Cape & Islands Community Engagement Ambassador
About AmeriCorps:
AmeriCorps is a national community service program that gives people an opportunity to apply their skills and ideals towards helping others and meeting critical needs in the community. The Highland Street AmeriCorps Ambassadors of Mentoring is an AmeriCorps Program where members serve in mentoring programs across Massachusetts.
Organizational Description:
Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP) is fueling the movement to expand empowering youth-adult relationships across Massachusetts. MMP serves hundreds of program partners statewide supporting thousands of youth in quality relationships. We work with mentoring programs and youth development organizations to assess programmatic needs and organizational capacity to provide customized strategies that strengthen youth, families, and communities.
Host Site Description:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod and the Islands (BBBSCCI) serves 300 children each year through long-term, one-to-one matches between children facing adversity and caring adult volunteers, with plans to increase its service to more children in the region. BBBSCCI is a regional office of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay (BBBSMB), based in Boston and a member of Mass Mentoring Partnership.
Project Description:
The BBBSCCI Community Engagement Ambassador will create and sustain Community Partnerships, engage for-profit businesses, community-based organizations, and key constituents who can expand our volunteer recruitment capacity and contribute to positive experiences for our mentees on Cape Cod that will enable BBBSCCI to serve more children more throughout Cape Cod.
The Ambassador will take the lead role with a network of current volunteer partners and will also work with a portfolio of new and developing relationships to increase the volunteer pipeline. In particular, the Ambassador will head our local “Bigs in Blue” and “Bigs in Red” initiatives, working with local police and fire departments to increase volunteer recruitment. The Bigs in Blue/Red initiatives recently launched in partnership with the Barnstable police and fire departments, and we are excited to bring the program to law enforcement agencies and first responders across the Cape and Martha’s Vineyard.
The Ambassador will be responsible to research, recruit and create formal community partnerships that will produce an increased number of volunteer inquiries and child referrals. Other duties will include, but not limited to, neighborhood research and “feet on the street”, identify local community opportunities and events for BBBSMB attendance, represent the agency in the community, at events, with businesses and within schools and other human service agencies to expand our agency involvement and awareness.
Program Summary:
Twenty-Five AmeriCorps Ambassadors will complete a year of service from August 2018-June 2019. These members will be placed at one host site organization to build the capacity of youth mentoring programs and organizations in the areas of match support; marketing and mentor recruitment; mentor/mentee/parent training; and program development, evaluation and start up.
All Highland Street AmeriCorps Ambassadors of Mentoring will work on volunteer mentor recruitment efforts in their host organization as well as work with other Corps members to complete a statewide community service project that benefits the field of mentoring in Massachusetts. AmeriCorps Ambassadors will be supervised by their host organization and the Mass Mentoring Partnership AmeriCorps Program Manager.
Basic Requirements:
Passion for working with diverse youth and families
Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills
Flexible schedule/Ability to work occasional evenings/weekends
Motivation and aptitude for networking and outreach
Committed to actively recruiting, selecting, on-boarding and managing mentors
Ability to plan, execute and document site-based group activities and off-site field trips
Flexibility, patience, and a good sense of humor!
Additional Skills:
Experience/skill in effective group behavior management preferred
Proficiency with Microsoft Word applications
AmeriCorps Service Requirements:
You must be a U.S. citizen, national, or legal permanent resident alien of the U.S. to be an AmeriCorps member
Complete a minimum of 1700 hours of documented service to complete host site project
Complete all required AmeriCorps documentation and monthly reporting
Complete as a team one community service project to benefit the field of mentoring
Maintain a service portfolio
Commute to all corps-wide trainings and events to cultivate future non-profit leaders. (Reimbursements available for qualifying members)
Responsibilities include attending pre-orientation session, orientation, monthly corps meetings, a fall and mid-year retreat and two Program Day service planning sessions – Meetings located in Greater Boston
Effectively manage time, projects, and meet competing demands
Complete all professional development requirements as part of member contract
General Program Qualifications
BA/BS strongly preferred or equivalent experience
Experience with and/or commitment to youth development
A passion for volunteerism and community service
The desire to work with diverse people, organizations and communities
Strong writing and editing skills
Some experience with marketing – material design, blogging and social media preferred
Public speaking
Interest in nonprofit organizations and their development
Excellent organization and communication skills
The ability to work independently and as part of a team
Proven leadership and project management abilities
Flexibility, adaptability, and a good sense of humor
Positive attitude
Position Benefits:
A $5920 educational award upon completion of service
$A Bi-weekly stipend
Graduate certificate in Youth Development from Boston University
Additional transportation reimbursement for qualifying members
250+ hours of professional training and networking opportunities in the mentoring field and the non-profit sector
Free health care coverage
Loan deferment and interest accrual payment for qualifying loans upon completion of service
A nation-wide Alumni network
A built-in network of AmeriCorps members and colleagues – with the potential to make lifelong friends!
To Apply:
Please visit the Highland Street AmeriCorps Ambassadors of Mentoring webpage at www.massmentors.org/ambassadors to view our current open positions and apply directly to the organizations that interest you from the link provided on the page. Note that 1 application is required PER each organization if you are applying to more than one.
All applications require a resume that outlines how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position and a cover letter stating how you heard about this opportunity and why it interests you, either in Word / PDF format and a list of 3 references.
We are interested in recruiting AmeriCorps members who call Massachusetts home. MMP is committed to building a culturally diverse staff and strongly encourages applications from persons with a disability, males, and minority candidates. Note: Positions are contingent upon continued CNCS grant funding.
For more information or questions:
Contact, Thomas McGee, Program Manager, tmcgee@massmentors.org
Mass Mentoring Partnership and its site partners are equal opportunity employers.
Mass Mentoring Partnership makes reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities for interview as well as service term.
All positions acceptances are contingent upon a successful background check.