Summer Fellowship, LIFT-Philadelphia

Posted by on March 10, 2013

Summer Fellowship
LIFT-Philadelphia

About the Organization

LIFT’s mission is to help community members achieve economic stability and well-being.  We are working to establish a new standard for holistic and enduring solutions in our country’s fight against poverty.  Today, LIFT deploys trained volunteers in community centers in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, to serve low-income individuals and families. LIFT’s clients and volunteers work one-on-one to find jobs, secure safe and stable housing, make ends meet through public benefits and tax credits, and obtain quality referrals for services like childcare and healthcare that help clients move themselves forward. The LIFT experience also pushes volunteers to grapple with our country’s most challenging issues related to poverty, race, inequality, and public policy.  Since LIFT’s founding, nearly 10,000 volunteers have served more than 60,000 individuals and families.

About the Position

LIFT-Philadelphia seeks driven and independent leaders to serve as Summer Fellows. Summer Fellows work one-on-one with low-income community members (LIFT clients) to find jobs, secure housing, enroll in public benefits, and obtain referrals for services like childcare and healthcare. Summer Fellows are also responsible for supporting the day-to-day operations of LIFT-Philadelphia. We look for individuals who are passionate about community development and are committed to LIFT’s anti-poverty mission. Summer Fellows will report directly to the local office Site Coordinator

This position is also available at our following office locations:  New York, NY; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; and Washington, DC.

Sample Responsibilities

•    Work one-on-one with low-income community members to find jobs, secure safe and stable housing, enroll in public benefits and tax credits, and obtain referrals for services like childcare and healthcare
•    Support the management of your office’s daily operations, including scheduling client appointments and making client reminder calls
•    Attend meetings and trainings that address local and national poverty issues
•    Database management including monitoring outcomes/outputs tracking
•    Build and strengthen partnerships with community organizations and universities
•    Support expansion of your office’s existing volunteer corps as needed
•    Assist with communications and fundraising initiatives as needed

Requirements

•    Commitment to LIFT’s mission and core values
•    All majors and career interests are encouraged to apply
•    Proficiency in Spanish is a plus, but not a requirement
•    Strong leadership and interpersonal skills
•    Flexibility, ability to take initiative, and a commitment to being a team player

Key Details

•    Training: All Summer Fellows will engage in a three to four day training at the beginning of their term.
•    Dates: LIFT-Philadelphia will offer both full-time and part-time positions during the summer of 2013. Selected candidates will arrange start and end dates with the regional Program Manager or Site Coordinator.  Anticipated start date of May 28th.
•    Fellowship Compensation: The LIFT Summer Fellowship is an unpaid position; however a stipend of $3,960 will be awarded to two selected Fellows. These paid fellowship selections will be made by the local office leadership and will be awarded to applicants who are the best match to the position. In order to be eligible to receive a stipend, you must be able to work 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, for a minimum of twelve weeks.
•    Office Placement:  LIFT Summer fellows serve in either the West or North offices in Philadelphia.  If you have a preference, please indicate this in your cover letter.

How to Apply
Please email a resume and thoughtful cover letter, both in Word format, addressed to sfphiladelphia@liftcommunities.org outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity. Please list in the subject line of your e-mail which location(s) you are applying to. Candidates who apply by the priority deadline of April 1st will be notified of a decision by April 15th.  After April 15th, positions will be offered on a rolling basis.

How to Apply to Other LIFT Regions

Following the same instructions listed above, submit your completed application to one (or more) of the following e-mail addresses based on which region(s) you would like to apply to. Again, please be sure to list in the subject line of your e-mail which location(s) you are applying to.

Boston, MA: sfboston@liftcommunities.org
Chicago, IL: sfchicago@liftcommunities.org
Los Angeles, CA: sflosangeles@liftcommunities.org
New York, NY: sfnewyork@liftcommunities.org
Washington, DC: sfwashingtondc@liftcommunities.org

LIFT believes that diversity in all dimensions of the organization supports and bolsters the innovative thinking essential to its success. LIFT does not make hiring decisions on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, age, disability, religion, political affiliation, or ideology.

Deadline is April 1, 2013.