These Community Development positions are offered through AmeriCorps Project CHANGE. AmeriCorps is a full time, volunteer service position with benefits like living allowance, health insurance and education scholarship, (as listed below) but this is NOT a JOB and therefore members are not paid a normal SALARY. People apply to these positions because primarily they want to serve and give back to their community. It is not a position that one does for the pay, or for the pay alone.
MHP provides affordable housing for many immigrant and refugee families who are striving to provide a future for their kids. Since most parents are working, they face the challenge of care and support for their kids when they come home from school. MHP provides a Community Life program for all ages and recruits AmeriCorps members to help design and run these homework and enrichment after school programs that are held in the same complex where the students live. There are many challenges. Many students have another language as their native tongue. Many have suffered interrupted schooling. Their families are unfamiliar with American schools. Therefore parents need much encouragement and support to be involved in their child's education. That is the the AmeriCorps role, serving both students and families and playing a vital role in the whole community.
Two members will serve as full time AmeriCorps member through Project Change to work as community Development specialists, serving in one of MHP local community centers in Wheaton, Silver Spring, and Takoma. Given the population, being bilingual is an advantage, no matter what language, and especially in Spanish, French, Arabic or Amharic.
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Requirements for AmeriCorps members in Project Change:
1. 18 years of age
2. High School Diploma
3. Drivers license/access to a vehicle
4. Able to work in the US
5. Able to devote 37 hours a week from Monday to Friday and attend AmeriCorps training on most Fridays
6. Experience working with a community and their youth
7. Willing to have a criminal background check
8. Willing to be fully vaccinated against COVID
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In return, AmeriCorps members receive:
Professional Development weekly training
$21,500 living stipend
$7395 educational scholarship
Health benefits including vision and dental
Professional mentoring
Peer support network and connection to AmeriCorps alumni
Preference in hiring for many organizations
Earn a MyScore Certificate in SEL Learning
The positions offer an overall life-changing experience. These positions are full-time (1700 hours during a 12-month term)
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Background info:
Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP) serves more than 1,400 families in Montgomery County. They house people, empower families, and strengthen neighborhoods. Since 1989, Montgomery Housing Partnership’s mission is to preserve and expand quality affordable housing in Montgomery County. They advance their mission through three key strategies; by acquiring, rehabilitating, building and managing quality affordable housing, by developing and implementing community life programs to improve the quality of life and increase opportunities for our residents, and by collaborating with concerned citizens and businesses, public officials and community organizations to build strong, vital neighborhoods.
Every child needs one-on-one adult attention, especially struggling students, who battle to believe in themselves. The Project CHANGE 2024-5 team will serve together to tackle the post- COVID19 deficit and support MHP's efforts to enhance and enrich the community life of their high rise communities in Silver Spring, Rockville, Wheaton and Takoma.
Project CHANGE Montgomery began in 2001 as the original Montgomery County MD program of AmeriCorps, America's "Domestic Peace Corps." Places are available from mid August 2024 to mid-August 2025 and AmeriCorps members serve the county's most under-served K-12+ students.
Job Types: Full-time, Contract
Pay: $21,500.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Patient demographics:
Schedule:
Education:
- High school or equivalent (Required)
License/Certification:
- driver's license and access to a vehicle (Required)
Work Location: In person