Cuyama Connection Fellow (Blue Sky Center), ACC

Note: This is a full-time ACC AmeriCorps position with Blue Sky Center

About the American Connection Corps:

The American Connection Corps (ACC), an AmeriCorps program of Lead For America (LFA), is a service fellowship program aimed at helping communities build the digital connectivity necessary to expand opportunity and economic mobility, ranging from healthcare access to quality employment.

ACC Members serve with locally-rooted organizations, helping address the digital divide and strengthen access to opportunity. Through their service, they gain hands-on experience, build in-demand skills, and explore career pathways while making a tangible impact in their communities.

About the Blue Sky Center

Blue Sky Center is a rural, place-based nonprofit organization with the mission to strengthen our rural communities within the Cuyama Valley by supporting entrepreneurs and building our regional creative and economic resources.

As a holistic community development organization, and in response to the needs of our rural neighbors, our work spans across economic development, broadband access, climate resiliency, food access, housing, and creative community engagement. We published the Cuyama Valley Community Action plan in 2020 after an extensive outreach and advocacy process, much of which was managed by past AmeriCorps VISTA fellows, as well as the 2024 Cuyama Futures report, focused on economic opportunity and needs (including broadband access).

The community identified seven (7) focus areas for Blue Sky Center and other stakeholder organizations to prioritize. These seven areas are (1) Townsites beautification and wayfinding, (2) Food action network, (3) Economic opportunity development and job creation, (4) School system support, (5) Water/sewer infrastructure improvement, (6) Rural broadband, and (7) Housing stock improvement through repairs and renovations.

We serve the Cuyama Valley, which is home to three unincorporated townsites — New Cuyama (pop. 517), Cuyama (pop. 57), and Ventucopa (pop. 92) — in addition to various scattered ranches (pop. 434, for a total of 1,100 residents) across 300 square miles of the rural, high-desert region of inland Central California.

Adjacent to the company town of New Cuyama, we steward the former headquarters of the Richfield Oil Co. (ARCO), which consists of offices, warehouses, workshops, agricultural land, and the L88 airstrip across 267 acres. We leverage these substantial assets to incubate small businesses as well as offer our own programs that aim to expand regional creative and economic opportunities.

Position Overview

At Blue Sky Center, our mission is to construct resilient, thriving, and inclusive rural economies within the Cuyama Valley. The Cuyama Connection Fellow position will give you the opportunity to work with an isolated but resilient rural community (pop. 1,100) in Central California. You will both foster and assist in projects within the Creative Community Engagement and Economic Development work within Blue Sky Centers initiatives. Essential to our mission is the empowerment of local residents to be advocates for both themselves and their neighbors, through storytelling, creative engagement, data collection and sharing, and hands-on community building workshops. In line with this vision, we are seeking a resourceful, diligent, and personable individual to join us as an American Connection Corp (ACC) Fellow.

The Fellow will provide direct service and community-wide capacity-building support under the supervision and direction of designated Blue Sky Center staff. Service activities must be consistent with the approved AmeriCorps State and National program and member service assignment. The Fellow will not independently manage programs, organizational operations, grants, budgets, staff, or contracts; replace or duplicate staff positions; or provide preferential services or resources to individual for-profit businesses.

Key Responsibilities

The ACC Member will:

• Further the priorities of the Cuyama Valley Community Action Plan, Cuyama Futures report, and Cuyama Catalyst report through staff-directed for facilitation of working groups, assisting with the coordination of work, and distribution of staff-reviewed research/data.

• Support the development and delivery of creative and economic programs and creative community engagement across all of Blue Sky Center’s programs by assisting staff with community-facing service activities and approved program implementation.

• Help host community events, trainings, workshops, and outreach, and expand community outreach efforts to reach all Cuyamans through staff-directed outreach and approved, community-wide engagement activities.

• Assist with implementing work focused on food security and food systems development that provides for a healthier community and vibrant local options, through community education, outreach, resource sharing, and other approved service activities under staff direction.

• Assist with the development of promotional materials and designs that communicate Cuyama’s needs and resources, and help publish work that celebrates the Cuyama community in an authentic, accurate, and community-informed way. All materials and public communications must be reviewed and approved by designated staff before publication.

• Help organize resources and systems to track participation across community measurements and program activities, to better ensure that staff can assess and document broad and targeted resident access. Maintain accurate participation records and compile data for staff review, program reporting, and evaluation in accordance with approved procedures.

• Support staff-led implementation of regional economic development strategies tailored to the unique needs of the Cuyama Valley community through community-wide outreach, information sharing, research, and engagement activities consistent with the approved service assignment.

• Assist staff with identifying and sharing information about community-driven economic projects and initiatives that support community-wide needs and sustainable growth. The Fellow will not independently allocate funds or resources, make funding decisions, or provide individualized business development services to for-profit businesses.

• Support regular communications aimed at increasing tourism and promoting the Cuyama Valley as a destination through staff-approved, community-wide informational and promotional materials.

• Conduct research and assist with staff-directed research and preparation of information for potential grants or other resources that directly support approved community service activities. Any fundraising must comply with applicable AmeriCorps requirements and program policies. The Fellow will not write or submit grant applications to AmeriCorps or other federal agencies, raise funds for general organizational operating expenses or member living allowances, or independently solicit or commit funding.

• Support staff-led community-wide efforts to facilitate the growth and expansion of local businesses and entrepreneurs, particularly those focused on value-added products and services, through general community information, public resource sharing, and approved outreach. The Fellow will not provide preferential direct benefits to individual for-profit businesses or perform work that substitutes for services those businesses would otherwise obtain from paid professionals.

• Learning & Development Opportunities

As an ACC Member, you will receive structured training and support throughout your service year, including:

• A week-long virtual orientation with the national cohort to kick off the service year.
• A week-long, in-person national Winter Institute convening with your ACC cohort — travel, lodging, and a per diem stipend are fully covered.
• Twice-monthly virtual training on skills for service, including project management, asset-based community development, grant writing, and serving vulnerable populations, plus self-paced curricula with opportunities to earn badges and credentials.
• A structured community listening tour at the start of service to understand local needs, assets, and opportunities.
• Dedicated 1:1 support from a Lead For America Program Coordinator and twice-monthly peer pod meetings for networking and professional development.
• Access to a national network of ACC Members, alumni, and community partners.

Requirements

• Passion for community service and connecting your neighbors to the digital tools, skills, and opportunities they need to thrive.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Interest in gaining experience in community development or digital inclusion.

Eligibility:

• Be a U.S. Citizen, National, or Lawful Permanent Resident.
• Hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Be 17 years of age or older by the start of service.
• Have not already served four (4) or more AmeriCorps State/National terms.

Timeline:

• We are currently recruiting Members to serve from December 7th, 2026 - August 13th, 2027. Members will serve full-time (approximately 40 hours per week), completing 1200 hours of service over the course of the term.

Benefits

Full-time ACC Members receive:

• A $23,300 living stipend (dispersed bi-weekly over the course of the service term)
• A $5,220 Segal

Education

• Award through AmeriCorps, which can be applied to education-related expenses after the program concludes (including repayment of qualifying student loans).

• Healthcare coverage (if applicable).

• Access to childcare benefits.

• Student loan forbearance during your year of service.

• Fully-funded ACC Winter Institute during the year.

• Non-Discrimination

• This institution operates in accordance with Federal and AmeriCorps civil rights and non-discrimination requirements. This program is available to all. All program documents, including compliance history information, may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact us at [email protected]

• Note: The ACC program does not offer part-time or remote member positions at this time.