Hazard, KY, Jan 2, 2025 – The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky has selected Matthew Benedict to serve as the Stewards Energy Communities AmeriCorps Volunteer In Service To America (VISTA). Serving for a full year, their role is advancing locally designed economic development, workforce readiness, and environmental remediation plans in nine federally designated communities. Matthew will be helping to grow community influence in solar development decisions in Breathitt, Knott, and Perry counties.
The Energy Community AmeriCorps Program is an AmeriCorps VISTA program aimed at alleviating poverty and building local capacity for communities across the country. This program will engage with a total of 150 AmeriCorps VISTA members over the next three years. Matthew is one of 17 VISTAs deployed across the country as part of the inaugural class.
The project will be led by Conservation Legacy, a longstanding AmeriCorps partner with extensive experience working in coal communities. Over the past 22 years, Conservation Legacy has engaged more than 1,200 AmeriCorps members in supporting economic development and environmental revitalization in coal communities in Appalachia and the Intermountain West. These members have secured $41 million in grants and in-kind resources, recruited 100,000 volunteers, trained 16,000 community members in water quality monitoring, and improved 3.2 million acres of land.
These members serve with the commitment to support coal communities. This innovative public-private partnership will invest nearly $8 million from federal agencies and philanthropic sources to help ensure a more just and prosperous future for the men and women who fueled our nation’s growth.
Stewards is a program of Conservation Legacy, a national organization dedicated to supporting locally based conservation service programs. As a program of Conservation Legacy, Stewards Individual Placements provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health.
AmeriCorps VISTA places individuals with nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and tribal governments to expand reach and deepen impact in making a sustainable change that alleviates the impact of poverty. Through fundraising, volunteer recruitment, program development, and more, AmeriCorps members gain experience and leadership skills that put them on track for a life of service in the public, private, or nonprofit sector.
AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 200,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers.
Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.
