Community Projects Coordinator, YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School

Posted by on April 20, 2009

Community Projects Coordinator/AmeriCorps Member

Status: Full-time
Department: AmeriCorps

Background
YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School (YBPCS) serves a young adult population of 18-20 year-old high school dropouts.  The school offers participants a unique opportunity to earn a high school diploma and acquire important job skills through a vigorous 12-month program of alternating three 6-week blocks of academics and work experience.  The core academic courses consist of Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics, and General Science.  The work experience consists of hands-on training in construction, computer-refurbishment, or nursing assistance.  YBPCS has been in operation for 17 years and received its charter in 1997.  In the 2009-10 school year, the school is serving 215 students.  Regular school hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Mission
Our mission is to provide out-of-school youth in Philadelphia with the broadest range of tools, supports and opportunities available to become self-sufficient, responsible and productive citizens in their community.  We develop the character, knowledge, and skills of our students so that they will succeed in top-quality colleges, trade schools and the competitive world beyond.

Member Duties & Responsibilities
Full time AmeriCorps members at YouthBuild coordinate the service efforts of over 200 part-time student members.  This includes teaching a service-learning course, taking students on weekly service projects and planning three all-school service projects.  Full time members mentor and tutor students, plan special events and lead extra-curricular activities.

Ideal candidates must be motivated self-starters with the ability to be flexible and work well with a team.  Candidates should also have excellent interpersonal, facilitation, conflict resolution and organization skills.  Candidates must have the ability and willingness to do occasional physical labor including, lifting, carrying, cleaning, painting, etc.

As a member in our program you will have the opportunity to improve civic responsibility among our students, strengthen our community, and work closely with our partner organizations.

Our twelve-month position as a Full-Time AmeriCorps Member requires

o       Your ability to serve full-time from August 1, 2009 to July 1, 2010.
o       Your citizenship status must be either a U.S. citizen, U.S. National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the United States.
o        You must desire to provide needed educational, technological, or community services to an under-served community while receiving the following benefits: a living allowance of $12,000, an education award of $4,725, loan forbearance w/ interest accruement payment, child care coverage (if applicable), and health insurance.

Application Process
Interested applicants should send the following via mail, e-mail or fax:

Cover letter
Resume
List of 3 Professional References

Attn: Irvin Hoskins-Ferebee
Community Projects Coordinator
YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School
1231 North Broad Street, 3rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Telephone: (215) 627-8671, ext. 33
Fax: (215) 763-5774
E-mail:  ihoskins@youthbuildphilly.org