Firewall Centers is currently recruiting 68 AmeriCorps members to serve as Mentors in elementary through high school. The position starts in August 2019 and will end in June 2020. Firewall will be accepting applications through January 2020. Stipend amount for the quarter-time position will be $225.00 bi-weekly and a $ 1,612.43 education award. The reduced half-time position stipend amount is $321.43 bi-weekly, with a $ 2,321.00 education award.
The responsibilities of an AmeriCorps Firewall Mentor are to:
Build lasting relationships with their group of students (around 10)
Provide homework help/tutoring
Model positive behaviors
12-15 hours a week
Service Activities
Members, called Mentors, will be the main providers of the tutoring, mentoring, and attendance and behavior coaching to a group of students. Members will engage in planning and preparing for student arrival which includes a 5-10 minute team meeting, and the checking of grades for their group of students. Upon student arrival, members will dedicate at least 1 hour of tutoring and homework assistance and 1 hour of enrichment programming which includes additional academic interventions, the teaching of Firewall's character curriculum, the monitoring of student behavior using a point-based incentive system, and socio-behavioral support. At the end of the day, they will participate in a 15-minute team meeting to assess the day, record notes on student academic and behavior progress, and to prepare for the following day.
Community Need Addressed
Closing achievement gap, inter-generational poverty, high school drop-outs, low income/high crime neighborhoods, low literacy rates, at-risk youth
Position Outcomes
Increased academic skills, improved attendance and behavior outcomes, character development, increased literacy, increased graduation rates
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
College Degree, GED/High School Diploma
CPR, Disability, Diversity, Disaster Relief, Citizenship
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