FULL TIME AND PART TIME ROLES ARE AVAILABLE

DREAM offers four main forms of programs for the youth and families we serve, which are Academic Support, Summer Enrichment, Village Mentoring, and Adventure. The Community Organizer will be centered around Academic Support in the school year, Summer Enrichment during the summer, and be a liaison for supporting Adventure programming throughout the calendar year. The Community Organizer will embed themselves in the community as a resource and support system for youth and families as their top priority. 

The DREAM Program is committed to dismantling systems of oppression that affect our youth and families. This organizational commitment means that members should join this space with an intention of learning, unlearning, and diving into ways that your involvement will directly contribute to DREAM’s mission of reducing the Opportunity Gap while also supporting the dismantling of other systemic inequities. We seek members who contribute to The DREAM Program’s diverse community, as having different perspectives, identities, and skills are what allow us to excel in our service. DREAM seeks members who are ready to engage in and foster an inclusive environment, and who strive to deliver culturally appropriate and relevant programming to the youth we serve. Incoming members and staff should understand that we serve marginalized communities, which means that it is imperative that diversity, equity, and inclusivity are infused into every aspect of our work as an organization.

Objectives of Service as a Community Organizer: 

• Families should identify our Community Organizers as a positive resource. This will be done by:

• • • Building a trusting relationship with each family.
    • Connecting with caregivers and their youth on a weekly basis.
    • Locate and share community resources as needed. 
    • Organizing and holding 2 community events per year. 

• Students should identify our Community organizers as a safe adult who they can go to if they need help. This will be done by: 

• • • Holding unconditional positive regard for each youth. 
    • Building a close, supportive relationship with the mentee, their caregivers, and community partners. 
    • Providing engaging programming for youth during out of school time.
    • Being present in the community where youth live on a regular basis.

• Youth should feel supported in their educational success. This will be done by:

• • Offering, scheduling and holding regular academic support sessions.
  • Locating and connecting subject-based tutors for youth as needed. 
  • Connecting with support staff at the youth’s school (teachers, guidance counselors, etc.) to gain knowledge about their academics and engage others in the investment of their success on a deeper level. 
  • Engaging youth in conversations about their academic goals, and sharing or providing access to resources related to opportunities. 
• Connecting caregivers and youth to DREAM as an organization. 
  • Sharing information about summer and adventure programming. 
  • Completing paperwork with families to support summer and adventure programming. 
  • Conduct surveys with the mentees for grant purposes.
  • Advertising and attending Local Advisory Board meetings. 

The Experience of Serving as a Community Organizer:

• Members should expect to serve late morning into the evening hours each day of service; similar to an after-school position. Most afternoons will be spent in the community, connecting with families and/or supporting the academic progress of the youth living in our partner communities.
• Preparation for after school time should be completed prior to arriving in the community.
• Communication with caregivers occurs every week, or more frequently as circumstances may direct.
• Members will connect with their regional teams during weekly meetings, or more frequently as projects and collaborations direct. 
• Connection and communication with school contacts, local organizations, and resources that offer supplemental services to youth and families should happen monthly, or more frequently as circumstances may direct. 
• Summer months will transition to creating and delivering activities that build engagement, academic enrichment and fun for youth. Beginning in June, daily and weekly schedules will adjust to deliver DREAM Summer Enrichment Programming.
• Lots of FUN with fellow AmeriCorps members, regional teams, the full DREAM Organization, and the youth! 

Required qualifications:

