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AmeriCorps VISTA Program: ABOUT
 
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Groundwork for Youth (F/T)

VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America, AmeriCorps )

Groundwork for Youth (GWY) currently operates an after school and summer academy for 360 students in grades 2 through 8. For the past four years, this program has successfully provided an enriching out of school time experience, and we are planning several new program initiatives that will make the experience more stimulating and rewarding for our youth participants. Groundwork for Youth is looking for a highly-motivated, organized, and creative person to contribute to the research and development of new program ideas, staff recruitment strategies, and other initiatives that will improve the quality of our academies and help our youth reach their academic and personal goals.

This is a challenging position for someone who wants to make a deep impact in an underserved community while contributing to the development of a dynamic start-up organization.

About AmeriCorps*VISTA : AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) provides full-time members to nonprofit, faith-based and other community organizations, and public agencies to create and expand programs that ultimately bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty. Through AmeriCorps* VISTA , ordinary people provide extraordinary service in more than 1,200 projects nationwide. AmeriCorps* VISTA members leverage human, financial, and material resources to increase the capacity of low-income communities across the country to solve their own problems. When VISTA members complete their service, they leave behind lasting solutions to some of our country's toughest problems.

Since 1965, more than 140,000 Americans served through VISTA . Today, nearly 6,000 AmeriCorps*VISTA members serve throughout the country—working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, increase housing opportunities, bridge the digital divide, and strengthen the capacity of community organizations.


roles and responsibilities

•  Develop detailed implementation plans for new programs;

•  Develop a protocol for monthly compilation of the information for a Groundwork Community Calendar and publish the information on a monthly basis;

•  Develop a protocol and implement the rollout of the Program Progress Report;

•  Oversee recruitment of volunteers;

•  Develop strategies for college age staff recruitment and assist in the implementation of these plans;

•  Draft documentation of all Groundwork for Youth program operations;

•  Evaluate parent and student focus groups and other program research and initiate new program ideas; and

•  Assist in developing proposal content to raise funding for new Groundwork for Youth projects.

qualifications

A bachelor's degree is required. The GWY VISTA will be a mature, goal-oriented professional and an enthusiastic team player who has an understanding of and passion for Groundwork's mission. In addition, the ideal candidate should demonstrate superior writing, editing and communication skills; commitment to building powerful youth, families and communities; an organized, focused and goal-oriented personality coupled with a high level of initiative, energy and ability to work independently. Must also be a strong team player and eager to collaborate with others; creative thinking; not afraid to bring new ideas to the table; a high level of personal and professional integrity, with an ability to inspire confidence and cooperation; excellent interpersonal skills; the ability to relate to a variety of personality types; and the capacity to see the big picture while managing the details.

position hours

Beginning November 2006, 40 hours per week.

salary

Stipend.

apply

Please send a cover letter and resume, attention Monte Givhan, to 595 Sutter Avenue , Brooklyn , NY 11207 , or via email to [email protected] , or via fax to 718-346-2020. (Please indicate that you are applying for the GWY VISTA position).


Groundwork for Success

Scholarship and Academic Enrichment (F/T) VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America, AmeriCorps )

Groundwork for Success (GWY) is a college preparation and leadership development program for high school students living or attending high school in East New York ( Brooklyn ).    In addition to academic enrichment, GWS offers job readiness training and employment internships.   GWS prepares young adults for success in college and beyond.

The Scholarship and Academic Enrichment VISTA will help to develop the infrastructure for a scholarship database and resource library and will create and manage a Career and Academic Speakers' Series.  The aim of these initiatives is to enrich and support the overall goals of Groundwork for Successes' mission to fully prepare youth from East New York to complete high school and enroll in college.

About AmeriCorps*VISTA : AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) provides full-time members to nonprofit, faith-based and other community organizations, and public agencies to create and expand programs that ultimately bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty. Through AmeriCorps* VISTA , ordinary people provide extraordinary service in more than 1,200 projects nationwide. AmeriCorps* VISTA members leverage human, financial, and material resources to increase the capacity of low-income communities across the country to solve their own problems. When VISTA members complete their service, they leave behind lasting solutions to some of our country's toughest problems.

Since 1965, more than 140,000 Americans served through VISTA . Today, nearly 6,000 AmeriCorps*VISTA members serve throughout the country—working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, increase housing opportunities, bridge the digital divide, and strengthen the capacity of community organizations.


roles and responsibilities

•  Create and maintain a database of scholarship foundations and resources that meet the needs of youth enrolled in Groundwork for Success ( GWS ).

•  Develop best practices for GWS scholars for accessing, completing and submitting college scholarship applications.

•  Develop and conduct training for GWS staff on how to support scholarship applications;

•  Research and contact youth-oriented organizations in the New York metropolitan area that provide services, workshops and trainings that may be relevant to GWS scholars and staff. In addition, the VISTA will organize this research into an electronic database.

•  Create and manage a “Career and Academic Speakers” series. Both former GWS alums and other young adults should be recruited to participate in the panel.

