The City of White Plains has been selected to participate in the Love Your Block grant program. The program is an initiative of Cities of Service, which was founded by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in 2009 and is now part of Johns Hopkins University. White Plains was one of eight cities across the U.S. selected for this award.
The goal of the Love Your Block program is to build stronger neighborhoods, one block at a time, through partnerships with community groups, neighborhood associations and residents to repair, remediate, or otherwise address negative neighborhood conditions and spur neighborhood-driven change. As part of the award, White Plains will receive funding over two years that will be used to provide mini-grants to neighborhood and community groups to help them accomplish neighborhood or block-specific improvement projects.
As part of Love Your Block, we are recruiting for 2 positions, a Love Your Block Fellow and an AmeriCorps VISTA member, who will work with the city Planning Department, Mayor’s Office, and other city departments to build capacity and awareness for the program.
1. Love Your Block Fellow - Working closely with the Love Your Block team, the Fellow will be responsible for coordinating a robust community engagement strategy and facilitating ongoing programmatic activities. This is a two-year position beginning in November 2021. View the full position description here.
2. AmeriCorps VISTA Member – The VISTA will work alongside senior level city staff and non-profits, build community and organizational capacity, and be a part of a nationwide network of Cities of Service AmeriCorps VISTA members. This is a one-year position. Members will begin their year of service in early November 2021. View the full position description here.
We are hoping to attract candidates who live and/or work in White Plains because they bring to the table a familiarity with our city. We are seeking candidates who are enthusiastic, organized, and have a passion for community interaction.