PHENND Seeks Two AmeriCorps*VISTA members

Posted by on April 30, 2012

PHENND Seeks Two AmeriCorps*VISTA members

The Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development (PHENND) seeks two full-time AmeriCorps*VISTAs to develop a new partnership between PHENND and the School District of Philadelphia.

About PHENND

PHENND is a consortium of 33 colleges and universities in the greater Philadelphia area. PHENND works to build the capacity of its member institutions to develop mutually beneficial, sustained, and democratic community-based service-learning partnerships. The consortium actively seeks to revitalize local communities and schools and foster civic responsibility among the region’s colleges and universities.

About the position:

The two AmeriCorps*VISTAs sought for this coming year will develop a new partnership between PHENND and the School District. This new partnership will itself be a multi-year VISTA project through which VISTAs are placed in schools to serve as “School Partnerships Coordinators.” This first year is a planning year; the selected candidates will work closely with PHENND and School District staff to develop systems and processes for:

selecting participating schools
training potential host schools
selecting and training future VISTAs
generating overall and school-specific goals and performance measures
determining the possible role of lead partners
outlining day-to-day roles of the VISTAs

AmeriCorps*VISTAs needed for this program should be:

self-motivated and self-directed
able to network and build relationships with diverse constituencies
comfortable in different institutional settings (academic, community-based, etc.)
quick learners
comfortable with a work environment that is primarily office-based, but with regular travel to public schools, nonprofit organizations, local universities, and other sites as needed
able to navigate public transit (or with access to a car though public transit preferred)
familiar with the general landscape of public schooling, community partnerships, community service and volunteering, and service-learning at both the K-12 and collegiate levels
passionate about improving educational opportunities for low-income youth

Timeline

April 26-May 15 – Applications accepted
May 21-25 – Interviews
May 29 – Candidates selected
June/July 2012 – VISTA terms begin
June/July 2013 – VISTA terms end

Compensation

AmeriCorps*VISTAs commit to a full-time year of service for a minimal living stipend of approximately $12,962 per year. VISTA members are provided health insurance and loan forbearance for any current federal student loans. Upon completion of the full year, they also receive an AmeriCorps Education Award of $5500 that can be used to pay for future educational expenses and/or pay off student loans. The PHENND VISTAs will also receive a SEPTA transpass to facilitate their transportation throughout the year.

All interested applicants should contact Liz Shriver for more information at 215-573-2379 or eshriver@phennd.org. To be considered, please email a cover letter and resume to eshriver@phennd.org.