The VISTA Youth Development Coordinator member will serve alongside one other member to implement a youth workforce development (YWD) program that provides participants with job training as part of RTNO’s approach to alleviating poverty among multiple generations in New Orleans. Focussing on participant outreach, marketing strategies, and resource development, the Youth Development Coordinator is a vital piece in implementing a YWD program at RTNO. This member will work closely with the Director and Volunteer and AmeriCorps Manager to identify financial and community partners to support an expanded youth workforce development program at RTNO, as well as create and implement an effective recruitment strategy to include youth from across the city.
Service Activities
-Identify and expand partnerships with local schools and organizations with potential program participants
-Attend and/or organize job/career fairs and other recruitment opportunities to gauge interest of and enroll local opportunity youth in the YWD program with RTNO
-Coordinate with the Volunteer and AmeriCorps Manager to create and distribute promotional material for the YWD program and online position listings for enrollment
-Identify local and national organizations and corporations that have expressed interest in supporting youth workforce development and job training programs.
-Coordinate with the Director to meet and coordinate with potential YWD sponsors to discuss program goals and cultivate funds
-Collect and utilize participant feedback and data to support grants that underwrite the cost of a continued YWD program.
-Create and update tracking systems to better disseminate the results of of YWD program to the community.
-Create and manage social media outlets pertinent to the YWD program at RTNO
-Work with the Director to design a database of program participants, as well as program supports and donors to keep informed of RTNO updates.
-Coordinate with the VISTA Youth Curriculum Coordinator to collect pre-and post-program surveys to create usable feedback and data for future grants, for RTNO staff to improve processes, and to produce statistics for marketing purposes.
Community Need Addressed
New Orleans has the third largest number of opportunity youth in the country and needs workforce development and job training programs to help these youths obtain jobs with higher wages, allowing them to combat the affordable housing crisis and dramatically increasing cost of living in the city.
Position Outcomes
Demonstrated change in knowledge amongst youth program participants in professional development, financial literacy, and construction skills. Increased number in community sponsors and volunteer educators. Increase in financial and in-kind donations to support the youth workforce development program at RTNO.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Relocation allowance (if applicable), Student loan forbearance, Training
Parking pass, mileage reimbursement (when applicable)
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization