School Age Youth Social Competency Skill Builder - True North AmeriCorps

Position Title: Youth Development AmeriCorps Member

Reports To: True North AmeriCorps Staff and Site Supervisor

Program Office: Downtown Duluth, MN

Service Site Location: 1000 NE 8 Ave. Grand Rapids, MN 55744

Start Date: February 2, 2026 End Date: May 29, 2026

Hours Available: M-F 8am-3pm, 35 hours/week

Travel: No travel expected

Apply: duluthymca.org/tnac

POSITION SUMMARY

The Y’s True North AmeriCorps (TNAC) program is dedicated to enhancing long term education equity outcomes by increasing K-8th grade students’ interpersonal skills and social competencies. TNAC members facilitate weekly interventions including positive relationship building, academic enrichment, and individualized skill building with identified students at their site. By engaging positive adults as mentors to provide interventions for youth with unmet needs, the program will improve participants' interpersonal skills, social competencies, attitude towards learning, and resiliency; ultimately increasing their likelihood to graduate high school on time. This is an AmeriCorps member position.

DESCRIPTION OF SITE

Robert J Elkington Middle School is a special place and time in a student’s life and our goal is to have a positive impact on every student. We are a team of educators that specializes in our content, but also specialize in building relationships with students and families. Our mission is resilience, readiness, and excellence. Our building consists of 850 amazing students, all who have great potential to do great things. At our school, we are a team and we believe that a successful team works for and with each other. If you’re ready to join our team and make a difference for our students, we’d love to have you serve at our school this year!

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinates and delivers formal and informal activities, lessons, and “teachable moments” to build targeted interpersonal skills for identified youth
• Regularly tracks caseload attendance and interventions completed with program participants
• Completes observational surveys and other data collection with fidelity, reviews results with site supervisors to develop and implement intervention plans and goals
• Follows procedures to maintain accurate and timely AmeriCorps-specific data entry
• Assists site staff with planned enrichment programming in ways that do not duplicate or displace staff or volunteer duties
• Builds positive developmentally appropriate relationships with youth at site
• Maintains safe and respectful environment for students
• Meaningfully participates in and leads efforts to support the Y’s commitment to serving the whole community
• Develops and implements a project to engage youth in service learning and leadership, documenting impact including volunteers engaged
• Communicates regularly and effectively with True North staff, Site Supervisor, and other site personnel via phone, email, online systems, and verbal interactions
• Participates in all required True North AmeriCorps meetings and trainings
• Serves as an ambassador of the program by submitting Great Stories, sharing more about their impact of service

BENEFITS

• Monthly Living Allowance up to about $2,600 pre-tax dependent on position size
• Education Award up to $7,395 after completion of a successful term, dependent on position length and size
• Student Loan Forbearance and Interest Repayment
• Free Family YMCA Membership
• Free and subsidized YMCA National Trainings
• Free Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance (full time only)
• Child Care Assistance (qualifying full time only)
• Ongoing Professional Career Development

AMERICORPS ELIGIBILITY

• 18 years or older at start of service term
• High school graduate with diploma or GED
• U.S. citizen, U.S. National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the United States
• Complete and successfully pass the National Criminal History Check
• Served less than 4 terms or have received less than 2 full education awards, whichever comes later.
• Committed to completing the entire term of service

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Experience volunteering or working with youth
• Professionalism in a variety of settings including schools and afterschool programs
• Computer skills including effective use of email, word processing skills, information entry into spreadsheets, and the ability to learn new technology systems
• Strong written and oral communication skills effective with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life
• Effectively manage a variety of tasks, deadlines, priorities, and people
• Commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, and self-confidence to inspire future success for all of our neighborhood youth
• Basic CPR/AED and First Aid for adults, children, and infants. Training will be provided and paid for by the program upon start. Must be obtained within 60 days
• Ability to show up happy and ready to play, no matter how hard or difficult their day was prior to service.

Preferred

• Training or education in education, social work, human services, recreation, mental health, trauma-informed care, healing-centered care, youth development
• Demonstrates strong self-awareness and emotional maturity
• Accepts and celebrates cultural differences

TYPICAL SERVICE ENVIRONMENT

• Noisy with many youth, demanding attention in a classroom or large program space
• May include a combination of inside computer/planning work in a shared office or cubicle and outside program facilitation in all weather conditions

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Visual and auditory ability to observe and respond to participant behavior, enforce safety regulations, and apply appropriate behavior-management techniques.
• Physical ability to respond to situations requiring first aid. Must be able to assist youth in an emergency including lifting up to 50 pounds (fire, evacuation, illness, or injury). Possess strength and endurance to maintain constant supervision of youth.
• Ability to drive and be insured for driving a YMCA or Site vehicle dependent on site.

NON-DISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

TNAC, and the Y, strive to create a welcoming and respectful environment for all. This program is available to all, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, religion, age, national origin, genetic information, disability, military status, familial status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law. In addition to federal law requirements, the Y complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination. Reasonable accommodations provided upon request for interviews and service activities.

Application Question(s):

• What is a valid email address to be contacted for scheduling an interview?

Work Location: In person