AmeriCorps Summer Teen Empowerment Specialist

Position Summary

Contract dates: May 26, 2026 – August 1, 2026 (10 Week Contract); 

300 Hours Contract - Minimum of 35 hours/week 

Compensation: Living Allowance Total: $3,900 ($780.00 every 2 weeks over 10 weeks) Education Award: $1,565.08

Opening Date: February 24, 2026

Closing Date: May 20, 2026

Description: 

AmeriCorps is a national service program that takes a different approach to improve lives and fostering civic engagement. AmeriCorps Members commit their time to address critical community needs.  In Dubuque, AmeriCorps Members serve at the intersection of education and mental health to help youth understand their emotions, reactions, and relationships through social-emotional learning to improve academic, career, and social success. City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Members implement key skill-building program to have the following impacts:

1. Youth experience programs promoting healthy lifestyles resulting in decreased youth risk-related behaviors. 
2. Youth development skills to build meaningful and healthy relationships while experiencing being valued and respected. 
3. Providing every young person with the opportunity to grow up safely and access their best possible future.

The AmeriCorps Summer Teen Empowerment Specialists are a team of AmeriCorps Members that serve in two teams at the Multicultural Family Center, in the Summer Teen Empowerment Program (STEP) and the Summer Teen Empowerment Nights (STEN). These members serve alongside MFC Staff (Teen Empowerment Coordinator & Teen Night Manager) and Full-Time AmeriCorps Members (the Teen Engagement Specialist & Academic Advocate) to provide community engagement and skill-building programming. The Summer Teen Empowerment Specialist focuses on supporting youth from marginalized communities, helping them navigate their summer in meaningful ways. 

The Specialists will facilitate STEP & STEN programming for middle/high school students, build relationships with youth and their families, connect talents and interests to potential careers, and create sustainable support systems within the community.

Benefits:

• Education Award received upon successful completion of their term of service.
• Living Allowance
• Childcare coverage if the member qualifies
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments for eligible loans

Job Duties

Service Responsibilities: 

1. Program Development and Implementation:
   1. Collaborate with the Teen Empowerment Coordinator and Teen Night Manager to develop and implement engaging programming and outreach initiatives for teen-aged youth in the Dubuque community.
      1. Hold 1 planning meeting per week
   2. Develop and implement weekly programs for groups of approximately 40-50 students.
      1. Facilitate 1 program per week
   3. Implement program curricula that focus on community engagement, healthy choices, and positive social skill development for teenagers.
      1. Deliver 1 curriculum module per week (total: 8 modules), rotating through the three focus areas.
      2. Ensure each session includes at least one interactive activity tied to these themes.
   4. Collaborate closely with the Teen Engagement Specialist & Academic Advocate to develop individualized success plans for program participants focus on individual needs/supports. IE: Social-Emotional Learning, College & Career Support, Healthy Habits, Life-skills, Academic Support.
      1. Create success plans for 100% of enrolled participants by Week 2.
      2. Review and update plans every 2 weeks
   5. Plan and facilitate activities that engage teenagers, promote learning, and foster a sense of belonging and community.
      1. Organize 1 engagement activity per week (total: 8 activities) during the program.
      2. Track participant satisfaction scores of 80% or higher via post-activity surveys
   6. Recruit and engage youth to participate in Teen Empowerment Programs throughout the summer.
      1. Conduct 2 outreach efforts per week (prepare social media content for staff to promote, community visits) for 8 weeks (total: 16 efforts).
      2. Achieve a minimum of 50 new sign-ups by Week 8.
2. Teen Coaching and Support:
   1. Coach teenagers on appropriate behaviors, conflict management, de-escalation and self-regulation practices.
      1. Provide coaching sessions during every program day (4 days/week) for 8 weeks (total: 32 sessions).
      2. Address at least 2 individual coaching interactions per day.
   2. Provide guidance and mentorship to teens during activities, programs, and events.
      1. Offer mentorship touchpoints daily during activities (minimum 4 per day) for 32 program days.
      2. Track at least 1 meaningful mentorship conversation per teen per week.
   3. Encourage academic engagement, recreational participation, and positive peer interactions among at-risk youth.
      1. Facilitate 1 structured academic engagement activity per week (total: 8 activities).
      2. Promote peer interaction through 2 recreational activities per week (total: 16 activities).
      3. Monitor and record participation rates of 80% or higher.
   4. Carry out developmental activities that promote skill-building in areas such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, personal responsibility, goal-directed behavior, decision-making, and optimistic thinking.
      1. Implement 1 skill-building activity per day (total: 32 activities) covering different competencies.
      2. Ensure each teen participates in at least 6 distinct skill areas by Week 8
   5. Create opportunities for teens to enhance their social, emotional, and life skills through workshops, discussions, and experiential learning activities.
      1. Host 1 workshop or discussion per week (total: 8 sessions) focused on SEL and life skills.
      2. Include at least 2 experiential learning activities per month (total: 4 activities).
      3. Collect feedback from 80% of participants after each session.
3. Volunteer Management:
   1. Recruit, manage, monitor, train, and document volunteer involvement with teen programming.
   2. Coordinate with volunteers to support the implementation of activities and ensure a safe and supportive environment for participants.
   3. Collaborate with local colleges and community leaders to recruit volunteers and mentors to support Teen Empowerment programming throughout the school year and summer months.
4. Impact Assessment and Documentation:
   1. Document and maintain records of the impact on area youth who participate in the teen empowerment programs through weekly data reporting processes.
   2. Collect data and feedback to evaluate program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
   3. Conduct the DESSA assessments to measure students' social-emotional competencies.
5. Disaster Response (AmeriCorps-Disaster Response Team)
   1. Participate in A-DRT training(s) to ensure the member has knowledge and ability to respond to disasters
   2. Complete other training necessary to support disaster deployments, including but not limited to Volunteer Reception Center (VRC), first aid, mental health first aid, and chainsaw training.

