Adaptation Practitioners
Volunteer as an Adaptation Practitioner to Connect with Communities and Build Your Skills
American Society of Adaptation Professionals is recruiting 30 adaptation practitioners to volunteer as part of the Leading with Equity in Adaptation Practice (LEAP) Program. Volunteers will join Community Teams throughout the Upper Gulf Coast working on community-led climate adaptation planning and action projects.
Do you want to share your expertise and provide technical assistance to build stronger, more resilient communities? Do you have expertise, knowledge, and networks that can help connect community needs and priorities to climate resilience resources? Submit your application to volunteer as an Adaptation Practitioner for LEAP!
Volunteer Commitment
Join a one-day kickoff meeting (in person or virtually) the week of June 19, 2023.
Engage an average of 2-4 hours/month in LEAP meetings and project implementation activities between July 2023-Fall 2024.
Join a ½ day program celebration in Fall 2024.
See more details about the program structure and timeline on the main program page.
Volunteer Qualifications
Volunteers will bring their individual climate change adaptation and climate resilience expertise to the project and bring local, state and national climate change adaptation and climate resilience connections and resources to bear in the project.
Volunteers should have:
Connection to, familiarity with, and personal investment in one or more communities in the Texas Upper Gulf Coast region. This could take many forms including: resident of the community, resident of neighboring community, have worked in the community in the past, have a friend or relative who lives in the community, visits the community for pleasure, etc. Communities in this region are located in Montgomery, Wallis, Harris, Liberty, Chambers, Jefferson, Galveston, Fort Bend, or Brazoria Counties.
Knowledge of good practices for climate change adaptation planning and knowledge of climate change adaptation strategies and actions relevant to Texas Upper Gulf Coast communities.
Knowledge of climate change adaptation tools and resources relevant to Upper Gulf Coast communities and how to apply them.
Interest in being part of a climate change adaptation project that is driven by community needs and interests.
Ability to connect your climate change adaptation expertise to local needs and interests and to communicate effectively and respectfully with people from a variety of backgrounds.
Ability to communicate in Spanish or Vietnamese is helpful, but not required.
Volunteers may come from a variety of sectors, fields, and disciplines. In the past, we have welcomed volunteers from:
Staff from state and federal agencies focused on applied climate adaptation science.
Faculty and researchers at higher education institutions focused on applied climate adaptation science.
Employees from consulting, engineering, planning, and design firms of all size.
Staff from nonprofit organizations focused on climate change and environmental issues.
Projects will take place throughout the Texas Upper Gulf region. We are looking for volunteers who have a connection to, familiarity with, and personal investment in the place where the project takes place. This could take many forms including: resident of the community, resident of neighboring community, have worked in the community in the past, have a friend or relative who lives in the community, visits the community for pleasure, etc.
Benefits of Volunteering
Volunteering in the LEAP program is an opportunity to grow as a climate change adaptation professional and expand your network! You will:
Build the skills, knowledge, and experience to ensure your climate change adaptation practice supports just, equitable, community-defined outcomes.
Gain feedback to help your climate resilience products and services maximally support community-led climate change adaptation projects.
Build relationships with community leaders and community-based organizations, opening doors for potential future partnership and collaboration.
Application Process
We are seeking community leaders and adaptation practitioners between now and March 24.
Community leader applications will determine project locations.
If you are a good fit for one of our project locations, we will contact you by the second week in April.
In the meantime, you may hear from us requesting a follow-up conversation to learn more about your expertise and connections to communities in the region.
Applicants will be chosen based on: interest in being part of a climate change adaptation project that is driven by community needs and interests, ability to meet the program requirements, and connection to communities participating in the program.