•  Create an annual calendar of events, including career and academic speakers, young college students panel, relevant workshops and other trainings using the organizations and individuals identified in earlier research (see above).  In conjunction with the Program Director,  the VISTA will merge this calendar with a pre-existing calendar at GWS .

•  Further develop existing relationships with colleges and universities, and develop new relationships that may assist GWS scholars with college applications and the enrollment process. The VISTA will create and maintain a database of this information.

•  Build and expand the GWS college library by collecting brochures, admission booklets, etc.

•  Help to organize and schedule college tours, including day trips and overnight trips to colleges and universities in and around the New York metropolitan area.

•  Attend appropriate trainings, weekly staff meetings, individual supervision sessions, and monthly Community Meetings.

  *  This position will require access to confidential information related to GWS program participants and their family members.

qualifications

A Bachelor Degree required. Fluency in English is required.  Experience working with adolescents, families, and underserved communities is desirable.  The ideal candidate will possess a solid working knowledge and understanding of youth development and working from a strength based perspective and the ability to work on many tasks at once.  The VISTA must be highly organized, with a proactive work ethic. The VISTA should also have solid computer knowledge including fluency with accessing information on the internet . The position will require the willingness to work some weekends and early evening hours throughout the week.  

position hours

Beginning November 2006, 40 hours per week.

salary

Stipend.

apply

Please send a cover letter and resume, attention Monte Givhan, to 595 Sutter Avenue , Brooklyn , NY 11207 , or via email to [email protected] , or via fax to 718-346-2020. (Please indicate that you are applying for the GWY VISTA position).


Marketing & Communications (F/T)

VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America, AmeriCorps )

The Marketing and Communications VISTA will work directly with the Director of Communications and Special Projects to manage and provide overall administration of Groundwork's marketing and communications strategies, programs, projects and related activities.

About AmeriCorps*VISTA : AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) provides full-time members to nonprofit, faith-based and other community organizations, and public agencies to create and expand programs that ultimately bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty. Through AmeriCorps* VISTA , ordinary people provide extraordinary service in more than 1,200 projects nationwide. AmeriCorps* VISTA members leverage human, financial, and material resources to increase the capacity of low-income communities across the country to solve their own problems. When VISTA members complete their service, they leave behind lasting solutions to some of our country's toughest problems.

Since 1965, more than 140,000 Americans served through VISTA . Today, nearly 6,000 AmeriCorps*VISTA members serve throughout the country—working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, increase housing opportunities, bridge the digital divide, and strengthen the capacity of community organizations.


roles and responsibilities

• Communications : The VISTA will play a vital role in the coordination, integration and implementation of all aspects of Groundwork's communications program, assisting the DCSP to translate GW's strategic plan into a progressive communications plan. This plan will include improvements in communication to parents, donors, community members and other constituents. In this regard, the VISTA will

  • support a comprehensive program of external communications, print materials, media relations, advertising, Web communications and all other activities related to promoting GW and its students, staff and programs;
  • help to develop and implement communications plans to support institutional strategies and goals and bring greater recognition to GW;
  • help to develop media relations strategies and goals and oversee implementation;
  • assist in preparation of statements, talking points, and other key messages to be delivered by GW staff at press conferences, seminars, conferences etc.; and
  • help to establish priorities and procedures for the work of internal and external GW communications.

•  GW Events : The VISTA will work with the DCSP and Development staff to plan and implement special events with the goal of raising funds, increasing GW's exposure in  New York City , and furthering the mission of Groundwork. In the positions first year, the VISTA will work closely with the DCSP, the Executive Director and the Development staff to plan an event to commemorate Groundwork's fifth anniversary.

•  Catch All : The VISTA will prepare or assist in the preparation or coordination of documents, proposals, reports and memoranda for the ED on policy and program matters, which do not fall within the functional province of any one senior staff member or program.

qualifications

A bachelor's degree is required. The Marketing and Communications VISTA will be a mature, goal-oriented professional and an enthusiastic team player who has an understanding of and passion for Groundwork's mission. In addition, the ideal candidate should demonstrate the following:

•  Superior writing, editing and communication skills;

•  Knowledge of media relations and print design and publication;

•  Commitment to building powerful youth, families and communities;

•  An organized, focused and goal-oriented personality coupled with a high level of initiative, energy and ability to work independently. Must also be a strong team player and eager to collaborate with others;

•  Creative thinking; not afraid to bring new ideas to the table;

•  A high level of personal and professional integrity, with an ability to inspire confidence and cooperation;

•  Excellent interpersonal skills; the ability to relate to a variety of personality types;

•  Capacity to see the big picture while managing the details.

position hours

Beginning November 2006, 40 hours per week.

salary

Stipend.

apply

Please send a cover letter and resume, attention Monte Givhan, to 595 Sutter Avenue , Brooklyn , NY 11207 , or via email to [email protected] , or via fax to 718-346-2020. (Please indicate that you are applying for the GWY VISTA position).