Tenacity’s AmeriCorps Fellows power the Middle School Academy, the core and intensive element in Tenacity’s pathway. Small teams of AmeriCorps Fellows serve at each of Tenacity’s 4 partner middle schools, offering individual and group support to students. As part of their service experience from August through June, Fellows:
• Develop their teaching, professional, communication, and leadership skills and networks
• Attend regular team-building and professional development events
• Deliver literacy and tennis/fitness curricula, provide academic and high school planning help, lead field trips, and engage families
• Serve alongside and with the day-to-day support of Tenacity’s professional, school-based staff
Service Activities
AmeriCorps Fellows serve a critical role in all parts of the Middle School Academy program, collaborating to ensure excellence in program delivery; specific Fellow responsibilities include:
• Developing and delivering curricula for Literacy, High School Selection, Tennis/Fitness, and Tutoring
• Planning and leading field trips and high school visits
• Supporting students in developing critical social, emotional, and life skills
• Engaging families through scheduled visits and workshops, as well as as-needed outreach
• Designing and leading an Elective based on each Fellow’s interests and experiences
• Serving as a bus chaperone
Community Need Addressed
Tenacity is a Boston-based youth development organization focused on closing the
achievement and opportunity gaps. From elementary school through college and beyond, Tenacity offers a unique Pathway with a whole-child approach that combines literacy and life skills instruction, mentoring, family engagement, and tennis/fitness coaching to unlock potential and empower students.
Position Outcomes
The youth served by Tenacity's Pathway programs develop self-confidence and positive identities as students, mentors, and leaders. The effectiveness of Tenacity’s approach is striking: a 95% high school graduation rate and 80% rate of enrolling in higher education. Tenacity is a dedicated partner of Boston Public Schools.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Food stamps are also a possibility as legally allowed to AmeriCorps Members.
Monthly Public Transportation Pass
Skills you will gain
Project Management, Behavior Management, Time Management
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
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise
Teamwork
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
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Planning
Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, 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