Qualifications

Physical Requirements: 

• Walk and carry materials up and down steps 
• Stand and walk for extended periods of time 
• Lift 30 pounds 
• Bend, squat, and kneel

Desired Skills/Qualifications:

• Must be competent in working with at-risk youth, teen aged youth, and communities facing barriers, or a willingness to learn. 
• Applicant must have reliable transportation. 
• Applicant must be creative, energetic, dependable, and a self-starter.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent OR agree to obtain one while under service to the AmeriCorps Program
• Be 17 years or older at the start of service (no upper age limit) 
• Pass a national service criminal history check prior to the first day of service due to recurring access to vulnerable populations
• Hold one of the following citizenship statuses: US citizen, US national, or Lawful Permanent Resident

Supplemental Information

Service Schedule

The Summer Teen Empowerment Specialists’ scheduled hours may fluctuate based on Teen Programming scheduled throughout the summer.  Member must serve a minimum of 35 hours per week.

STEP Typical schedule: Mon - Thurs: 8am - 5pm, Friday: 9am - 2pm. 

STEN Typical schedule: Mon - Thurs: 12pm - 9pm, Friday: 10am - 3pm.

Opportunities for weekend hours or special events may become available during the summer.

Sick leave, personal leave, and holiday leave are allowed, but such time off does not count towards the required number of hours needed to successfully complete the term of service. There are additional benefits offered if the member has a compelling personal circumstance.

Disaster Deployments: Members who opt in to be engaged in disaster deployment/activities will need to ensure availability for the term of the disaster deployments, generally 2-4 weeks.  Make plans for pets, family members, other employment, and responsibilities that need regular attention.

Evaluations and Alternative Service

AmeriCorps Members are required by the program to complete Self-Evaluations. 

End-Term Evaluations: Upon the completion of their AmeriCorps Contract, all members will complete an End-Term Evaluation through America Learns. The End-Term Evaluation must be completed, signed, and submitted to the AmeriCorps Program within 30 days of the member’s final date of service. Non-submission of this document within the 30-day timeframe will lead to the member being exited for cause (see section 9 of the Member Service Agreement) and will forfeit the member’s right to the Education Award.

Members may engage in other allowable activities that are not specifically outlined in the position description, but that support the AmeriCorps program design, and which will help the Program meet its goals. Under no circumstances will members be asked to perform prohibited activities. Volunteers recruited and/or managed by AmeriCorps members will not participate in prohibited activities as outlined in the approved grant.

Our Commitment to You
The City of Dubuque is committed to using a merit-based system in which recruiting, selecting, and advancing employees is based on their relative knowledge, skills, and abilities, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws. Our organization provides equal opportunities for all individuals, fostering a workplace that values innovation, collaboration, and work-life balance. We offer job stability, a comprehensive benefits package, and an opportunity to serve and support our growing community. In accordance with legal obligations our policies and practices are designed to ensure fair treatment and foster a respectful workplace where all are encouraged to apply.

Salary : $780