PHENND Fellow positions at various nonprofits

Posted by PHENND on February 5, 2018

Join a cohort that works to strengthen communities and alleviate poverty by building capacity at local Philadelphia nonprofits.  What was once the Philly Fellows program, PHENND now seeks 10-12 full-time AmeriCorps VISTAs to be PHENND Fellows.

About this project:

After 12 years of success as Philly Fellows, the region’s premier nonprofit VISTA experience is now housed and operated by PHENND.  The program is largely the same, but some elements have changed.  PHENND Fellows places passionate and talented college graduates with local Philadelphia nonprofits as AmeriCorps VISTA members. The program has a three-fold mission (1) Support local nonprofits fighting poverty across a wide range of issues (2) Train and retain local talent to stay and work in Philadelphia and (3) Develop the next generation of nonprofit leaders.

PHENND Fellows will have up to 10 specific sites for the 2018-2019 program year. Each of those positions will be listed separately on MyAmeriCorps and if you have a specific interest in one or more of them, please apply for them directly. If you are not sure which organization is right for you, please apply to the generic PHENND Fellows position.

Benefits & Compensation

AmeriCorps VISTAs commit to a full-time year of service for a minimal living stipend of approximately $13,282 per year. VISTA members are provided health coverage and loan forbearance for any current federal student loans. Upon completion of the full year, they also receive an AmeriCorps Education Award of $5920 that can be used to pay for future educational expenses and/or pay off federal student loans. SEPTA Transpass provided.

All PHENND Fellows will also receive extensive professional development as a cohort, in addition to any site specific training. PHENND Fellows participate in monthly diversity/equity training, monthly “Dinners with a Civic Leader,” and other monthly programming with other VISTA cohorts. PHENND Fellows are also allowed to take up to two courses at the La Salle Nonprofit Center paid for by the program.  PHENND Fellows will also be provided with a monthly transpass or have local travel (non-commuting) reimbursed.

Timeline

• February 1-March 31 — Application open.  Candidates will be considered on a rolling basis. Expect a phone interview if your application passes an initial review.
• March 31-May 31 — Top candidates interviewed by one or more host site organization.  Offers made.
• June 15 — Deadline to accept PHENND Fellow offer
• July 30-August 2 — Mandatory Pre-Service Orientation with AmeriCorps VISTA in Philadelphia
• August 3 — PHENND Fellow Orientation
• August 6 — Begin service at host site organization

If you have any questions, please contact Eden Kainer at ekainer87@phennd.org or Lu Nwokocha at vistaleader@phennd.org.

2018-2019 Sites

Below are the seven returning sites for next year.  We expect additional new sites to be approved shortly.  Please check back for updated information.

Center for Hunger-Free Communities, Drexel University

At the Center for Hunger-Free Communities, we address hunger in all its forms by engaging in partnership with families, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to: Find solutions to hunger and poverty based on science and the human experience. The Center for Hunger-Free Communities has developed a program, called Building Wealth and Health Network (The Network) to address this problem. The Network partners with Philadelphia parents of young children aged 0-5, most of whom are participating in TANF. The PHENND Fellow will support the development and continuation of the Network’s Advisory Council and its 4 subcommittees, which are focused on various areas of interest that improve programming and policy reach. Apply here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=78395&fromSearch=true

Free Library of Philadelphia BLAST Program

The mission of the Free Library of Philadelphia is to advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire curiosity. Its vision is to build an enlightened community devoted to lifelong learning. The PHENND Fellow will support the Library’s BLAST program (Bringing Libraries and School Together) to enhance opportunities for collaboration between librarians and teachers. The Fellow’s capacity supports crucial gaps in our school partnership infrastructure, and acts as the glue between the program and evaluation aspects of this new initiative. Apply here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=78397&fromSearch=true

JEVS

The goal of the PHENND Fellow’s three-year project will be to develop a highly effective volunteer-mentor program for JEVS Human Services programming that involves building recruitment, training, and support systems; documenting the system; overseeing its initial implementation; and training designated staff to ensure that the system is sustained at the end of three years. The PHENND Fellow will begin initially with Youth and Gateway Department programs in the beginning phases of the project and will broaden to include all of JEVS’ diverse programming over the remainder of their time. https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=79027&fromSearch=true

Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts

Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts is a statewide nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to ensuring that all Pennsylvanians can come to our courts with confidence that they will be heard by qualified, fair, and impartial judges. The PHENND Fellow will expand the capacities for volunteer recruitment and training, as well as identify specific areas that require watchdog involvement, e.g. housing issues, traffic court, or proceedings in criminal courts. Further, the PHENND Fellow will continue to develop the system of implementation for PMC Watches, streamlining the methods for sending volunteers into courtrooms, choosing which court issues they are sent to observe, and coordinating the schedule. Apply here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=78398&fromSearch=true

Philabundance

Philabundance seeks to drive hunger from our communities today and end hunger forever. The Fellow will work towards ensuring that food pantry clients who do not have working kitchens can access the food that pantries provide; and that pantries have increasing access to nutritious foods that require little or no kitchen preparation. Additionally, the Fellow will give pantry coordinators tools to help pantries serve as access points to additional services for vulnerable individuals. https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=79025&fromSearch=true

Philadelphia Legal Assistance

Philadelphia Legal Assistance is dedicated to providing high quality, creative legal services, advice and referrals for eligible low-income people. The PHENND Fellow will help to expand the capacity of the Medical Legal Community Partnership (MLCP) to assist more patients to become healthier, less economically stressed, and more knowledgeable regarding their legal rights and access to justice. The project focuses on two specific health centers, one of which has a large French-speaking immigrant population. The PHENND Fellow will also help expand the program to a third site. Apply here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=78400&fromSearch=true

Philadelphia Parks Alliance

The mission of the Parks Alliance is to champion the public’s interest in outstanding parks, recreation, and open spaces. The PHENND Fellow will work with the Parks Alliance staff to complete quantitative needs assessments of all Rec Center Advisory Councils that allow us to focus our resources on the Councils where there is the most potential for impact and measure the network’s growth over time. Additionally, the PHENND Fellow will develop resources such as informational flyers and guides for Advisory Council meetings to strengthen the citywide network. The goal is to give Advisory Councils the tools they need to develop programs that fight poverty at recreation centers. Apply here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=80898&fromSearch=true

SEAMAAC

SEAMAAC’s mission is to support and serve immigrants, refugees and other politically, socially and economically marginalized communities. The Fellow will help us to further reach more deeply into the community with our programs to build an even broader base of engaged residents who are economically, politically and socially empowered to live more productive lives and give back to their communities. The Fellow will help us to stay connected, ensure our services are available when needed and help to identify and document the right resources (e.g., local businesses, lenders) for residents to connect to. https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=79028&fromSearch=true

Springboard Collaborative

Springboard Collaborative closes the reading achievement gap by coaching teachers, training family members, and cultivating reading habits so that our scholars have the requisite skills to access life opportunities. The PHENND Fellow will continue building on the groundwork of our current VISTA in the implementation of our Schoolyear program. Schoolyear is designed with quarterly student goals, family workshops, and awards for participation. Springboard intends to double the number of school partner sites during the 2018-2019 year. The PHENND Fellow will review 2017-2018 data and stakeholder feedback for program improvement and will continue to monitor key performance indicators including student reading growth and family participation. Apply here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=78401&fromSearch=true