DEADLINE EXTENDED: The Grinnell Education Partnership will be accepting applications until July 30, 2021 for five AmeriCorps VISTA positions beginning in August 2021. Each of these positions will lead a community taskforce focused on a key focus area that will help to support learners in the Grinnell area. GEP Taskforce Coordinators will collaborate with community partners and volunteers to build capacity and develop projects, implementing or improving one or more programs for students and children in and around Grinnell. Descriptions of the different focus areas are below.
The 2020-2021 AmeriCorps member cohort: Riah Coley, Sieglinde Thetard, Saiham Sharif, Grace Morrison, Jill Harris, and Athena Frasca
These VISTA positions are full-time volunteer positions, requiring approximately 40 hours of service per week, for a full year. This position is scheduled to begin on Monday, August 2, 2021 and continue through to August 2022. Day-to-day activities may include contacting community partners, organizing and leading meetings, generating funding, coordinating across organizations to identify community needs and priorities, and creating, enhancing, and implementing programming for students in the area.
Placements
There are five taskforce coordinator placements available. These include:
Skills Gap Taskforce Coordinator, preparing students for a life beyond school by addressing the discrepancy between the abilities needed or required to learn, and the actual abilities which are possessed by the learner
School Readiness Taskforce Coordinator, preparing Pre-K students to successfully enter kindergarten
Healthy Readers Taskforce Coordinator, focusing on a variety of health and wellness solutions, including physical and mental health, to support children and their families
Family Engagement Taskforce Coordinator, focusing on engaging families and caregivers and enriching programming surrounding their support, and
Equity and Inclusion Taskforce Coordinator, focusing on equity and inclusion for children and families in the Grinnell area.
About the Grinnell Education Partnership
The Grinnell Education Partnership brings together community non-profits, area employers, the Grinnell-Newburg School District, and community volunteers to support PK-12 children and families in Grinnell, Iowa. The Partnership is dedicated to increasing community-wide collaboration to close achievement gaps, give students a strong start in the early school years, and finish strong so they are prepared to do well after graduation. The Partnership has been in existence for six years and is now focused on continuing to support community-based education initiatives while adapting to the changing landscape brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Taskforce Coordinator positions are operated by Volunteer Iowa.
Eligibility
Full-Time VISTA Member eligibility requirements:
Be at least 18 years of age at the commencement of service OR be an out-of-school youth at least 16 years of age participating in a youth corps-type program (42 USC 12572A2) OR an out-of-school youth of at least 16 years of age enrolled in a program for economically disadvantaged youth (as defined in the Act 42 USC 12572A9);
Have a high school diploma or its equivalent, or be in the process of obtaining one;
Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States; and
Pass all required National Service Criminal History Checks conducted by the AmeriCorps VISTA Program.
Preference will be given to those who:
Have interest or experience in non-profit management or community organization;
Possess superior writing, editing, speaking, presentation, and general communication skills;
Are organized, self-motivated, reliable, and dependable; and
Demonstrate strong teamwork and leadership skills.
Benefits
AmeriCorps team members are eligible for the following service benefits:
Living allowance. Members will receive a monthly living allowance for their term of service.
End-of-Service Award. Upon successful completion of service, service members are eligible for an education award or a service stipend. The education award can be used to repay qualified student loans and to pay current educational expenses at eligible institutions. It is good for up to seven years. If the member is 55+, the award may be transferred to a child, grandchild, or foster child. For VISTA, the education award benefit is approximately $6,000. The end-of-service stipend is a cash award of approximately $1,800. You can find more information about the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award at this link.
Loan Forbearance. Qualified student loans are eligible for forbearance during AmeriCorps terms and many members qualify for income-based deferment of their student loans. (For more information on deferment/forbearance, visit Student Aid Loan Deferment.)
Health Coverage. For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit the VISTA Campus Healthcare page.
You can learn more about the benefits of being an AmeriCorps VISTA service member at the VISTA Campus Benefits website.
How to Apply
Applicants will need to complete the application available at MyAmeriCorps. You will need to create an account to complete the application. Please also send a cover letter and resume to info@grinnelleducationpartnership.org. Interviews will occur on a rolling basis, and the position may be filled before the deadline. Applications are being accepted now through Friday, July 30.
Please direct any questions to Liz Hansen at hansenel@grinnell.edu.
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