KEYS Service Corps, AmeriCorps members are placed at a variety of community-based organizations throughout Allegheny County to help out at summer day camps with youth. This means you'll be doing arts and crafts, playing ball, chaperoning field trips, and helping with a variety of other summer camp activities. We also have a youth employment component where the member would serve alongside highschoolers who are learning job skills as they are working to improve their communities. We're looking for members who are not only able to have fun with kids on their level but who are also able to be professional and inspirational role models. This is a chance to help youth grow and to grow yourself. You will have fun, but you also will have challenges to overcome. If you're an energetic, committed individual who relishes the feeling of accomplishment after an exhausting day running around with kids, this is the position for you.
AmeriCorps is a good stepping stone for those who are interested in careers in youth based programming, education, non-profits, or the Peace Corps. If you perform well during the summer, we may welcome you to stay on with KEYS for a full year term at one of our school or after-school based sites.
Service Activities
Provide structured activities (mentor) at least 20 youth for at least 24 hours across the program year
Community Need Addressed
KEYS partners with sites in distressed areas, areas of poverty, and/or areas with greater percentages of youth scoring below basic achievement levels in reading and math. KEYS addresses the needs of:
- Below basic math or reading proficiency;
- Need for youth to resolve conflicts nonviolently and be active participants in one’s community;
- Need for structured group activities after-school and in the summer;
- Need for positive change in distressed communities.
Position Outcomes
-provide summer programming that focuses on mentoring in small group or one-on-one settings, resulting in youth showing growth in at least one life skill: dealing constructively with conflict, improving self-esteem, goal setting, team building, leadership, healthy practices, fitness, and/or work-readiness skills;
-empower youth through their engagement in developing and implementing service projects to address youth-identified community needs.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, College Credit, Education award upon successful completion of service, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
First Aid and CPR, Conflict Resolution, Mandated Reporter 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
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