Berkshire Regional Planning Commission - ACC Member

Note:
This is a full-time ACC Ameri Corps position with Berkshire Regional Planning Commission

About the American Connection Corps:

The American Connection Corps (ACC), an Ameri Corps program of Lead For America (LFA), is a service fellowship program aimed at helping communities build the digital connectivity necessary to expand opportunity and economic mobility, ranging from healthcare access to quality employment.

ACC Members spend a year serving with locally-rooted organizations, helping address the digital divide and strengthen access to opportunity. Through their service, they gain hands-on experience, build in-demand skills, and explore career pathways while making a tangible impact in their communities.

About Berkshire Regional Planning Commission

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission is the official region-wide planning agency in Berkshire County providing comprehensive planning services to municipalities which include land use, transportation, community and economic development, housing, public health, and environmental planning. BRPC promotes regional collaboration among communities and works to increase coordination between all levels of government.

Position Overview

BRPC seeks an Ameri Corps Member for a full-time position starting in September 2026 to support critical digital accessibility and digital skill needs across Berkshire County. The role involves three distinct service areas:

• Supporting BRPC's Economic Development Program to teach digital skills to low-income and older adults at two housing authorities through classes and one-on-one digital navigation support.
• Supporting BRPC's Public Health Program to understand the digital and community support needs of older adults, people in active use or early recovery from substance use disorder, and lower-income adults, including those experiencing homelessness.
• Supporting BRPC's Human Resources Administrator by assisting staff with reviewing and improving reports and plans created by the agency that are currently online to help support ADA digital accessibility.

This is an Ameri Corps State/National service position, and Members will engage in community service activities designed to strengthen community capacity and support older adults throughout Berkshire County.

Key Responsibilities

The ACC Member will:

Economic Development

• Participate in a five-week online training to become certified in the American Association of Retired Persons' (AARP) Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) curriculum.
• Deliver approved OATS curriculum to housing authority residents through presentations, hands-on workshops, and one-on-one digital navigation support to help participants use their existing devices (e.g., phones and computers) and become proficient with new iPads awarded through a state grant.
• Support staff communications with housing authority directors and resident coordinators by sharing participant progress, documenting observations, and communicating implementation challenges under staff direction.
• Document successes, challenges, and lessons learned for staff review and inclusion in required grant reporting and sustainability planning efforts.
• Assist staff with researching potential grant opportunities and sustainability resources that housing authorities may pursue following completion of the grant.

Public Health

• Conduct a series of stakeholder interviews with staff from libraries, councils on aging, recovery centers, and similar organizations to better understand community digital skill, technology, and support needs.
• Prepare a summary and analysis of stakeholder feedback regarding the digital and community support needs of priority populations.
• Support staff with coordinating and implementing on-site digital navigation hours based on identified community needs and program priorities.
• Assist staff with adapting or developing population-specific digital literacy guides, presentations, and educational materials based on identified community needs, using approved content and under staff direction.

Digital Accessibility Support

• Complete assigned accessibility training and review additional materials as needed.
• Assist staff with reviewing and remediating digital materials from BRPC's website and archives to help meet accessibility standards.
• Support the development and maintenance of internal guidance for accessible content creation.
• Track, document, and report progress on digital accessibility activities.
• Assist with identifying materials appropriate for archival or disposition without remediation in accordance with municipal record retention guidelines.

Agency Responsibilities

• All functions and activities performed by the Ameri Corps Member are completed under the guidance, supervision, and direction of BRPC staff.
• Participate in weekly supervision meetings with program staff to discuss progress, challenges, and next steps.
• Attend biweekly BRPC staff meetings to learn about regional planning initiatives and support collaboration across programs.
• Collect and compile service-related…