Policy and Engagement VISTA

Aeon is a nonprofit developer, owner and manager of high-quality affordable homes in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Established in 1986, the award-winning nonprofit has built or renovated more than 4,200 apartments and townhomes, which home and stability to almost 8,500 people each year – including individuals and families with low to moderate incomes and formerly homeless individuals. The organization’s inspiration to create community assets that last for generations stems from its name “Aeon,” which means “forever.” Its vision is that every person has a home and is interconnected within community. To learn more about Aeon, please visit www.aeon.org.

The VISTA volunteer will create a Policy Platform document for Aeon. The Policy Platform document will guide Aeon’s ability to respond and communicate with a suite of affordable housing stakeholders including lawmakers, policy influencers, the media, general public, residents and others. While the issues and Aeon’s position will evolve over time, the original discovery and creation process will be vital for Aeon’s effective communications. Ultimately, their work will help build Aeon’s position and visibility in the affordable housing space.

The VISTA will support Aeon’s visibility in the community through increased attendance at community events by staff and Aeon volunteer Ambassadors, allowing us to better partner with our neighbors and be more engaged members of the communities surrounding our properties. These partnerships are critical to build Aeon’s recognition as a housing resource as well as to improve safety, stability and service at our properties.

The VISTA will help build capacity for a larger engagement program with new community partners. This work will help to advance our long-term goals of being a visible housing resource and garnering financial and political supports from community organizations and businesses. 

·       Develop a policy platform document through internal and external research with staff and community partners. Identifying key talking points and perspectives and create a working document to be used as reference material for Aeon staff. Support the work of Aeon’s cross-functional Policy Task Force.

·       With support and supervision from Aeon’s Community Engagement Manager, identify strategy for community event attendance that align with Aeon’s visibility goals. Coordinate Aeon’s presence at community fairs and neighborhood events.

·       Research, recruit and engage new strategic community partners in volunteer engagement activities. Build relationships through effective volunteer management and quality engagement opportunities that meet partner and Aeon goals.

·       General: Participate as an active member of the Advancement team, including supporting other activities as needed. Build and support external partnerships to contribute to the broader conversation about housing affordability.

·       Strong interest in policy and specifically housing policy

·       Strong interest in community engagement and volunteer management

·       Strong writing skills

·       Comfort working in economically, socially, and ethnically diverse communities

·       Comfort and familiarity with basic Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.).

This position is a NeighborWorks AmeriCorps VISTA position. VISTA members will receive a living stipend of $944.44/month, $150 monthly grocery stipend, paid time off, health coverage through VISTA, an Education Award of $6095 or end of service stipend of $1800 and may qualify for Child Care assistance.

Applications should be submitted through the AmeriCorps portal at:

Position ID is : 89532