Joining us on September 8, 2026 as an AmeriCorps VISTA, in partnership with Conservation Legacy Stewards Individual Placements, is Kali Mellin. Kali is an anthracite region local, having been born and raised in Jermyn, Pennsylvania. A graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania in December of 2021, Kali holds a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in STEM-H (the H stands for Humanities!). Her degree comes with three minors: Biology, Geography, and Science Education. She also holds a Certificate in Desktop GIS from Pace University as of 2025. Kali will serve as a Stewards VISTA: Digital Mobilization Coordinator for a one year term with the goal of building capacity for EPCAMR to expand their education and awareness efforts in relation to abandoned mine lands reclamation, watershed assessments, and abandoned mine drainage (AMD) monitoring of flows, chemistry, and macroinvertebrate populations and stream health around the EPCAMR Region. Storytelling about our work and building databases of regional artists that we’re looking to pull together in the future to utilize our iron oxide pigment to create enough pieces of work to hold an Art Show highlighting the various mediums used for art will are just two examples of service work that are in her Volunteer Activity Description (VAD).

Graphic by Kali Mellin. A rundown on how her position falls under all of these different organizations at one time.

EPCAMR actively works toward the reclamation and redevelopment of land affected by past mining practices. This includes reducing environmental hazards to health and safety and returning land affected by past mining practices to productive use, thereby improving the economy and livelihoods of those living in the region.

EPCAMR’s current initiatives include, but are not limited to, illegal dump site cleanups (with tire recycling!), Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful “Open Your Eyes to Litter” Program for elementary students, participation in Trout in the Classroom through a partnership with PA Fish and Boat Commission and PA Council of Trout Unlimited, and water quality monitoring programs such as that at the Rocky Run Headwaters in State Game Lands 260.

Clip originally from The Times-Tribune, October 2009. Scan courtesy of Scranton Public Library.

Kali’s first impression of EPCAMR was in October of 2009 when they attended Lakeland Elementary’s “Water Festival” and introduced 4th grade students to AMD with iron oxide tie-dye. She was re-introduced during the pandemic year of 2020 through a Facebook post from PA Environment Digest, then followed EPCAMR’s Facebook page to keep up with the great work they were doing locally with hopes to get involved. Building a career in an environmental field has been the natural progression of Kali’s life; she grew up in Pennsylvania’s forests, streams, and ponds getting dirty and, most importantly, asking questions. Most recently her education has continued through volunteering as a Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward and substitute teaching at her local high school. Both opportunities have offered a wealth of experiences to “teach the teacher”! Kali considers her insatiable thirst for knowledge a main personality trait.

“I’m looking forward to assisting EPCAMR in serving my community by participating in education and outreach and building capacity by creating, improving, and expanding the reach of EPCAMR’s educational and informational materials” says Kali. “This opportunity allows me to use my strengths in research and organization combined with my passion for improving environmental literacy to serve my community in a way that can cause great impact.”

Bobby Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director went on to say, “I just love finding out that there are students that still remember pivotal core memories of working with us over the last 3 decades when we had conducted an outdoor environmental meaningful watershed experience when they were in elementary or high school and come to find that they continued to have a passion for the environment as they got older. Knowing that Kali was a part of a program that we ran 17 years ago is heartwarming and makes me feel very proud and happy to know that she’s found a way back to EPCAMR in this capacity as an AmeriCorps with us. She’s a coaltown kid herself. She can relate. She’s lived it and is still living with the legacy and now gets to play an active role in helping us to address these environmental issues within our most underserved communities by helping us build capacity, provide environmental education opportunities, and encourage environmental stewardship of our youth, much like I did for her when she was younger at Lakeland Elementary as a part of the Watershed Festival. She’s a natural teacher and I can see that already in her. I told her she has the same name as my only granddaughter, except she spells it with a C and not a K, and she has a lot more sass to her at the ripe old age of 6, and she gives my oldest and only daughter, Hayley, a run for her money. I’m looking forward to her service term with us over the next year and am excited that she’s hear with us. She’s off to a great start and has already become certified in our NAACC Stream Continuity Aquatic Organism Passage training program for when we go out and assess culverts and bridges for aquatic passage as a part of our development of coldwater conservation plans.”

Formed in 1995 by concerned conservation districts, EPCAMR represents a coalition of watershed organizations and reclamation partners. Members range from individuals to the active anthracite mining industry and co-generation power plants, to non-profit organizations, 16 county conservation districts, and other organizations in the anthracite and bituminous coal region of eastern Pennsylvania that are involved with abandoned mine reclamation issues. Counties covered by EPCAMR in Northeastern and North Central PA include: Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Dauphin, Lackawanna, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, and Wyoming. As of the last census (2020), the population we serve equates to approximately 1.7 million people. 

