Opportunity Link is a non-profit corporation whose mission is to find systemic ways to reduce poverty and help the communities of Northcentral Montana achieve independence, prosperity and a better way of life. Opportunity Link was established by community leaders and stakeholders of Northcentral Montana in partnership with the Northwest Area Foundation in 2004. During the last seven years, we worked in three high priority areas: 1) Asset and wealth creation that includes including affordable housing and financial literacy training; 2) Public transportation; and 3) Economic development that include industry and workforce development. Opportunity Link acts as a lead agency to establish region-wide workforce development, alternative energy strategies, affordable housing initiatives, and transportation improvements. Opportunity Link’s Wealthy Futures project, developed in partnership with several Northcentral Montana community organization, has been designed to address low financial literacy skill levels and poor financial decision-making by pulling together existing resources on financial education, financial and credit coaching, and income tax preparation services and making them more accessible for Northcentral Montana residents. The overall objective of Wealthy Futures is not only to increase accessibility of asset and wealth creation programs and resources but also to build the capacity of each of the target communities to sustain, maintain and continue to provide such resources for their residents. This Opportunity Link VISTA will be based out of Browning with the Blackfeet Community Development Corporation on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.
Member Duties: The responsibilities for this position include three components. The first component includes assisting in the coordination and expansion of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Sites (VITA) and the I-CAN E-Filing system for VITA sites. Other duties include coordinating VITA Trainings, promoting VITA through PSAs, flyers, etc., coordinating VITA Clinics in Cut Bank and Browning, and securing partnerships for next VITA tax season. The second component, Financial Education, includes forming partnerships to promote financial literacy, coordinating Financial Literacy Trainings, and creating a database of trained facilitators, Bank Loan representatives and Credit representatives in the community. The Third component, Community Outreach and Capacity Building, will involve a targeted outreach to current military families and Veterans for the aforementioned financial services.
Program Benefits:
Childcare assistance if eligible, Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend, Health Coverage, Living Allowance, Relocation Allowance, Training
Terms:
Prohibits paid work outside of the sponsoring agency at any time
Service Areas:
Community and Economic Development
Skills:
Business/Entrepreneur, Writing/Editing, General Skills
For information and to apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=43120
