Please direct applications and questions to:
Kim Menig at (503) 853-1534 or
kmenig@ portlandimpact.org

Mailing address: Portland Impact
7211 SE 62nd Ave.
Portland, OR  97206 
Attn: Kim Menig

10 Open AmeriCorps Community Engagement Specialist Positions

          Are you:

• Eager to make a difference in the lives of kids and families?

• Interested in being part of a non-profit, anti-poverty agency that was named one of the 2006 “Best Small Companies to Work For” by Oregon Business Magazine?

• Ready to build connections between schools and communities through the nationally recognized SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) program?

• Prepared to gain incredible professional development, meet other people who share a passion for community engagement, and build sustainable systems to get adults involved in kids’ education?

Then you’re ready to be an AmeriCorps

Community Engagement Specialist

with Portland Impact SUN!

Since 1966, Portland Impact has been fulfilling its mission to help people achieve and maintain self-sufficiency and to prevent and alleviate the effects of poverty.  Last year, Portland Impact served over 70,000 infants, youth, families, adults with disabilities, and seniors throughout Multnomah County.  One of many ways in which we address poverty is through education support services, including managing 11 of Portland’s 50+ SUN programs. 

The mission of SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) is to improve the lives of children, their families, and the community by partnering with local school communities to extend the school day and develop schools as "community centers" in their neighborhoods.  Portland Impact has received a grant to place a full-time AmeriCorps member at each of 10 SUN school sites. 

AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects more than 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. 

Putting it all together

The Portland Impact SUN AmeriCorps program will be entering its third year in 2008-2009.  Our AmeriCorps members play an integral role in making each school a community “hub” for kids, parents, and local partners.  At each school, the SUN Site Manager oversees the entire SUN program and supervises the AmeriCorps Community Engagement Specialist.  At many schools, the Site Manager also supervises a half-time SUN Extended Day Coordinator. 

Portland Impact’s team of 10 Community Engagement Specialists meets at least twice a month with the AmeriCorps Program Supervisor to exchange ideas, share experiences, and receive targeted trainings.  In addition, members find opportunities to assist each other with special events.  AmeriCorps “alums” from the Portland Impact SUN program have gone on to pursue graduate school, law school, and a Congressional internship, as well as jobs at Portland Impact, K-12 schools, and local non-profits.

Position Description

As a Community Engagement Specialist, in coordination with the SUN Site Manager at your school site, you will have these essential duties:

• Serve full time at one school site, with the knowledge that some members may be relocated to different school sites during summer programming

• Build and deepen relationships with diverse groups of students, parents, and community partners

• Collaborate effectively with school staff to support student achievement and parent involvement

• Organize at least 3 fun, community-building events during the year, plus additional classes, meetings, and/or workshops to meet the goal for engaging parents

• Increase the leadership capacity of parents at the school

• Plan, advertise, and lead activities to engage students, particularly before/after school and during parts of winter/spring/summer breaks

• Recruit volunteers to expand SUN school offerings and support each person in having a positive experience with Portland Impact, SUN, and the school

• Reach out to families, community members, and businesses to share information about programs and services: this includes connecting people with resources, leveraging in-kind donations, and identifying opportunities to form partnerships

• Help develop and implement an Action Plan specific to your school community

  In addition, you will be expected to:

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in order to engage a broad spectrum of community members

• Exhibit sensitivity when relating to people from diverse lifestyles, socioeconomic levels, and cultures

• Serve a flexible schedule as arranged with the SUN Site Manager at your site, including some evenings and weekends

• Serve as a team member to support the mission and goals of Portland Impact to alleviate poverty and build individual and community self-sufficiency

• Travel efficiently within Portland Impact’s geographical service area as needed for meetings, trainings, and events

• Use Microsoft Word and Excel

• Coordinate, prioritize, and complete multiple and varied tasks

• Attend all required AmeriCorps and Portland Impact meetings and trainings (including a one-week Orientation at the beginning of the term of service)

• Consistently meet performance measures and program expectations as described at Orientation, clarified in the Action Plan, and refined throughout the term of service

• Participate in at least 2 out of 3 National Service Days

• Plan and coordinate a civic engagement project, either in conjunction with or separate from a National Service Day

• Identify and pursue opportunities for your own professional development (up to 75 hours)

• Complete and submit all required documentation (including, but not limited to, monthly service reports, monthly timesheets, National Service Day reports, and Half-Year and Year-End Report Supplements) accurately and on time

• Create a Resource Guide to assist future AmeriCorps members at your site

What’s in it for you?

