ABOUT US
RISE (Rebuild, Integrate, Serve and Empower) AmeriCorps leverages the power of community by training emerging leaders from refugee and immigrant communities to become work-readiness trainers. RISE AmeriCorps leaders connect and support fellow refugees with education, jobs and services to increase economic opportunities for refugees and economic growth to Iowa.
ABOUT THE ROLE
EMBARC's RISE AmeriCorps Program is searching for service-minded individuals to serve diverse refugee communities in Iowa. You will work with community agencies to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate education, referrals, outreach, and direct services to refugee families in need.
LEARN MORE AND APPLY HERE: https://www.refugeeriseiowa.org/members.html
Service Activities
SITE-SPECIFIC RISE AMERICORPS MEMBER SERVICE ACTIVITIES
- Provide targeted, linguistically and culturally appropriate outreach, assessment, and supportive services
- Assist community organizations that provide tailored work readiness and skill development training
- Facilitate connections between refugee and the mainstream communities through a collective impact framework
- Provide refugees with appropriate connections to job training and skill development resources through small group
workshops and one-on-one advising.
- Remove barriers and increase access to workforce resources for the refugee and immigrant community
- Administer translation and interpretation services for partnered employers and social service agencies for at least 50
refugee or immigrant clients
- Connect clients to resources for transportation and childcare
- Advocate for accessible and equitable workplace environments
- Provide wrap around direct services to clients enrolled into WorkReady programing
RISE AMERICORPS PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
- Participate in 30 hours of Workforce Development Training from EMBARC staff and other workforce agencies
- Attend three RISE AmeriCorps mandatory training throughout the year such as Orientation and Life After AmeriCorps
training
- Maintain accurate and consistent data tracking to complete RISE AmeriCorps program monthly reports for services
administered including pre and post-assessment
- Communicate and serve with a diverse team of staff, AmeriCorps members, volunteers, partner families, and community
members.
- The program may require the member to engage in additional allowable activities that support the AmeriCorps program
design and which help the program meet its goals as outlined in the approved AmeriCorps application. In no
circumstance, will members be asked or allowed to perform prohibited activities.
Community Need Addressed
Iowa refugees and immigrants face major challenges to achieving economic self-sufficiency. These major challenges include:
1) low levels of English proficiency
2) lack of understanding of U.S. systems and culture
3) limited access to educational and employment opportunities
4) lack of childcare, transportation, and affordable housing
5) lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate services and support
The state of Iowa also faces employment challenges where industries can't find workers to fill positions, especially in rural areas and middle-skills jobs.
Position Outcomes
Through linguistically and culturally appropriate services provided by RISE AmeriCorps members, the refugee/immigrant communities will
- increase skills and access to opportunities for employment and/or education
- increase employability and economic mobility
- have access to more organizations that can provide appropriate services
- contribute to fostering social cohesion to revitalize Iowa
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
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, Turn taking, 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, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, 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, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment