater, fishing and hunting, but also to withering heat waves, prolonged drought, catastrophic wildfires, floods and invasive species infestations – is ready for a climate corps movement,” said Director Maren Mahoney, Office of Resiliency at the Governor’s Office.
Russ Dickerson, assistant director of NAU CSV added, “The Arizona Climate Resilience Corps will enable people to serve in their own communities, addressing local issues and work on education, outreach and coordination projects. Essentially, where environmental issues meet the social fabric of Arizona, AZCRC will play a foundational role in our efforts to mitigate climate crises, build resilience and develop Arizona’s workforce.”
This private philanthropy funding creates opportunities for new partnerships and collaborations. Interested organizations focused on climate resilience or needing additional support are encouraged to contact the CSV.