Community Development Associate (AmeriCorps), Enterprise Center CDC

Posted by The Enterprise Center on September 15, 2014

LISC AmeriCorps Service Description
Full-Time Member Position
October 1, 2014 – July 31, 2015

Local Initiatives Support Corporation and The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation are seeking a full-time (1700 hours within ten months) AmeriCorps member to serve as Community Development Associate.

The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation (TEC-CDC) is a neighborhood-based nonprofit organization in West Philadelphia founded in 2001 by The Enterprise Center, a respected minority business accelerator. TEC-CDC extends The Enterprise Center’s focus on minority entrepreneurship and wealth creation through strategic investments, programs, and initiatives in the Walnut Hill neighborhood.
TEC-CDC’s multi-faceted approach focuses on themes of employment, education, and engagement. Most of our programs serve Walnut Hill, the neighborhood that extends between 45th Street and 52nd Street from Market Street to Spruce Street, with other programs serving the broader West Philadelphia Community. TEC-CDC is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of local residents, non-profit leaders, and business owners in Walnut Hill, as well as regional leaders in the fields of education, finance, and business.

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is dedicated to helping community residents transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy and sustainable communities of choice and opportunity — good places to work, do business and raise children. LISC combines corporate, government and philanthropic resources to help community-based organizations revitalize underserved neighborhoods. This strategy extends to the LISC AmeriCorps program where we support placing AmeriCorps Members with local non-profit partners. Members assist in efforts to revitalize underserved neighborhoods across America and create vibrant places for people to live, work, and play.

The member selected to serve in this capacity will be responsible for:
 Spearhead a collaborative process to update the Walnut Hill Neighborhood Plan which serve as a strategy to combat vacancy, address safety, and meet resident needs in the commercial corridors and nodes located in Walnut Hill.
 Support the implementation of TEC-CDC overall community development strategies including food system work, capital projects and community outreach initiatives.
 Act as liaison between stakeholders, corridor businesses and community associations during the planning process
 Act as 311 ambassador to for organizations, residents and neighborhood associations helping educate elected officials on the most immediate needs of the community

Members will also be expected to fully participate as part of the LISC AmeriCorps team. LISC sponsored activities including:
 Attend a national leadership conference tentatively scheduled for March 2015. This conference is coordinated by the national LISC AmeriCorps staff;
 Attend all locally sponsored monthly meetings;
 Participate in a minimum of six nationally sponsored webinars;
 Engage in every-other-month affinity groups to discuss topics related to the member’s service; and,
 Actively participating in two locally identified and team coordinated service projects (one for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and one for National AmeriCorps Week).

This is an AmeriCorps position. LISC and TEC-CDC 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.

Desired Skills
 Self-starting / entrepreneurial – ability to manage multiple simultaneous activities, ranging from strategic to administrative, with little oversight
 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
 Experience in conducting community meetings
 Computer skills
 Good written and oral communication skills
 Ability to work a flexible schedule (some night and weekends may be required)

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:
 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 age limit)
 Have status as a US citizen or possess permanent resident status
 Be eligible to earn an education award and not be barred from performing a term of service
 Be available to serve for a full 10 month period of time and within that time period complete a minimum of 1700 hours of service
 Be available for service from October 1, 2014 through July 31, 2015

Program Benefits
Upon successful completion of the term of service, the member will be eligible for a $5,645 education award to pay off existing, eligible student loans or return to school. The position pays a total stipend of $15,000. The stipend is paid in 20 equal checks twice a month. Direct deposit is available and highly encouraged. A health care benefit is available for the participant only (dependents are not eligible). For members with children under the age of 13, there is a child care subsidy benefit available which is dependent on the participant meeting all eligibility requirements. This benefit is administered by a contracted provider via the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Resumes should be sent to:
Bryan Fenstermaker, Sr. Director – bfenstermaker@theenterprisecenter.com
LISC & The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation promote equal opportunity in selecting AmeriCorps members.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion in the selection process.