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Introducing the MyCOE Geographic Learningship Program in the US Gulf and Greater Caribbean Region

Download the current Call for Proposals

What is a "Learningship"?

A special learning experience that includes the opportunity to gain valuable workforce experience, practice your skills, use your knowledge, and engage with local communities on real-world issues. It links research, education, and community outreach in a set of structured activities designed in part as an internship or work-related practicum, in part as a fellowship for rigorous study and part life experience, dealing with hands-on issues in real communities.

How does the program work?

Students are invited to apply to serve in a limited number of Learninship sites in the Gulf of Mexico / Greater Caribbean Basin, beginning with projects in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Gulf States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida; and international sites in Honduras, Jamaica, and Panama. Project topics at individual sites will vary by location, and workplans will be developed in conjunction with local host organizations, local community groups, and the MyCOE learningship participants. While topics will include a broad range of subjects related to geography and GIS, they will focus on environmental sustainability, natural resource and watershed management. Some of the project sites located in areas affected by hurricanes are anticipated to focus on natural disasters and sustainable recovery.

  • Involve aged youth with ongoing local community development activities focused on using geography/GIS for environmental sustainability
  • Administer and support linkages among a set of project sites in the Greater Caribbean region that address sustainable natural resource and/or watershed management, including both rural and urban issues
  • Provide training or capacity building in geographic tools and technologies for community based watershed management for students and community members in the region
  • Disseminate results and encourage participation in other areas through partners and other partnerships incorporation of both youth element and the advantages of geographic approaches within existing efforts

    • Student Participants

    Eligible participants are students enrolled in related programs of interest (geography, environmental studies, agriculture, etc.). tasks may include activities to involve secondary students where appropriate and additional supervision and consultation is available. Students working in US sites must be US citizens or permanent residents (those drawing stipend support from the USDA grant). Students working at international sites, must be from the country they are working in to reach capacity building objectives (drawing stipend support from the USAID funding mechanism.) All prospective participants must be willing and able to comply with the program expectations. Selected s will serve a period of between 4 to 6 months, depending upon project requirements and will receive stipends ranging from $500 to $1000, depending upon site specifics. (Participants in the US-based NRCS Internship Program that are integrated into this initiative will receive normal compensation for that program and typical duration). Their participation will focus on a set of major tasks to be determined in conjunction with the community on the basis of their skills and experience. Participation will center on the following activities:

  • Use geographic concepts, techniques, methodologies, and/or technologies to improve the impact of the local community project
  • Conduct preliminary interviews with relevant community members to introduce yourself and the project and better understand the situational context
  • Design a month-by-month workplan consisting of student tasks in conjunction with the local liaison and MyCOE mentors that contributes to the project (due by end of first month; format to be specified)
  • Participate in weekly communications initiated within the e-community of all MyCOE fellows
  • Coordinate tasks on a regular basis with the local liaison (frequency determined by liaison)
  • Reply in a timely manner to all inquiries from the MyCOE Program Coordinator
  • Take any additional geographic skills training that may be requested (and offered free of charge) by the MyCOE program
  • Submit a one-page mid-term progress report to the MyCOE Program Coordinator (due date to be given; format to be specified)
  • Present at a minimum one presentation or talk within the local community setting (e.g. local city officials, neighborhood meeting, etc.)
  • Present to USAID Mission staff in each country (for international sites)
  • Agree to attend a national or international conference if invited (at MyCOE expense) to represent the project
  • Create and submit to MyCOE (including AAG/USAID/USDA/USGS) a final report and poster (due one month after end of project activity; format to be specified)
  • Complete a final program evaluation (to be given)

    • Local Community Project Liaison

    A single point of contact will be designated to coordinate among the local project team, the MyCOE program coordination, and the participant. The main role of this host liaison is to ensure that the activities of the are designed and implemented in a way that improves the community project, and to provide on the ground information and support for the smooth operation of the involvement of the . The host will:

  • Provide housing for the , if needed
  • Supervise at a minimum the general activities of the participant
  • Supply minimum daily materials, equipment, and workspace, according to the site plan agreed upon by all parties
  • Assist the and MyCOE Program Coordination in connecting with the appropriate local community representatives, upon requests
  • Give regular information to the MyCOE Program Coordinator that is appropriate and necessary regarding the work status, personal state, or safety of the , and upon request

    • MyCOE Mentors

    Upon invitation from MyCOE administration will request input from the MyCOE Mentor Network of 500+ experts in 63 countries and the AAG's database of 9,000+ professional geographers and related scientists. Mentors will assist students in meeting project objectives through providing additional training, data, advice, or other available and appropriate resources. Mentors will also help with capacity building through some focus (in the US, at least) on workforce development for competencies in the use of geographic tools. AAG's ongoing career programs will be a special resource for these tasks, including collaboration with the National Science Foundation (EDGE) and the Department of Labor (GIWIS). >/p>

    MyCOE Partners

    The My Community, Our Earth Partnership is coordinated by the Secretariat at the Association of American Geographers (AAG). Dr. Patricia Solis is the lead staff member responsible for MyCOE programs. She will oversee coordination of each site effort as well as the inter-project communication and results dissemination. She will be responsible in particular with all program level efforts to:

  • Oversee design and implementation of a local site plan in conjunction with the host community, local liaison, , and their institution
  • Supervise and address the needs and requests of both the and the local community liaison as it relates to meeting the goals and objectives specified in the agreed upon site plan
  • Request, receive and review all materials expected from student participants
  • Manage the e-community of MyCOE fellows
  • Seek and provide additional project support, if possible, for supplemental activities such as exchanges, national or international meeting attendance, or specialized training
  • Link US institutions of higher education with non-US institutions through existing projects, mentoring, and sister projects

    • ESRI will be consulted regarding needs for GIS training and resources upon request. They will continue support of partial hosting web resources, a function shared with AAG. US Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing funding support for international project components and will facilitate relations with country missions. US Geological Survey (USGS) is facilitating provision of funding from USAID and seeking ways that this activity complements and draws upon existing experience and data resources in the region. US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing funding support for domestic project components and will facilitate relations with internal and related organizations.

    For more information, or to participate, contact Dr. Patricia Solis, AAG psolis@aag.org.

       

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