ABOUT US
RISE (Rebuild, Integrate, Serve and Empower) AmeriCorps leverages the power of community by training emerging leaders from refugee and immigrant communities to become work-readiness trainers. RISE AmeriCorps leaders connect and support fellow refugees with education, jobs and services to increase economic opportunities for refugees and economic growth to Iowa.
ABOUT THE ROLE
EMBARC's RISE AmeriCorps Program is searching for service-minded individuals to serve diverse refugee communities in Iowa. You will work with community agencies to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate education, referrals, outreach, and direct services to refugee families in need.
Looking for candidates that have a(n):
- Interest in and respect for different cultures with a commitment to social justice.
- Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to communicate in a language of one of Iowa’s refugee communities is a plus, but not required
- Ability and willingness to serve flexible hours, including occasional evenings and weekends
- Ability to use or learn to use a computer for e-mail communication, online reporting (monthly time reports, quarterly impact data), and preparing monthly success stories/reflections
- Experience training or teaching adults, preferably across racial, cultural, class, and gender differences is a plus
TERM LENGTH / POSITION TYPE
- Full-time and part-time openings
- Fall Term - 50 weeks (Starting Sept. 6, Oct. 3, or Oct. 31)
- Spring & Summer - 12, 20 or 26 weeks
SERVICE SCHEDULE
This position requires serving Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. with occasional weekends and evenings required for special events. Sick or personal days are allowed, but members lose possible days to earn 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.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- RISE AmeriCorps Program Activities:
- Participate in 30 hours of Workforce Development Training from EMBARC staff and other workforce agencies
- Attend three RISE AmeriCorps mandatory training throughout the year such as orientation and Life After AmeriCorps training
- Communicate and serve with a diverse team of staff, AmeriCorps members, volunteers, partner families, and community members.
- The program may require the member to engage in additional allowable activities that support the AmeriCorps program design and which help the program meet its goals as outlined in the approved AmeriCorps application. In no circumstance, will members be asked or allowed to perform prohibited activities.
- Site Specific Member Service Activities:
- Provide targeted, linguistically and culturally appropriate outreach, assessment, and supportive services
- Assist community organizations that provide tailored work readiness and skill development training
- Facilitate connections between refugee and the mainstream communities through a collective impact framework
- Provide refugees with appropriate connections to job training and skill development resources through small group workshops and one-on-one advising.
- Remove barriers and increase access to workforce resources for the refugee and immigrant community
- Administer translation and interpretation services for partnered employers and social service agencies for at least 50 refugee or immigrant clients
- Connect clients to resources for transportation and childcare
- Advocate for accessible and equitable workplace environments
- Provide wrap around direct services to clients enrolled into WorkReady programing
QUALIFICATIONS
- Must be high school graduate, GED recipient, working on attaining a diploma or GED during term of service
- At least 17 years of age at the commencement of service
- Citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States
- Satisfy the National Service Criminal History Check
BENEFITS
- Education Award received upon successful completion of their term of service.
- Annual Living Allowance
- Health care, if applicable (Full-time position only)
- Childcare coverage if the member qualifies (Full-time position only)
- Student loan forbearance for eligible loans
HOW TO APPLY:
- Submit an application online at https://refugeeriseiowa.org/members.html
