AmeriCorps VISTAs, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley

Posted by United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley on April 10, 2017

2017-2018 AmeriCorps VISTA Postings

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley has begun our search for our 2017-2018 AmeriCorps VISTAs! The deadline to apply is June 17, 2017.

Please consider this exciting opportunity to contribute to our mission, gain valuable work experience and receive a small living allowance all at the same time.

The United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley has committed to a goal of increasing the number of students reading on grade level by 2022. To reach this goal we will mobilize and coordinate a host of community partners to join the movement, align their efforts, raise the quality of strategies and programs delivered and value and celebrate a collective impact with students and families. We will accomplish this goal by leveraging individual, programmatic and systemic changes intentionally brought about through the implementation of the United Way Community School Model.

An AmeriCorps VISTA assignment is unpaid and lasts for one year. Participants must be 18 years of age and hold a four year college degree. They receive an end-of-service stipend or education award, health coverage, training, a relocation allowance, a living allowance and childcare assistance if eligible. The work is full-time; VISTAs are permitted to do paid part-time work during their assignment to supplement their income.

Our AmeriCorps VISTAs work closely with our education team, most assignments are based in our community schools. 12 assignments are currently posted.

Interested candidates must apply through the http://www.americorps.gov website. To find our listings go to the Advance Search (https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/publicRequestSearch.do) and search for all opportunities with UWGLV in the program name (leave the program type and state blank).
If you have questions you may contact Jennifer Nicolosi, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley VISTA Manager, 610-807-5741, jennifern@unitedwayglv.org

2017-2018 UWGLV VISTA Positions

Community Building VISTA (6)-Schools- Jefferson ES, Northeast MS, Thomas Jefferson ES, Union Terrace ES, Freemansburg ES and Easton MS
The Community Building VISTA will be serving inside of a public school building. The VISTA will assess student and staff needs while also cataloging the resources available in the school and the community to meet those needs. The VISTA will also share information with the school and partners about the United Way Community School model as a way to build partnership and build new resources to benefit kids and families. Three main capacity-building components of this role include building awareness of the schools needs and progress including communicating successes, collecting and organizing data as a way to make effective decisions and connecting resources to each other and to the school in support of kids and families.

Lehigh Valley Reads VISTA (1)
The Lehigh Valley Reads VISTA will help the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley organize and grow a team of partners working to advance a regional plan to improve grade level reading. The VISTA will learn about Collective Impact as a method to create large-scale social change and in doing so will take on responsibilities of a backbone for the organization with the Lehigh Valley Reads effort.

Challenge 5 Attendance Awareness VISTA (1)
The Attendance Awareness Vista will help move the Challenge 5 campaign forward in Lehigh County and expand its reach into Northampton County by participating in research, coalition building, information sharing, data analysis, establishing a training program, and developing engagement strategies for students, parents and schools. Chronic Absence is a major barrier to children reaching important academic milestones – like reading on grade level by the end of third grade. Our Challenge 5: Strive for Less Than 5 Campaign is aimed at reducing chronic absence throughout the Lehigh Valley, so that kids can have a better chance of educational success in their early years.

Allentown School District Literacy Coordinator VISTA (1)
The ASD Early Literacy Coordinator is charged with organizing events to promote family engagement in the areas of literacy and math. The Early Literacy Coordinator will identify strategies to recruit community partners and school volunteers. This person will coordinate kindergarten readiness programs (summer) to prepare students to successfully enter kindergarten ready to learn and activities to successfully transition kindergarten students to first grade. The Early Literacy Coordinator is expected to coordinate attendance initiatives including, but not limited to Challenge 5: Strive For Less Than 5 Days Absent.

LVCC Early Childhood Outreach Coordinator VISTA
The LVCC Early Childhood Outreach Coordinator VISTA will conduct community outreach to increase understanding of the importance of high-quality early education and childcare; to build trust and communication with targeted communities; and to encourage eligible families to access Pre-K Counts and other high-quality programs. This individual will also assist in implementing family engagement strategies, activities, and resources for families of children attending LVCC. During the initial year, LVCC’s VISTA will focus attention on Allentown’s 1st and 6th Wards.