What are the responsibilities and job description for the AmeriCorps Teen Creativity Specialist position at City of Dubuque, IA?
Position Summary
- Example Contract dates:
- September 3, 2024 –August 16, 2025 (50 Week Contract);
- September 16, 2024 - August 30, 2025 (50 Week Contract)
- Contract start and end dates are flexible and rotate on a bi-weekly schedule
1700 Hours Contract - Minimum of 37 hours/week
Compensation: Living Allowance Total: $22,100.00 ($884.00 every 2 weeks over 50 weeks) Education Award: $7,395.00*
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
GENERAL SUMMARY: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:
- Youth experience programs promoting healthy lifestyles resulting in decreased youth risk-related behaviors.
- Youth development skills to build meaningful and healthy relationships while experiencing inclusion and belonging.
- Providing every young person with the opportunity to grow up safely and access their best possible future.
Benefits:
- Education Award received upon successful completion of their term of service.
- Living Allowance
- Healthcare
- Childcare coverage, if the member qualifies.
- Student loan forbearance and interest payments for eligible loans
Job Duties
SERVICE RESPONSIBILITIES:
Program Development and Implementation:
- Collaborate with the Teen Empowerment Coordinator to design and implement programming that engages and supports teenagers in the Dubuque community.
- Develop program curricula using a creative arts-focus to foster skill-building in key areas such as such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, personal responsibility, goal directed behavior, decision-making and optimistic thinking.
- Carry out developmental activities that promote skill-building in areas such as such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, personal responsibility, goal directed behavior, decision-making and optimistic thinking.
- Host quarterly "Creativity Shows" to promote Teen creative expression in partnership with local Arts & Cultural organizations and networks.
- Engage and recruit Teen participation in local Arts & Cultural events, activities, and programs through out the year (ex: Art on the River, Winter Arts Snow Sculpting Festival, DubuqueFest).
- Collaboration and Partnership:
- Collaborate closely with AmeriCorps members serving at program partners (Mentor Dubuque, Carnegie-Stout Public Library, Multicultural Family Center, and Engineering) to establish collaborative teen-focused programming efforts.
- Develop new partnerships and foster positive relationships with current partnerships with community organizations and stakeholders to identify current level of teen/youth program offerings and support the development of additional/new opportunities for engagement.
- Develop connections with Dubuque Community School District fine-arts departments and teachers to effectively engage youth for feedback, program ideas, new community opportunities, and program recruitment.
- Coordinate monthly spotlights and presentations from community professionals from various arts/cultural/creative careers to present about their personal pathway to their career and about the types of available jobs and opportunities in their career.
- Build and leverage partnerships with Colleges, Universities, and post-secondary apprenticeship programs to enhance post-secondary academic and career engagement in Fine Arts, Culture, and other Creative fields.
- Volunteer Management:
- Recruit, manage, monitor, train, and document volunteer involvement with teen programming.
- Coordinate with volunteers to support the implementation of activities and ensure a safe and supportive environment for participants.
- Collaborate with local colleges and community leaders to recruit volunteers and mentor to support Teen Empowerment programming throughout the school year and summer months.
- Impact Assessment and Documentation:
- Document and maintain records of the impact on area youth who participate in the teen empowerment programs.
- Collect data and feedback to evaluate program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
- Conduct the DESSA assessments to measure students' social-emotional competencies.
- Disaster Response (AmeriCorps-Disaster Response Team)
- Participate in A-DRT training(s) to ensure the member has knowledge and ability to respond to disasters.
- 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.
- Must be competent in working with at-risk youth, teenaged youth, marginalized populations and discussing topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Applicant must have reliable transportation.
- Applicant must be creative, energetic, dependable and a self-starter.
- 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 first day of service due to reoccurring access to vulnerable populations.
- Hold one of the following citizenship statuses: US citizen, US national, or Lawful Permanent Resident.
Supplemental Information
Service Schedule:
The Teen Creativity Specialist’s scheduled hours may fluctuate based on Teen Empowerment Programming and Teen Programming scheduled throughout the year. Typical schedule: Mon - Friday: Serve flexibly between the hours of 9am - 8pm, with Four days/week served during the 8am - 5pm timeframe, with one day from 12pm to 8pm; Opportunities for weekend hours or special events may become available during the year.
Example schedule for illustrative purposes:
- Monday: 8am - 5pm
- Tuesday: 12pm to 8pm
- Wednesday: 12pm to 8pm
- Thursday: 8am - 5pm
- Friday: 8am - 5pm
- Saturday: Off
- Sunday: Off
Sick leave, personal leave, and holiday leave is 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: Member 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.
AmeriCorps Members are required by the program to complete Self-Evaluations.
Mid-Term Evaluations: At the member’s halfway point during their term of service, the member will complete a self-evaluation and their Site Supervisor will complete an evaluation on the member through AmericaLearns. The member and site supervisor will meet, with or without Program Staff, to discuss the evaluations in-depth. These evaluations must be submitted to the AmeriCorps Program.
End-Term Evaluations: Upon the completion of their AmeriCorps Contract, all members will complete an End-Term Evaluation through AmericaLearns. 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 application.
APPLICATION: all applications are submitted electronically via this website.
Questions? CONTACT: City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Program
Phone: 563.690.6171 Email: americorps@cityofdubuque.org
The City of Dubuque is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.
- AmeriCorps member will receive education award in the form of an electronic payment through myamericorpgs.gov. Education award may be used to pay educational costs at eligible post-secondary educational institutions or qualified student loans. Members who are 55 years of age can transfer award to child or grandchild under specific conditions.
Note: AmeriCorps Members are compensated through the national AmeriCorps program and are not considered employees of the City of Dubuque.
Our Commitment to You
We are committed to using a merit-based system in which recruiting, selecting, and advancing employees is based on their relative knowledge, skills, and abilities. The City of Dubuque values a culture of equity, diverse perspectives, and life experiences. Our organization embraces innovation, collaboration and work-life harmony. We offer job stability, a comprehensive benefits package, and an opportunity to serve and support our diverse community. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity and an inclusive workforce. Women, minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Salary : $884