Serve with Commonwealth Corps

The mission of Whale & Dolphin Conservation (WDC) is to amaze people with the wonder of whales and dolphins and inspire global action to protect them. WDC will host two full-time Commonwealth Corps members who will educate people of different ages, backgrounds and abilities throughout Massachusetts. Members will help increase awareness of marine mammal conservation by seeking and building strategic relationships with community partners and developing and delivering high-quality, engaging education & outreach lessons. The Public Outreach & Education Specialist will develop a feasibility study and plan for a visitor center that includes researching community needs, evaluating risks and challenges, developing a budget, and designing content for display. Lastly, they will leverage over 60 volunteers involved with WDC programs.

THRIVE’s mission is to empower communities to welcome and support our neighbors transitioning from incarceration. THRIVE seeks to support adults returning from incarceration and to revolutionize the role community members play in their lives upon reentry. Our goals are to disrupt cycles of incarceration, isolation, and social harm among returning citizens and within impacted communities through evidence-based restorative justice models, community building through education, and constituent leadership development. THRIVE’s current programs primarily serve the greater Lowell community. In this Peer-to-Peer project, the Commonwealth Corps member will participate in community outreach about THRIVE and its mission and in volunteer recruitment activities, provide resource and social support to THRIVE members returning to the Lowell community, and work on a capacity-building project that will either advance THRIVE’s restorative housing initiative or improve THRIVE’s essential resource services.

The Regional Environmental Council, Inc. (REC) is a grassroots, nonprofit, environmental and food justice organization with a 50-year history working for environmental sustainability and social justice in Central Massachusetts. REC is seeking one half-time Commonwealth Corps member to support developing and implementing classroom and gardenbased curriculum at 34 school garden partner sites in Worcester as well as piloting and improving volunteer recruitment, training, and support systems for garden maintenance and care. In addition, the School Garden Specialist will collaborate with the YouthGROW Specialist to engage10-15 members of the REC youth development program (YouthGROW) as peer garden educators.

NSCDC seeks a Commonwealth Corps member to support our Small Business Program, that supports Essex County small business owners and entrepreneurs who are primarily low income BIPOC individuals and who seek support to stabilize and grow their businesses. In addition, this member will support volunteer recruitment and data collection for the Community Building Department.

The New Entry Sustainable Farming Project’s (New Entry) mission is to train and support new farmers, encourage resilient farming practices, facilitate access to local food and farm products, and build strong support networks for diverse agricultural communities. In doing this work, we provide critical training, career development, and economic opportunity to new farmers. The New Entry Food Hub aims to build long-term economic self-reliance and food security among farmers in eastern Massachusetts and their communities, and to expand access of locally grown, fresh, healthy and culturally preferred foods in underserved areas.

The two Commonwealth Corps Student and Family Support Specialists will directly support students to actively engage in the classroom and in After School activities. They will support students one-on-one and in groups to enhance the student experience at the Hernández. They will also assist with FOH’s Adult Education and Basic Family Needs Programs. Each Specialist will take on one capacity building project, helping adults in the community to achieve greater economic security and well-being. One project will assist in the operation of biweekly Distribution Days and our Donation Center, and the other supporting the job search and/or volunteer skills of adults through 1:1 and small group trainings. The goal is to provide students and families with the goods and services they need to thrive.

Commonwealth Corps members with 3Point serve as Site Coordinators, helping create positive, inclusive, and engaging learning environments for students in grades 4–8 through school-based and out-of-school programs. Members support instructors and school staff by reinforcing academic learning, promoting social-emotional development, and ensuring safe, structured classrooms through small-group support, activity facilitation, and student supervision. In addition to direct service, members contribute to two key capacity-building initiatives: scaling the Assist Zone—an in-school academic and personal support program focused on 21st-century skills, wellness, and student success—and leading a strategic research effort to design a high school expansion model that maximizes long-term impact for youth in underserved Boston communities.

Members will be based at either BCNC’s Boston or Quincy site and serve with the Adult Education department to build capacity to recruit, train, and support volunteers, and to help students improve work readiness and provide job-placement services. For more than 50 years, BCNC has been providing new immigrants, especially Asians, with the support and resources they need to thrive in the United States. With deep roots in Boston’s Chinatown neighborhood, BCNC now serves people from three locations in Greater Boston. Its holistic, family-centered programs reach 13,000 children, youth, and adults each year, setting them up for success in school, work, and life. BCNC also builds vibrant communities through the Pao Arts Center, along with its collaborations and research. You will make a lasting impact on the lives of immigrant families and thrive professionally while contributing to our mission-driven culture.