Volunteer in service to America at Whitfield — a paid opportunity

Thousands of volunteers and enthusiasts made it possible for Whitfield to journey from closed dairy farm to flourishing conservation area in just two decades.

You planted native trees and shrubs, cultivated food crops for migratory birds and a wild-turkey sanctuary, and made a 1-acre pond. Your volunteerism converted 97 acres of overworked and eroded soil to restored and enhanced wetlands in the Middle Rio Grande.

You made a dream of the Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area a reality and cherished community asset, where thousands of students have experienced hands-on, outdoor science learning. You turned out en masse to offer support after the 2022 Big Hole Fire razed 75 percent of Whitfield.

Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District recognizes that our partnership with the communities we serve is our North star.

Capacity and funding, however, are still major challenges to the Valencia SWCD, with a staff of four and most revenue generated by a 1/4 mil levy, the smallest soil and water assessment in New Mexico. The district’s administration is grateful to the Friends of Whitfield, a non-profit, tax-exempt, volunteer organization that is committed to championing Whitfield’s preservation and educational outreach by mobilizing resources and engaging passionate volunteers.

Since the COVID pandemic, both the Friends and the district experienced a downturn in active volunteers. The district administration views that building up a volunteer network, diversifying funding and establishing strategic partnerships are key to help meet the capacity challenges of both the district and the Friends of Whitfield. The district board has engaged with “all hands on deck” to diversify funding sources through grants.

Accordingly, the district board is pleased to announce that the federal government program, Volunteers in Service to America, will fund the salary and benefits of a new staff position at the Valencia SWCD: volunteer program builder.

The position is full-time for one year, with the possibility of additional service up to three years. The VISTA program pays the salary, health benefits, relocation allowance, end-of-year service award and more.

This VISTA-funded district staff member will research best practices in volunteerism, develop a volunteer recruitment plan and incorporate sustainability methods for a robust volunteer network.

The individual will build the district’s volunteer program by growing partnerships with community members and institutions, including the Pueblo of Isleta and the Pueblo of Laguna, to increase their engagement with the volunteer network and provide a pipeline for recruitment.

As part of the district’s recovery and resilience plans in the aftermath of the Big Hole Fire, the VISTA staff member will also research and identify grants for climate-adapted vegetation for Whitfield restoration, climate-resilient agriculture, and climate-disaster mitigation. The staff member will write grant applications (approved by the district board) and build communication strategies for sustaining the engagement of volunteers, public and private institutions and funders. The new staff member will collaborate with the staff, board and partners of the Valencia SWCD to build volunteerism.

In future years, individuals who join the district’s volunteer network will gain technical skills and experience in resilient and sustainable agriculture and in climate-disaster mitigation and restoration that can lead to careers. Such training is relevant because the conditions that led to the Whitfield blaze — low relative humidity, gusting winds, persistent drought and an overly dense bosque— are likely to continue.

For the VISTA position, the district needs someone with strong communication skills and familiarity with natural resources. Comfort with networking and interacting with the public is a must. Individuals with a background in environmental education, agriculture, biology, wildlife management, technical writing or related fields are encouraged to apply.

If you are an outgoing person, creative problem solver and team player, this position is for you. You’ll learn about wildlife habitat, predicted climate futures for New Mexico, climate-adapted and soil and water-conserving agriculture, and how conservation and climate-disaster mitigation and restoration can be economic drivers for sustainable agriculture, community resiliency, outdoor recreation and ecotourism. You will help build community engagement and climate resiliency.

To apply for this paid, full-time VISTA staff member position with the Valencia SWCD, please visit My.Americorps.gov and search for Valencia SWCD VISTA Volunteer Program Builder , listing ID number 121599. The application period closes on Aug. 10. For more information, write vicechair@valenciaswcd.org or call acting District Manager Johnny Chavez at 505-864-8914.

(Teresa de Cherif is vice chairwoman of the Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors.)