Resilience Corps

About 

The Resilience Corps, a partnership between GPCOG and AmeriCorps, supports local government agencies, nonprofit agencies, and regional initiatives in the Greater Portland area in a diversity of efforts towards regional resilience. Fourteen Corps Members assist projects related to regional, community, or organizational resilience and help to accelerate civic innovation, climate action, economic opportunity, racial equity, and digital equity for Mainers. The Resilience Corps is a capacity-building initiative to help the region adapt and proactively respond to both short-term and long-term challenges to economic, social, and environmental systems.

AmeriCorps is a volunteer program supported by the U.S. federal government that engages adults in public service work with a goal of helping others, meeting critical needs, expanding capacity, and building community involvement and support. Full-time Members receive a living stipend, student-loan forbearance, health coverage, childcare, and an AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of a year of service. The Resilience Corps program includes robust training and professional development, networking, community awareness, and collaborative service opportunities in the Greater Portland region.

AmeriCorps Service Commitment and Benefits 

In 2022-2023, a full-time Resilience Corps term is an 11-month commitment to service in the greater Portland region during which Members receive health coverage, loan forbearance, and a $23,000 living allowance. Corps members will receive an education award from AmeriCorps upon successful completion of their full term of service. Terms of a shorter length are occasionally possible.

Resilience Corps Programming 

Resilience Corps Members provide support for host municipalities and non-profits by enhancing capacity for initiatives that build greater regional resilience via:
- Data collection, analysis, and visualization
- Mapping and storyboarding data
- Assisting in research, outreach, and equitable public engagement
- Communication, blogging, social media, and educational support
- Strategic planning, implementation, and project execution

While placed in varying roles internally at GPCOG or with external partners, the Resilience Corps members together form a cohort that learns from and with each other – participating in professional development and community service days together, weekly cohort meetings, and are encouraged to share resources, collaborate, and support one another.

The program is funded by Volunteer Maine, Maine’s Commission of Community Service.