The post EPCAMR Brings on Kali Mellin as AmeriCorps VISTA Digital Mobilization Coordinator through Conservation Legacy and Stewards Individual Placement appeared first on epcamr.org.

Kyle Argenziano, former EPCAMR Summer Watershed Intern has been sponsored as an Americorps Conservation Legacy/Corporation for National and Community Service Steward VISTA Volunteer for the next year.

Stewards Individual Placement Program mission statement:

“Providing individual opportunities through service that build career-based experience, strengthen communities, and preserve our natural resources.”

AmeriCorps VISTA mission statement:

“To strengthen and supplement efforts to eliminate and alleviate poverty and poverty-related problems in the United States by encouraging and enabling persons from all walks of life, all geographical areas, and all age groups, including low-income individuals, elderly and retired Americans, to perform meaningful and constructive volunteer service in agencies, institutions, and situations where the application of human talent and dedication may assist in the solution of poverty, and secure and increase opportunities for self-advancement by persons affected by such problems.”

VISTAs are tasked with indirect service. He will be developing and overseeing projects that he will be tasked to generate community capacity for assisting with the projects. Grant writing and fund development are a large portion of his work as he is expected to assist in fundraising efforts, identify sources of funding, and create capital for EPCAMR. Kyle and EPCAMR have developed a 1-year Volunteer Activity Description (VAD) Work Plan to guide the volunteer work and capacity building within the EPCAMR Region. Kyle will submit at least 4 grant proposals throughout the service term. He’ll be performing a lot of GIS work, GIS Mapping, and developing the necessary statistics and infographics to help EPCAMR go after grants and help to tell our story about the importance of reclaiming our abandoned mine lands and restoring our waterways polluted from abandoned mine drainage (AMD).

“Volunteer engagement will be a large part of the work as well. Kyle will be expected to identify sources of volunteering, their capacity, and create an environment that retains and appreciates volunteers. Community engagement will be vital. Partnerships with local firms, agencies, service groups, and businesses will be developed. The goal of our work is to promote sustainable solutions through community empowerment. These partnerships will create a strong web of communication, resource sharing, funding, and power to create the sustainability we are after at EPCAMR. There is strength in numbers, and we believe this Stewards VISTA position will be a key to developing those assets”, stated Bobby Hughes-EPCAMR Executive Director.

Some projects within our foresight include partnerships with solar development companies, community gardens, volunteer monitoring of AMD, training volunteers on how to assess culverts for aquatic organism and fish passage, and conducting environmental education programs among local youth in underserved school districts.

“I’m looking forward to expanding EPCAMR’s partnerships even further into the communities that they serve as well as partnering with other regional non-profit and community organizations to build capacity within their neighborhoods and along their stream corridors to improve the quality of life that they are faced with living in the shadows of abandoned mine land features and polluted waterways. There is hope that will come with hard work and hands-on community efforts that I’ve already participated in during the 8-week internship that I believe will lead to the restoration of many of the local waterways, the reclamation of many of the abandoned mine lands, potential for job creation in alternative energy, and continued education of our area youth using new and innovative virtual opportunities such as drone technology and interactive videos and 360 film photography educational activities.” Kyle said with great enthusiasm and excitement.

EPCAMR’s solar project partnership will be looking to site areas for the potential development of renewable and clean energy to an area stricken by the past coal industry on formerly reclaimed abandoned mine lands.

Solar panel installation on an abandoned mine land.

Education is perhaps the most powerful tool that you can use to develop sustainability and we will continue to provide educational content for local schools whether it is through video, in-person presentations, or through our online resources like Trout in the Classroom (TIC).

EPCAMR proudly sponsors and gives away Growboxxes and works with community volunteers to help create gardens. “We believe that community gardens are an integral part of empowerment and poverty alleviation. Being able to grow healthy and affordable food not only fosters an appreciation for the environment and agricultural systems but offers a reliable source of nutrition. Coaltown patches were called patchtowns because of the self-reliance they had to feed their families right from their backyards where the food was fresh and easily accessible and free.” Bobby Hughes, proudly stated.

Hot pepper grown in a local community garden project supported by EPCAMR and Our Community Garden, where several Growboxxes were utilized and planted.

Grant funding to support the position was made possible through the Foundation for PA Watersheds (FPW), and is intended to enhance EPCAMR’s organizational capacity. 

We will be working in the Susquehanna River Basin and the West Branch of the Susquehanna River within the EPCAMR Region to address problems that have been identified in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed’s Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan for PA.

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