The City of New Orleans VISTA program is implemented by the Office of Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the Mayor’s Office of Utilities. The City is seeking passionate individuals to build capacity to break the cycle of poverty and empower our community. The Mayor’s Office of Utilities was established by Mayor Cantrell to ensure affordable, accessible and resilient energy and telecommunications utilities and to implement important public policy goals.
The overall goal of the project is to develop and implement programs that break the cycle of poverty by improving digital equity and increasing adoption of renewable energy across the city of New Orleans. The VISTA will build capacity for the City to achieve these goals by supporting the citywide broadband and the “Solar for All” campaign. Through these projects, the VISTA will engage stakeholders, build partnerships, educate communities and develop strategic plans to bridge the digital divide and increase adoption of low-cost renewable energy.
As a VISTA member, you will have the opportunity to work closely with City leadership, industry experts, and community advocates on cutting-edge climate action and digital equity projects. VISTA members will learn practical strategies for climate action and connectivity, while making a direct impact on the lives and well-being of vulnerable communities.
Service Activities
Throughout one year of service, the VISTA member will work with the Mayor’s Office of Utilities to identify areas and communities in need of digital connectivity, reach out to community organizations and other partners in the disconnected areas, and outline a strategic plan to bridge the digital divide. In addition, the VISTA member will help coordinate the “Solar for All NOLA” campaign by:
-Meeting with partners to better comprehend resident’s needs and the campaign goals.
-Developing an annual calendar of campaign events.
-Reaching out to community organizations and other partners in areas of low- and moderate- income (LMI) housing to educate residents about solar opportunities.
Community Need Addressed
The CNO VISTA Program supports City Hall by implementing sustainable capacity building projects to increase the effectiveness of each department.
Position Outcomes
Our VISTA members help the City strengthen existing services and provide more services for underserved and disproportionately impacted communities.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Relocation allowance (if applicable), Student loan forbearance
Education Benefits
College Degree
N/A
Skills you will gain
Professional Development
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization