AmeriCorps Mentoring Advocates have an opportunity to learn important professional skills, have a significant and meaningful impact in the community, and build a strong network during their year of service. MMP offers many benefits in addition to the stipend: health insurance, child care assistance, some travel reimbursement, professional development including a Certificate from Boston University Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, and an educational award Of $6,495 that can be used for past, present or future educational expenses.
Service Activities
AmeriCorps Mentoring Advocates
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 AmeriCorps Ambassadors of Mentoring is an AmeriCorps Program where members serve mentoring programs across Massachusetts strengthen their capacity to run robust mentorship programs.
Mission Statement:
Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP) is committed to ensuring that every young person in the state has access to quality mentoring relationships, regardless of who they are or where they live. MMP is a statewide organization that partners with corporate, public and philanthropic entities to drive critical resources to a network of more than 370 mentoring and youth-serving organizations, representing more than 50,000 young people from Boston to Pittsfield.
Position Description:
AmeriCorps Advocates will complete a year of service from August 2022-June 2023, where they will be placed at a partner 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 AmeriCorps Advocates will focus on volunteer mentor recruitment efforts in their host organization as well as work with other Corps members to complete a community service project, participate in service on MLK Day, attend BU seminars focused on professional development and transformation leadership. AmeriCorps members will spend the majority of their time serving at their host site (see list of possible organizations here) and also meet regular with the MMP Corps so as to feel connected to one another, participate in learning opportunities and grow professionally.
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 and Google applications
▪ Interest or experience in transformational leadership models
AmeriCorps Service Requirements:
▪ You must be a U.S. citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the U.S. to be an AmeriCorps member
▪ Complete a minimum of 1700 hours of documented service
▪ Complete all required AmeriCorps documentation and monthly reporting
▪ Complete as a team one community service project to benefit the field of mentoring
▪ Commute to all Corps-wide trainings and events to cultivate future non-profit leaders. (Reimbursements available for qualifying members)
▪ Effectively manage time, projects, and meet competing demands
▪ Complete all professional development requirements
General 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 organizational 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
Community Need Addressed
Mentoring has been proven to be a valuable lever for improving youth outcomes, and yet the mentoring gap--between those youth who want mentors and the current number of mentors--is significant. AmeriCorps Mentoring Advocates (AMAs) work in the community to close this gap. They help build program capacity that will enable programs to recruit, train, and retain mentors.
Position Outcomes
AmeriCorps Mentoring Advocates will work with mentoring and youth-serving programs to increase the capacity of the organization, enabling them to expand and improve caring and supportive youth-adult relationships that help young people thrive and strengthen families and communities.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Skills you will gain
-Learn skills to build their lives and the lives of others
- Develop project management and program development skills
- Learn capacity building, organizational and communication skills
- Become leaders by heading their own projects
- Build their passion for national and community service
- Learn skills that will prepare them for the real world or future employment
- Build systems to help youth in need
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