Do you love working with and for kids? Are you committed to providing meaningful opportunities for mentorship? Interested in social justice work at the youth development level? Come join the Middlebury College Center for Community Engagement (CCE) as a Vermont Youth Tomorrow AmeriCorps VISTA member in Middlebury, Vermont! The Middlebury College VISTA member will support our youth and mentoring programs to promote college positive volunteerism, or the idea that kids who spend time with college students, hang out on college campuses, or talk about college with an adult role model, will more easily envision themselves attending a post-secondary institution. We seek a motivated and compassionate individual for a one-year position beginning August 2018 to work closely with the CCE team and help coordinate eight youth and mentoring programs advised by our office.
Responsibilities:
CCE Youth and Mentoring programs’ activities include one-on-one mentoring, college application support, group mentoring, taste tests of vegetables in area schools, afterschool reading programs, and more, but most have the common theme of seeking to provide opportunities for youth in low-income families. Your work may involve:
- researching and sharing current national and local best practices for screening, matching, new and ongoing volunteer training, match database management, and match closure
- supporting Student Organizations’ adoption of best practices for diversity and inclusion, group management, etc.
- attending program events and community meetings as a staff liaison
- holding open office hours for mentors or student organizers
- creating a parent newsletter to share program updates
- helping to deepen our collaboration with our valued campus and community partners, including parents, teachers, childcare providers, guidance counselors, and local agencies and organizations
- … and much more!
Requirements:
Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills are essential to this position. Bachelor’s degree required. Driver’s license and own transportation are recommended but not required for the position.
Benefits:
Benefits for the 1-year position include a modest living allowance ($910/month), 10 days of personal leave, 10 days of medical leave, a relocation allowance, and a monthly rent assistance stipend of $350. Upon successful completion of service, the candidate may select either (a.) an educational award of $5,920 that can be applied to student loans or future education OR (b.) a cash stipend of $1500. AmeriCorps members are also eligible for forbearance for most federally-guaranteed student loans. Finally, for one year after service, members receive non-competitive eligibility for federal jobs.
Contact Ashley Laux, alaux@middlebury.edu with any questions. Current Middlebury College students can apply for this position via Handshake. Other individuals can apply via the official AmeriCorps website.