Allies for Immigrants Commonwealth Corps Program Coordinator
English for New Bostonians
Job Description
The mission of the Commonwealth Corps service internship program is to engage Massachusetts residents of all ages and backgrounds in service to strengthen communities, address critical community needs, and increase volunteerism. By taking on a year of service, you can positively impact your community while gaining skills and experience. The Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA) is a private, nonprofit agency that oversees the program and supports host site partners and members to find success throughout the program year. The two Corps members with Allies for Immigrants will serve 10.5 months in a full-time capacity. They will join a corps of members across Massachusetts who share a common desire to put their talents and ideas to use in the service of their communities and the Commonwealth.
English for New Bostonians (ENB) invests in the future of our region by fostering a high-quality ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) system that prepares immigrants to pursue educational, economic and civic aspirations. ENB provides program support, curriculum customization, ESOL staff training, evaluation and quality control to run highly effective ESOL programs to meet the needs of 1,000+ jobseekers, entrepreneurs, adults seeking college, professionals, parents, and low literate learners yearly. Two Commonwealth Corps members will serve as part of ENB’s Allies for Immigrants program in partnership with Boston Cares. The ENB member will serve as a Commonwealth Corps Program Outreach Coordinator, supporting the growth and development of the Allies program by recruiting, training and supporting volunteer ESOL tutors, and developing systems and tools to facilitate stronger engagement, including a peer leadership program to build sustainable capacity. The ENB member will collaborate closely with the Commonwealth Cops member at Boston Cares to recruit and train 40 new volunteer tutors and provide support to retain the existing 70 active tutors serving with 9+ programs in Dorchester, East Boston, Roslindale, Allston, Chinatown, South End, and Quincy. The member will also recruit, train and support volunteers engaging in one-time opportunities, such as mock job or citizenship interviews with ESOL students. The member will build out virtual options for volunteer engagement, such as phone interviews and facilitating virtual small groups. The member also will collaborate with ENB staff to deepen ESOL volunteer and staff training experiences.
Responsibilities:
Essential
- Complete a minimum of 1,500 hours of service, serving through June 26, 2021.
- Attend all required Commonwealth Corps trainings and service events held by MSA (minimum of 6 total, post orientation) and Boston Cares, including a new member orientation on August 17 & 18, 2020.
- Participate in a minimum of 1 hour of MSA-approved professional development-related activities each week (in person or virtually).
- Recruit, train, and support volunteer tutors serving in ESOL programs around Boston
- Recruit, train and support one-time volunteers e.g. for mock job interviews to serve in Boston ESOL programs
- Support new tutor recruitment efforts bringing in and training new program tutors 2 to 3 times annually
- Communicate with volunteers via phone, email, and in-person to address questions and support engagement
- Engage in community meetings to meet community leaders and ESOL program students, understand community priorities and develop relationships with Allies for Immigrants ESOL Tutor Corps program sites, including monthly site visits and neighborhood roundtables with Allies tutors
- Support data entry and management into ENB’s volunteer database as well as Boston Care’s HandsOn Connect, a Salesforce based system for volunteer management;
- Develop a peer-leadership program that engages volunteers in regular communication and support between students, programs, and Allies for Immigrants staff
- Assess needs for program and define role of peer leader
- Create a position description for the role based on volunteer, partner and student needs
- Develop a recruitment plan and training program for leaders
- Work with ENB Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator to develop and pilot new forms of ESOL volunteer and staff training, for example, by developing virtual volunteer engagement opportunities, training volunteers on new ESOL apps and recruiting students for practical training.
- Serve as a full member of the ENB team – attend staff and program team meetings
- Represent ENB and Allies for Immigrants in the community
- Lead New Volunteer Orientations for ENB gatherings, promoting Allies as an opportunity
- Massachusetts residency (must be able to provide proof of current MA address) and legal authorization to work in the United States
- 18 years of age or older
- Experience with or interest in volunteerism and community engagement
- Ability to balance service commitment with other family/work/school/community commitments in a sustainable way
- Familiarity with Microsoft Office and Google Suite
- Interest and ability to serve as part of a small team in a fast-paced environment
- Interest and ability to take initiative and work independently on projects
- Passion for serving in and with immigrant communities
- Ability to communicate clearly with diverse groups
- Ability to serve in a shared office environment
- Experience working or volunteering in diverse community settings and comfortable learning new neighborhoods and traveling/visiting programs across the Boston area.
- Experience speaking in front of a group, serving as a mentor, teacher, or tutor
- Interest in a career in the nonprofit sector
- Stipend of $800 semi-monthly while in service, up to $16,800, minus taxes and withholdings;
- Health insurance (no monthly contribution; individual coverage only);
- Member Assistance Program, including unlimited, confidential, 24/7, phone counseling services and up to three free, in-person counseling sessions, plus a lot more;
- Completion award of up to $3,000 upon successful completion of service, minus taxes and withholdings;
- Subsidized CharlieCard Monthly Pass, Valid on all MBTA ferry routes, Subway, Silver Line, Bus, and Commuter Rail Zone 1A;
- Option to opt-in to annual Bluebike membership
- Reimbursement for outside training or professional development opportunities relevant to member’s service and/or goals (Up to $100; Dependent on approval from MSA);
- Additional training and other professional development opportunities;
- Limited reimbursement for travel to Corps-wide MSA-sponsored activities;
- Limited travel reimbursement from their host site for certain service-related travel away from their usual service location, according to that agency's policies;
- The opportunity for at least 10 days of planned absences (may include holidays); and
- Opportunity to join with others with a common sense of purpose as part of the Commonwealth Corps. Please note that receipt of these stipends/benefits may impact an individual’s eligibility for certain public benefits.
- Position Start Date: August 17, 2020
- Position End Date: June 26, 2021
- Service commitment will average 38-40 hours per week with hours primarily Monday-Friday with a typical day being 9am-5pm (8 hours).
- Schedule will be arranged with supervisor with some opportunity for flexibility.
- Potential for occasional evening and weekend commitments at minimum two weeks advanced notice will be provided.
- To apply, submit a cover letter and resume to Luis Franco at info@englishfornewbostonians.org. Early applications are encouraged as applications will be accepted on rolling basis, with preference given to candidates who apply by May 29, 2020.
- This position is cross-posted with the Commonwealth Corps Service Internship at Boston Cares. Applicants are invited to apply for either or both positions.