ICP is seeking a Summer of Service (SOS) Fellow for an appointment of one year to begin as soon as possible.
Description
The Service Fellow Program is a post-graduate opportunity aimed at developing recent college graduates’ professional skills in the nonprofit arena. ICP will select a full-time Fellow to work as part of ICP’s core team on its Summer of Service (SOS) Initiative, which aims to support and encourage the development of successful SOS programs that engage low-income, at-risk middle school students in improving their communities while engaging in experiential learning that increases their potential for access and success in college and beyond.
ICP is entering the second year of a new three-year project to develop SOS resources and ICP’s capacity to provide guidance and assistance to organizations interested in creating or improving SOS programs, while continuing to build awareness and support for SOS as an effective strategy and much-needed program for America’s youth. ICP is working with two consultants on developing program design and evaluation toolkits, Program Insights (multimedia web pages highlighting exemplary SOS programs) and a training module, in addition to advancing development of our SOS Resource Center.
The Service Fellow will be an integral part of the team, with primary responsibility for continuing to improve, research and manage information for maintain the SOS Resource Center, as well as assisting the project consultants and pilot organizations, and providing overall support for the SOS initiative.
Terms of appointment
The Service Fellow Program is a one-year, full-time fellowship. Salary will be $22,000 for the year and includes health and dental benefits. For best consideration, please submit your application by Friday, January 15, 2010. Applicants will be interviewed on a rolling basis. The position would ideally begin as soon as possible.
Activities of the Service Fellow
Because ICP has a small staff, we are able to work with each Fellow individually to construct a work plan that takes into account both the needs of the organization and the preferences and strengths of the Fellow. The Summer of Service initiative is managed by an ICP Program Associate and ICP’s Executive Director. The Fellow will work directly with the Program Associate.
Project involvement will focus on the following work areas: website development and maintenance, research, partnership development, and communications. Fellow assignments include:
- Improving and building the SOS Online Resource Center – Identify and collect materials and resources, research and write about featured programs, identify existing SOS programs through desk and survey research and enter information into the Program Database. Incorporate text, video and photos into Program Insights web templates and assist in collecting new materials. Facilitate the SOS online discussion forum and assist in hosting webinars.
- Research assistance – Assist consultant(s) in researching promising practices in the field; research models outside of SOS that could provide initial best practices.
- Project support – Assist Program Associate and consultants in completing toolkits, piloting them in summer 2010 and revising as needed.
- Communications – Write SOS updates for the ICP newsletter and special SOS editions of the newsletter. Promote new materials. Assist with communication with SOS programs and Resource Center users. Assist in networking with other organizations and stakeholders.
- Fundraising – Assist Program Associate and Development Associate in fundraising tasks for SOS, including researching funding opportunities, writing letters of inquiry and proposals, and writing grant reports.
Required Qualifications
Applicants will have the following qualifications:
- A strong interest in service-learning, civic participation, college access and community development;
- Previous website maintenance, database and multi-media experience
- Excellent analytical, writing, and organizational skills;
- Previous research experience, preferably in the social sciences or education fields;
- Creative, highly organized, and responsible;
- Comfortable working independently and as part of a team under time pressure, and multi-tasking;
- Bachelor’s degree required;
- US work authorization required.
Desired Qualifications
- Service-learning, afterschool/summer and/or college access program knowledge and experience;
- Website design knowledge and skills, especially interactive website development
Application Procedure
Applications should include the following:
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Writing sample: 1000-1500 words; please use your judgment about the writing sample you include and explain why the writing sample you chose is relevant to ICP and the SOS Fellow position
- Three references
Please note that due to high application volume, applications missing any of these required components will be immediately discarded without review.
All materials should be submitted to Kelly Fox, Office Manager via email at fox {at} icicp(.)org.
Summer of Service
ICP proposed a national Summer of Service (SOS) program to help communities create positive alternatives for middle school students during summer vacations. In the summer months, the lack of constructive activities and opportunities for young people often results in academic decline, risky behavior, and an increased likelihood of failing to make the transition to high school. Yet, when young people participate in service activities they are better able to control their own lives in a positive way, avoid risky behaviors, strengthen their community connections and become more engaged in their own education. A national SOS would enable a large number of young teens to participate in service as a “rite of passage” from middle to high school and provide opportunities for them to enter their teenage years with a positive experience that reinforces community connections, enlivens their education, and strengthens personal and civic values. At the same time, communities across America might find an important new resource in their own backyards – young people who are ready to serve, if only they are asked and provided the opportunity to do so.
ICP’s three-year initiative will promote SOS as an effective strategy that can be utilized by college access organizations and networks, as well as other educational, out-of-school and youth development organizations to increase young people’s access to and success in college. Through this initiative, ICP aims to provide high quality resources and assistance to organizations interested in designing, implementing, evaluation and improving SOS programs.
About the Service Fellow Program
Innovations in Civic Participation created the Service Fellow Program in order to expose recent college graduates with an interest in service and civic participation to the workings of an internationally focused non-profit organization. ICP is structured to afford each Fellow the opportunity to work closely with a small team dedicated to improving opportunities for young people around the world to play an important role in addressing critical community needs.
About Innovations in Civic Participation
Innovations in Civic Participation (ICP) is a nonprofit organization supporting the development of innovative high-quality youth civic engagement policies and programs both in the US and around the world.
ICP is a leader in the global movement to promote sustainable development and social change through youth civic engagement. We embrace a positive view of young people that recognizes their potential to create beneficial and lasting social change in their communities through active participation in service opportunities.
More information about ICP’s programs can be found at www.icicp.org
