Education: High School degree required, some college preferred
Location: Quincy and Brockton, Massachusetts, 02169 and 02302, United States
Posted by: Father Bill’s & MainSpring
Job Category: Administration, Direct social services, Fundraising & Development, Public Policy, Research
Language(s): English
Job posted on: May 14, 2012
Area of Focus: Community Service and Volunteering, Education and Academia, Foundations, Fundraising, and Philanthropy, Housing and Homelessness, Poverty and Hunger Type: Full time
Last day to apply: May 29, 2012
Last updated: May 14, 2012
Description:
Father Bills & MainSpring has one opening for a VISTA. VISTA is a year of service program operated by AmeriCorps. Please visit AmeriCorps website before applying for this position.
http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/choose/vista_benefits.asp
Father Bills & MainSpring (FBMS) is one of the primary providers of services for homeless people on the South Shore and Southeastern Massachusetts, with shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing, supportive services, and workforce training. It also has specifically targeted programming for homeless and at-risk veterans. In FY11, FBMS helped more than 4,000 adults and children to find safe shelter, remain in their homes, or move beyond homelessness, 339 of whom were veterans. Volunteers assist with every aspect of the organization at FBMS, including direct service to people experiencing homelessness, serving meals, teaching, fundraising, and strategic planning.
The VISTA will enhance educational programming and opportunities for community involvement at FBMS by engaging volunteers and outreach to the community to build capacity. The candidate should have a strong commitment to volunteerism and should understand how to cultivate a volunteer beyond the initial service project in order to strengthen the volunteer base of the organization. A VISTA will help FBMS reach its goal of engaging community volunteers with this program and with all of the organization’s efforts. Ideally, the VISTA will also be able to create a peer veteran support network in which veterans from the community will partner with homeless veterans in our program to offer support.
Activities:
Objective 1: Volunteer recruitment and retention with a specific focus on serving veterans within programs and providing volunteer opportunities for veterans
• Activities related to recruitment will include developing an interview process for potential volunteers, fielding all calls for volunteering in the Quincy/Brockton area, hosting volunteer orientations, and recruiting at local community fairs.
• Activities related to retention will include volunteer training, assisting program staff to develop meaningful volunteer opportunities, follow-up with current volunteers, writing thank you letters to volunteers.
• Activities related to volunteers and events include scheduling event volunteers, supervising volunteers during fundraising events, and organizing a volunteer team to assist with presents for program participants during the holiday season.
Objective 2: Find Volunteers to build the capacity of the work training program, Work Express and other FBMS programs
• Activities related to building educational capacity include partnership-building with non-profit organizations, local businesses, and community groups, promoting the Work Express program, and identifying ways that program participants can access education and job training.
• The VISTA will work alongside Work Express participants on job sites and will train participants.
• The ideal candidate will also help with adult education instruction.
In order to successfully achieve the two stated objectives, the VISTA will receive on-the-job training in Father Bill’s & MainSpring’s direct service jobs. In this way, the VISTA will be able to adeptly define volunteer opportunities, the purpose of programs, and answer all questions prospective volunteers or prospective education providers may have.
Qualifications:
Applicants must have a genuine interest in working with individuals experiencing homelessness. Veterans or military family members are encouraged to apply. Skills desired include: ability to interact well with a diverse group of people, public speaking, teaching or tutoring, community organizing, and problem solving skills.
Program Benefits:
Childcare assistance if eligible, Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend, Health Coverage, Living Allowance, Lunch served at meal program, Training.
How to Apply:
Employment {at} helpfbms(.)org
Please indicate “VISTA Volunteer Coordinator in the subject line of your email.
*Cover letter not necessary
www.helpfbms.org
