Minnesota conservation efforts interrupted by changes to AmeriCorps

MOORHEAD — The future of a statewide conservation organization’s work in Minnesota is uncertain due to changes to federal AmeriCorps programs.

Conservation Minnesota, a nonprofit organization that works to protect Minnesota from the effects of pollution and climate change, has been a host site for AmeriCorps Climate Impact Corps members since 2022. This year, it had 11 AmeriCorps members in cities across the state, including Moorhead, Duluth, Bemidji, St. Cloud, Rochester and Winona.

However, due to “changes in federal priorities,” Climate Impact Corps is ending by July, according to Conservation Minnesota. The 11 AmeriCorps members will be out of jobs.

The members living and working in communities organized community conservation efforts, allowing Conservation Minnesota to tailor efforts to each city’s needs and characteristics, according to BreAnna Bemboom, public engagement director for Conservation Minnesota. The organization is still determining how to reach greater Minnesota cities after the program ends.

“With these positions ending, we don’t really know what’s next and how we’re going to fill that need, but we’re still really committed on that local level of work, because that’s really what touches everyone’s day-to-day experience,” Bemboom said.

AmeriCorps is a federal agency that runs stipend and volunteer work programs that address issues like poverty, disaster relief, the environment and education. Climate Impact Corps focuses specifically on environmental efforts.

AmeriCorps has been one of the agencies targeted by cuts during the Trump administration and its Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. According to a

lawsuit filed by attorneys general in dozens of states

against the Trump administration in response to the cuts, around $400 million worth of grant funding was terminated and 85% of AmeriCorps staff were laid off.

In early June, states in the lawsuit, which included Minnesota, were

granted a preliminary injunction

that restored AmeriCorps programs terminated in those states, according to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.

Bemboom said the reasons for Climate Impact Corps ending are not clear. Ampact, the organization that manages AmeriCorps programs in Minnesota, told Conservation Minnesota that “federal priorities and the funding landscape” have led to the shutdown of Climate Impact Corps, she said.

“If you asked me, like, exactly what that means, I honestly don’t know,” Bemboom said.

Representatives from Ampact did not return calls or emails requesting comment.

In Moorhead, AmeriCorps members organized events to get community members interested in the outdoors and involved in improving natural areas. Events over the years included fishing and foraging tutorials for children, birdhouse and bird feeder building classes, trash clean-ups and invasive plant removal.

One member organized a glass recycling collection event at Harold’s on Main, a bar in Moorhead, to educate people about how to recycle glass in Moorhead since it

cannot be included in mixed recycling.

AmeriCorps members in Moorhead also organized an outdoor recreation table for organizations in the Fargo-Moorhead area doing outdoor recreation work to connect with each other.

“They started a get-together to just be able to collaborate a little bit more, share things that are happening, you know, get help, which just increases access to the outdoors for everyone,” Bemboom said.

AmeriCorps members at Conservation Minnesota declined to comment for this story since they were still a part of the federal government program.

Crystal Rayamajhi, an outreach specialist for the University of Minnesota Extension Northwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, collaborated with Conservation Minnesota AmeriCorps members on events in Moorhead. She said the members in Moorhead added capacity for different initiatives — spreading the word about events, tabling and organizing volunteers for activities.

“Communities need folks that can do boots on the ground work, getting things done, and that’s a huge asset that AmeriCorps is able to provide,” Rayamajhi said.

Bemboom expects to see other organizations affected by the end of the Climate Impact Corps program.

“In general, the conservation movement across the state is hurting a little bit,” Bemboom said. “This is just some added pressure to those organizations that are still in the community and doing similar work — they’re already strapped a little thin, and this just kind of makes that worse.”

The city of Moorhead hosts one AmeriCorps member. A spokesperson for the city declined an interview request, instead sending a written statement.

“While the position is hired and funded through AmeriCorps, the City serves as the worksite and provides valuable on-the-job experience,” the statement read. “The role is expected to stay active through the 2024-2025 program year.”