Project MARS/AmeriCorps members gain skills valued by future employers through the trainings, supervision and guidance notated previously. Our organization has a professional staff with a variety of experiences and education. As such, the staff is able to provide many trainings and skill development for our AmeriCorps members. The experience provides professional development for the AmeriCorps member, thereby increasing value to future employers. Recent college graduates seem to lack the professionalism, social skills and leadership development needed and required by the professional community and we will provide such professional development for our members.
Service Activities
Mentoring Coordination, Resource Coordination, Academic Assistance within a school setting. Members will spend their time as a mentor to children within their school as well as coordinating resources to bring into the children's lives from the community and giving academic assistance within the classroom and afterschool programs.
Community Need Addressed
Thirty Project MARS/AmeriCorps members will serve as School Engagement Coordinators in Western North Carolina. Our goal as a program is to both serve the children of WNC as well as provide professional development and experience for our members. Members will be placed within schools to serve children. Our AmeriCorps members can help mitigate some of the negative impacts of poverty.
Position Outcomes
Increased academic performance, increase social capabilities and increased resources within the community and school.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Documentation for GAP services for Child Care Assistance.
$200+ health, dental and vision coverage and credits through the Healthcare Marketplace.
We assist interested members in putting loans into forbearance on the National Website.
Members are CPR/FA trained and receive professional development throughout the service year with the BBBS training system for mentors.
We provide resources to help members apply for food assistance (SNAP Benefits).
Supported through the NC State Commission, our members have access to a 24/7 helpline and Masters's Degree level counselors.
We allow members access to their national website which has free courses that members will have access to.
Education Benefits
College Degree
Skills you will gain
Professional development, CPR/FA, time management, life after AmeriCorps, Community Development, Volunteer coordination, National Service Activities
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, 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
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel
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, 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
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
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