• Commitment to the entire service term.
• Commitment to the mission of AmeriCorps and DREAM.
• Desire to enhance existing skills and develop new skills necessary for service.
• Commitment to serve as a role model for youth.
• A passion for supporting the ongoing work around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
• Experience working or living in a diverse and inclusive environment with elevated, demonstrated awareness of issues of social equity and social and racial justice.
• Demonstrated practice or education serving diverse communities or populations of people of color in an equitable manner and a manner that is respectful and aware of the community's experience.
• Demonstrated ability to manage time and set priorities while giving consideration to those serving, your fellow team members, the organization, and the self.
• A dedicated room/space to complete your service that is not at a DREAM-supported site.
• An internet connection capable of easily handling Google Workspace apps and specifically, a Google Hangout/Meet.
• Access to resources necessary to support your telework/service experience (electrical power outlet to keep devices charged, reliable wifi connection that can connect with our cloud-based softwares).
• Ability to regularly meet in person with your team or your service assignment in their assigned location (including responsibility for transportation to and from).
• Access to a reliable phone.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with youth.
• Access to resources that supplement your telework/service experience (headphones with a mic, laptop or computer with a camera).
• Current driver’s license, proof of insurance, and clean driving record.
• Communication proficiency: comfort with email, phone and video conferencing, in addition to in-person communication.
• Computer proficiency: comfort Google's GSuite and email, ability to comprehend and use a dynamic suite or cloud-based software/apps that meet our organization or participants where they are. 
• A desire to learn or experience creating and supporting professional networking structures.
• A strong desire to learn about operating successfully in the non-profit industry.

DREAM AmeriCorps Benefits: 

• Living Stipend provided to you in biweekly payments.
• AmeriCorps members are also eligible for:
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (food stamps)
  • Child care assistance
  • Medicaid
  • Student loan deferment (forbearance)
  • Other publicly-funded benefits, such as heating and utility assistance.
• Upon the completion of the service term, AmeriCorps members are eligible to receive the Segal Education Award, which can be used to pay education expenses or repay qualified student loans. 
• In addition to benefits available through AmeriCorps, DREAM offers our full time longer term AmeriCorps members a housing stipend of $100 per month, paid directly to your housing provider.
• As an AmeriCorps member at DREAM, you will have the additional support of a DREAM AmeriCorps Director to help you navigate your service term and apply for publicly funded programs.
• DREAM is invested in your professional and personal development, and holds AmeriCorps Development Days and a variety of professional development opportunities throughout the service term.
• If you engage in work-related travel outside of a commute, DREAM will provide reimbursement by mileage.

AmeriCorps Requirements: 

• Must be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the U.S.A. due to AmeriCorps requirements.
• Be at least 17 years of age at the commencement of service OR be an out-of-school youth 16 years of age at the commencement of service participating in a program 
• Have a high school diploma or its equivalent OR not have dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant (and must agree to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award) OR obtain a waiver from the Corporation OR be enrolled in an institution of higher education on an ability to benefit basis 
• Members must agree to the following Criminal History Checks to be performed in order to serve as an AmeriCorps Member: NSOPW (Public Sex Offender) Check, Statewide Criminal Repository Checks (for State of Service and State of Residence), and FBI fingerprint-based Criminal History Check. The member is aware that that their identity must be verified with a government-issued photo ID. The results of these checks will be kept confidential, but could affect eligibility to serve in AmeriCorps.

Work environment: This position operates in multiple spaces. The spaces included may have characteristics similar to a professional office environment, an indoor/outdoor environment with active children and students, at our rustic Camp DREAM, and within the program sites we serve. This role routinely uses computers and various softwares regularly, as well as standard office/school equipment (such as phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and printers) as well as equipment characteristic of an outdoor and indoor youth camp (pop-up shade canopies/tents, hand tools, activity supplies, food preparation equipment, storage spaces and sports equipment/toys).

Physical demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee/member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job: 

• This position requires comfort working in outdoor environments, regardless of the weather. This position can be very active and frequently requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee/member is regularly required to communicate with individuals who talk and hear.
• The employee/member may occasionally lift and/or move items over 50 pounds.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee/member is regularly required to observe and comprehend using vision abilities that include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

AAP/EEO Statement: 

The DREAM Program is an equal opportunity employer and an incorporated 501(c)3 charitable organization. The DREAM Program prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

At will employment:

The DREAM Program is an at will employer. Employment with The DREAM Program is voluntary and is subject to termination by you or The DREAM Program at will, with or without cause, and with or without notice, at any time. The policy of employment-at-will may not be modified by any officer or employee.