Tree Canvasser/Outreach Assistant

Organization Description

Growing Places is a nonprofit serving North Central Massachusetts since 2001 that seeks to improve the health of our region through an equitable, just, local food system and sustainable environment. Our mission is to inspire and connect the NCMA community to create equitable access to healthy food and environmental sustainability through education, collaboration, and advocacy.

Program Description

The Greening the Gateway Cities Program (GGCP) was established to increase tree planting in urban residential areas of Massachusetts' Gateway Cities. In each of these cities, the program is implemented through a partnership between the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Urban Foresters, who conduct site visits and plant trees, and a local community organization that handles outreach efforts. In Fitchburg and Leominster, the community outreach organization is Growing Places, which helps by creating direct mail campaigns, producing social media content, canvassing, attending outreach events, and recruiting volunteers for tree stewardship and expanding the urban tree canopy.

Position Description

Growing Places is seeking to hire at least two enthusiastic individuals to outreach to the Fitchburg and Leominster communities about the GGCP program. The primary function of GGC Outreach personnel is to go door-to-door during evenings and weekends in targeted areas with low tree canopy, delivering marketing materials about planting new trees and caring for existing ones. Canvassers will receive support from the Growing Places team and GGC foresters and be provided with maps of canvassing areas, training, and all materials necessary. Preference will be given to bilingual candidates (Spanish/English).

Besides door-to-door canvassing, GGC Outreach personnel are expected to:

·        Attend targeted community events (e.g., Earth Day events) to outreach about the GGC program.

·        Attend team meetings with the GGC Program Coordinator to assess canvassing progress, any problems encountered, new outreach strategies and canvassing areas.

·        Keep careful track of hours and hand in monthly stipend requests to Growing Places Financial Controller and GGC Program Coordinator.

The ideal Tree Canvassers will:

·        Have familiarity with the Fitchburg and Leominster area

·        Have familiarly with using an iPad and be comfortable with learning new applications

·        Have the ability to work independently and with a team

·        Provide regular updates to supervisor on problems and progress.

·        Love people and have excellent interpersonal skills

·        Have reliable transportation and can reliably work evenings and weekends

·        Have a passion for environmental justice

This is a stipended seasonal position estimated at 20 to 30 hours/month at $25 per hour. Hours are flexible on weekends and evenings.