Live in the live music capital of the world with great BBQ, swimming, outdoors to explore, and tons of sunshine! Do you want to be a part of the local community to affect change from within? Do you have a passion for supporting first-generation college students navigate their brave, new world? Southwest Key Programs (SWK) is a Latino-led national non-profit organization whose mission is opening doors of opportunity so individuals can achieve their dreams. The Southwest Key Post-Secondary Support (PSS) program works directly with high school graduates in East Austin who are the first in their families to attend college. The overall goals of the program are to provide academic, financial, and socio-emotional supports to students through case management while also creating a community of support so they can be successful college. The College Completion Developer AmeriCorps VISTA will contribute alongside the PSS team by researching best practices related to college access and persistence, developing strong systems and program capacity, creating resource materials and conducting focus groups that will enhance program development. By creating sustainable solutions, the College Completion Developer will be critical to better serving students and families as they continue to and through college. The VISTA candidate should be motivated and enthusiastic about program development and supporting a vision of college persistence and community transformation. Be a part of this college bound identity movement that can transform an individual and a community! Occasional weekends and evenings.
Service Activities
Member Duties : The Writing Center Developer VISTA will build a school district-wide writing center by conducting a comprehensive needs assessment, researching best practices and engaging stakeholder support to develop the student-led writing center, recruit student leaders, and develop program capacity. The VISTA will also refine the program model and monitor data, track outcomes, and write grants to sustain the program.
Member Duties : The College Completion Developer VISTA will create a community of support for college students by conducting needs assessment with family members and community adults to better understand what college related information should be delivered throughout the year in the form of small groups and/or large presentations. The VISTA will develop events and recruit family members and community adults to participate in programming by building a college-bound learning community through interactive sessions, utilizing evaluation tools to measure successes and challenges. The College Completion Developer will also create resource guides directed at local college students enrolled in community college in addition to researching local academic, financial, and socio-emotional resources tailored to the needs of our community college students.
Community Need Addressed
The Southwest Key VISTA positions will build systems to help underprivileged students to build the skills needed to attend and succeed in college. These services will be offered at an East Austin Charter School, that serves high-risk youth and their families.
Position Outcomes
The Southwest Key Post-Secondary Support (PSS) program works directly with high school graduates in East Austin who are the first in their families to attend college. The overall goals of the program are to provide academic, financial, and socio-emotional supports to students through case management while also creating a community of support so they can be successful college. By creating sustainable solutions, the College Completion Developer VISTA will be critical to better-serving students and families as they continue to and through college.
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
Skills you will gain
Teaching/Tutoring , Social Services , Team Work , Youth Development , Community Organization , Leadership , Education , Communications . Recruitment , General Skills , Leadership , Computers/Technology , Teaching/Tutoring , Writing/Editing , Youth Development , Team Work , Education , Communications .
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, 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
Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment