PHENND Seeks School-Community Partnership Coordinator VISTAs – Jun 15

Posted by PHENND on March 5, 2024

Take the next step in your career and join a cohort that works to strengthen communication, collaboration and community in local Philadelphia schools! PHENND seeks several full-time AmeriCorps VISTAs:

• 5-10 serve as Community Partnership Coordinators each at a different school in the city of Philadelphia
• 2 serve in the School District of Philadelphia main offices

About this project:

This is the 11th year of the PHENND Fellow AmeriCorps VISTA project in which VISTAs are placed in selected Philadelphia public schools and offices at the School District of Philadelphia to help manage, develop, and track external community partners. (We also have another cohort of VISTAs placed with local nonprofit agencies.  See separate postings for those positions.)

About the school-based positions:

The PHENND Fellow AmeriCorps VISTAs sought for this coming year will coordinate and facilitate partnerships between their school and existing and/or potential outside community partners with the goal of integrating their services into the school’s schedule and meeting major school needs, thereby ensuring that these partnerships are mutually beneficial, sustainable and serving students effectively.  The VISTAs will work directly with administrators and teachers to ensure strong communication between and among external partners and key school leadership.

Primary Goals:

The school-based Community Partnerships Coordinator VISTA will build their school’s community partnership capacity in four major areas through specific initiatives:

1) Documentation/Needs Assessment – collect information on current partners; assess needs of the school from various school constituencies;

2) Communication/Relationship Building – assist in communication strategy for the school (monthly calendar, newsletter and/or social media, etc.), provide support for communication between school and partners as well as inter-partner relations, facilitate a once-monthly stakeholder meeting to discuss events, strategies, and collaborative efforts;

3) Strategic Planning – work to create systems within the school to further the strength of relationships in and outside of the school, support leadership in working to incorporate partners to address school needs;

4) Evaluation – track number and type of community partnerships, engage partners in evaluation of the school-community partnership landscape.

Apply for a school-based position here (please note you will need to build an online profile on the AmeriCorps website before applying to this position): https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=116646

Requirements for all positions include:

•    Outstanding oral and written communication skills
•    Ability to network and build relationships with diverse constituencies
•    Comfort with a school-based work environment and interactions with teachers, students and staff on a daily basis
•    Passion for improving educational opportunities for low-income youth
•    Familiarity with the general landscape of urban schooling and the role of community partnerships  in Philadelphia
•    Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as needed
•    Facility with word processing and managing databases
•    Willingness to navigate public transit

Preferred, but not required:

•    Spanish proficiency (for some placements)
•    Interest in STEM and the health sciences (for some placements)
•    Interest in the visual and performing arts (for some placements)

Timeline
•   Today-June 15– Online applications accepted on a rolling basis
•   March 15-June 15 – First round telephone interviews completed
•   May 1-June 1– Second round interviews and school matching interviews
•   June 23 – Latest date candidates notified
•   June 30 – Latest date candidates’ commitment expected
•   August 12, 2024 – VISTA term start date
•   August 11, 2025 – Service year ends

Compensation:
AmeriCorps VISTAs commit to a full-time year of service for a minimal living stipend of approximately $22,882 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 approximately $7,395 that can be used to pay for future educational expenses and/or pay off federal student loans. Free monthly public transportation pass provided. Members also have access to member emergency fund through the City of Philadelphia.

Training: Robust orientation and monthly training provided.

Post-service benefits include: (1) Schools of National Service tuition discounts at select colleges (2) Employers of National Service and (3) AmeriCorps Alumni Network

If you have any questions, please contact Eden Kainer at ekainer87@phennd.org or Roslynn Blount at roslynnb@phennd.org