AmeriCorps Community Project Coordinator, YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School

Posted by YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School on October 1, 2019

Full Time
Reports To: Director of Student Life
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Organization Overview:
Every year, thousands of young people in Philadelphia drop out of school. This decades-long dropout crisis impacts individual lives by sustaining the cycle of underemployment and poverty, and threatens Philadelphia’s ability to thrive. YouthBuild Philly was founded in 1992 to give high school dropouts a second chance and the opportunity to build a brighter future for themselves and their community. Our innovative program offers young at-risk adults a high school diploma, valuable job skills, and the opportunity to learn and grow in a community-oriented, supportive environment. We prepare our students for further educational attainment and meaningful careers as they become leaders and contributing members in a stronger Philadelphia.

Mission
YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School’s mission is to empower young adults (18-20 year-olds) to develop skills and connect to opportunities by fostering an environment of love, and respect for their whole person. Students graduate high school and successfully transition to college and career as critically conscious leaders, committed to positive change for themselves and their communities.

Vision
YouthBuild Philadelphia’s demonstrated and recognized success inspires more holistic and integrated approaches in educational and social programs nationally.

Values: * Excellence * Perseverance * Respect

Job Summary:
Full-time AmeriCorps Community Project Coordinators at YouthBuild Philadelphia will have the opportunity to foster civic responsibility among our students, strengthen our community, and work closely with our partner organizations.

***All candidates will be considered for either the Student Life or Vocation department openings as detailed below.***

General Responsibilities and Duties:
● Support the Restorative Practices, Climate/Culture of school programming
● Facilitate & participate in full-school community events
● Coordinate the community-service efforts for the entire student body through service-learning
○ Coordinate after-school and Saturday service opportunities for students by partnering with outside organizations and designing original projects
○ Plan school-wide MLK Day of Service project
● Support the school’s Saturday-School academic-enhancement program
● Serve as mentor to five or six students
● Tutor students through in-classroom support and after school on a rotating basis
● Support student graduation through communicating value in graduation requirements
● Support students in career development planning and placements
● Attend all required trainings and staff meetings throughout service year

*Student Life

• Plan monthly student events, such as extra-curricular activities, cookouts, dances, trips, and prom
• Communicate value of service through fostering leadership in school experiences and opportunities
• Facilitate a service-learning course focused on social justice issues that affect residents of Philadelphia, and expose students to community organizations working on these issues
• Directly Supervised by Student Life Dept

*Vocation

• Support and serve with student members on their vocation-service sites:
  ● Construction (Advanced, Green Building, & Real Estate)
  ● Healthcare
  ● Child Development Associate training
  ● Business
• Communicate value of service through fostering leadership in vocation training experiences
• Work with vocational instructors to support and plan service opportunities that connect to the specific certification track
• Directly Supervised by Vocation

Qualifications:
● Preferred Education: Hold a Bachelor’s Degree (not required)
● Ability to serve full 12-month term of service from start date
● Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the U.S.
● Have a strong desire to provide needed educational, technological, or community services to an underserved community
● Have initiative, flexibility, and motivation
● Have a good understanding of the myriad of challenges facing inner-city students

Common Competencies:
● Motivated self-starters
● Ability to be flexible
● Work well with a team
● A desire to work with high-need, low-income students
● Excellent interpersonal
● Group facilitation
● Conflict resolution
● Organization skills
● Willingness to do occasional physical labor including: lifting, carrying, cleaning, painting, etc

Clearance Requirements
● FBI – Criminal History Report
● PATCH – Pennsylvania Police Department – Criminal Background Check (and/or applicable based on State of residency)
● PA Child Abuse History Clearance
● TB Test Results
● Act 24 – Arrest Conviction Form
● NSOPW – National Sex Offender Clearance

Benefits
● A living allowance of $18,000 for the one-year term. The living allowance is taxable, and taxes will be deducted directly from the living allowance and will be distributed biweekly, first by check than by direct deposit.
● All members are required to have health insurance. Should the member not have health insurance, YouthBuild Philadelphia will provide reimbursement of monthly premiums for individual health insurance.
● Transportation support
● Childcare coverage (if applicable)
● Loan forbearance with interest-accrual payment, and
● An education award of about $5,920 upon completion of the full term of service

How to apply: please send your letter of interest and resume to Zuri Stone, Member Hiring Coordinator at [email protected] with the words “Community Projects Coordinator” in the subject line. No phone calls, please.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. He or she will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by his or her supervisor.

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, religion, ancestry,
national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, medical condition, veteran status or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law.