1. Resource Development: Build the capacity of SPN to develop diverse funding and resource development streams focused on Promise Zone programs in targeted neighborhoods; Create fundraising opportunities to secure additional revenue.
2. Communication & Community Engagement: Conduct an ongoing listening campaign in Promise Zone neighborhoods; develop best practices, community involvement strategies, and build relationships with community partners to enact activities described through resident listening campaign activities.
3. Health & Parent Education: Support the development of parent and child education strategies related to healthy food choices and to growing nutrient rich food; support the development of parent engagement opportunities that encourage families to grow, purchase, and cook nutrient rich foods.
4. Volunteer Engagement: Develop recruitment, training, and engagement strategies for volunteers serving at Promise Zone schools; enhance summer programming activities that can expand to four Promise Zone Schools.
Service Activities
All VISTA positions have numerous service activities; please visit www.springfieldpromise.com for detailed position descriptions.
Community Need Addressed
Convening community partners to provide educational experiences; innovating, developing & sharing best practices for parent, resident, and youth engagement; advocating for education, resident-led change, & community.
Position Outcomes
Four VISTA positions have various outcomes:
1. Resource Development: To research and seek additional resource opportunities in the support of Promise programming within the Promise Zone.
2. Communication & Community Engagement: To coordinate research and engagement in resident-driven community needs.
3. Health & Parent Education: To create avenues and opportunities for health and food-related programming.
4. Volunteer Engagement: To develop a network of trained community volunteers that support extended day and year programs at Promise Zone schools.
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
Project management, time management, event planning, leadership, research, publications, professional writing
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, 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, 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
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