AmeriCorps Economic Opportunity Programs Associate

AMERICORPS MEMBER ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The member selected to serve in this capacity will be responsible for:

• Community outreach and recruitment for potential Economic Opportunity program participants in Somerville, including social media, flyering, tabling, and visiting other organizations and programs.
• Facilitating Welcome Sessions for new program participants.
• Conducting intake sessions with new program participants.
• Oversee the Resource Room, a self-service center for working on job application materials, conducting job searches, accessing Career Ready 101 (online, self-paced skill development & training modules), and working on financial or home buying goals.
• One-on-one financial and career coaching, which includes establishing individual plans and working with program participants to act on those plans, and referrals to wrap-around support services, with a total case load of 50 clients over the course of the member’s term.
• Facilitating training (e.g., household budgeting, credit repair, resume writing, interview preparation, etc.) for job preparation, both individually and in workshops. The member will help facilitate a minimum of five skills training workshops.
• Assisting with the creation and improvement of soft skills curricula.
• Timely data entry (case management notes and participant outcomes) for the member’s case load.
• Assisting with social media exposure for SCC’s Economic Opportunity Programs on Facebook and Twitter.
• Participating in training sessions to develop the skills needed to perform the above responsibilities.

PERFORMANCE, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, AND SERVICE REQUIREMENTS

Members will be provided with goal(s) at the onset of the service assignment based on the activities and responsibilities noted above.  Members will track goal attainment monthly through an on-line system (training provided). Members will also discuss professional performance in the form of a mid-term and final performance appraisal.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICE REQUIREMENTS

This is an AmeriCorps position.  LISC and Somerville Community Corporation will not allow the member to engage in activities that are considered prohibited under the terms of the grant while serving as a LISC AmeriCorps member.

Members will be provided with goal(s) at the onset of the service assignment based on the activities and responsibilities noted above.  Members will track goal attainment monthly through an on-line system (training provided). Members will also discuss professional performance in the form of a mid-term and final appraisal. Members are required to track time and submit on-line (training provided) timesheets twice per month.

Members will perform day to day service at Somerville Community Corporation and serve a minimum of 40-42 hours per week.  Normal service hours are Monday – Friday from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm with 30 minutes for lunch per day. There will be opportunities to serve evenings and weekends.  

Members will have an immediate supervisor and a local LISC supervisor throughout the term of service as identified by LISC and Somerville Community Corporation.

Members are expected to attend and participate in all LISC AmeriCorps sponsored activities including but not limited to:

• Attending a local onboarding session coordinated by LISC and an onsite orientation to our organization;
• Attending a national leadership conference tentatively scheduled for March 2019;
• Attending all locally sponsored monthly meetings;
• Participating in nationally sponsored webinars;
• Actively participating in at least two team coordinated service projects (one for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and one for National AmeriCorps Week); and,
• Engaging in any other LISC events as determined by the local LISC office.

DESIRED SKILLS

• Desire and ability to work with a diverse group of people, particularly those living in low-income distressed neighborhoods
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Ability to work a flexible schedule (some night and weekends may be required)
• At least 1 year of direct service experience in financial education or workforce development, coaching, or other human service program
• Has strong oral and written English communication skills, and ability to communicate with English Language Learners
• Can comfortably manage multiple tasks and projects
• Strong computer skills
• Proficiency in Spanish, Portuguese or Haitian Kreyol strongly preferred
• BA preferred, experience can be substituted for education

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible to participate as a LISC AmeriCorps member the candidate must meet all eligibility requirements to serve as a National Service participant including but not limited to:

• Be eligible to earn 100% of the education award associated with this description
• Be eligible to perform the term of national service associated with this description
• Have unexpired proof of status as a US citizen or possess unexpired permanent resident status and be able to provide documentation as determined by CNCS during the pre-enrollment period
• Possess a high school degree, GED certificate or agree to achieve GED during the term of service
• Be at least 17 years of age (note there is no upper age limit)
• Be able to complete at the hours within the timeframe of the service term and serve the full term