As a Community Engagement Specialist with the Portland Impact SUN AmeriCorps program, you will complete an approximately 11-month term of service between August 18, 2008, and July 31, 2009, with a minimum of 1,700 hours of service.  In exchange, you’ll receive:

• A living allowance of up to $11,400 divided over your term of service (paid monthly)

• An education award of $4,725 upon successful completion of your term of service.  This may be used to pay off qualifying, existing student loans or for further education at an institution that accepts Title IV dollars.  AmeriCorps members have up to 7 years to use the award.  The education award is considered taxable income in the year that it is used. 

• Loan forbearance on federally subsidized student loans during your term of service.  After the successful completion of service, the National Service Trust will pay the interest that accrued during your term of service.

• Basic medical insurance coverage

• A FREE monthly bus pass

• Worker’s compensation during your term of service

• Childcare assistance, if eligible

• An opportunity to:

• Be part of an outstanding team of Portland Impact staff AmeriCorps members  

• Receive extensive professional development on site & through targeted training

• Increase your connection to community networks and resources

• Make a real difference in a neighborhood that needs you

Qualifications

All Candidates Must:

• Have legal status as a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

• Be at least 18 years old

• Hold a high school diploma or equivalent (or develop a plan to achieve it during the AmeriCorps term of service)

• Be able to pass a Federal and State Fingerprint Background Check

• Be able to engage in repetitive motion, prolonged sitting, & extensive visual involvement

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with East Portland communities

• Bilingual in English and any of the following languages: Spanish, Russian, or Vietnamese  

• Experience promoting volunteerism or community involvement in cultural minority populations

Sites

Portland Impact will place one AmeriCorps Community Engagement Specialist at each of the schools below*:

*Some schools may have additional preferred qualifications for the AmeriCorps Community Engagement Specialist position

Application Process:

We plan to select our AmeriCorps members by Monday, June 30 (even though the program won’t start until August 18).  Members will be selected on a rolling basis.  Submit your application ASAP!
In order to complete an application for the position, the following items must be submitted:

1. Standard AmeriCorps Application

If you don’t have internet access, please contact Kim Menig to request that an application be mailed to you (contact info is at the bottom of this page)

To apply online, please visit: https://my.americorps.gov

1. If you don’t already have a “My AmeriCorps” username and password, scroll down and click on the red link that says “Apply to Serve

2. Follow the steps to create your “My AmeriCorps” profile

3. After you complete your profile, you’ll receive a confirmation e-mail from recruitment@americorps.gov with a link to create a username and password

4. Follow that link!

5. After you create a username and password, you’ll be directed to your “My AmeriCorps” account page

6.  On the upper left side of the page, click on the link that says “Applications”

7. Click on “Create Application”

8. Follow the steps to complete an application, then click “Finish Application”

9. Once your application has been submitted, its status will show as “Complete” on your “My AmeriCorps” account page

10.  From your “My AmeriCorps” account page, on the upper left side of the page, click on the link that says “Search Listings.”  This is an important step to make sure that your application will be visible to the specific program(s) you want to apply to.

11. Scroll down, and in the box that says “Program Name”, type “SUN” and click on the box that says “Search”

12. Click on the red link that says “10 Openings – Portland Impact SUN”

13. At the bottom of the page, click on the box that says “Apply Now!”

14. Read the Certification notice, indicate your agreement, and click “Submit”

15. Congratulations!  You’ll receive an e-mail confirmation from Kim Menig, the SUN AmeriCorps Program Supervisor, within one week of submitting your application to the program.  If you don’t receive an e-mail within a week, please contact Kim to verify whether your application was received.

Please note: The AmeriCorps application site has recently changed.  If you experience any difficulties in submitting your application, we apologize!  Please contact the AmeriCorps Hotline at: 1-800-942-2677 or e-mail: epayments@americorps.gov.  If that doesn’t resolve the issue, please contact Kim Menig using the contact info below.

2. Resume*

Please provide your resume as a typed Microsoft Word document.

3. Responses to the Supplemental Questions below*

1. Please provide your responses as a typed Microsoft Word document

2. Please answer all three questions

3. Your combined answers should not exceed two single-spaced pages total

   Supplemental Questions:

   1.      Please describe your role in 2 community or work experiences that made you feel proud of what you accomplished.  In your examples, explain how you used each of the following skills: organization, collaboration, flexibility in dealing with changing circumstances, and time management. 

   2.      Why are you interested in serving with the Portland Impact SUN AmeriCorps program?

   3.      As part of a non-profit organization operating at a school site, the SUN program encounters unique opportunities and challenges.  Please describe how you would approach the process of building and maintaining effective, collaborative relationships with school staff and administrators. 
    

   *If you have e-mail access: please e-mail your Resume & Responses to the Supplemental Questions to Kim Menig as part of the same e-mail (either as one attachment or two).

   *If you don’t have e-mail: please mail your Resume and Responses to the address below.

Timeline

Wed., April 30- Scoring of completed applications begins  (applications will continue to be accepted and scored on a rolling basis until positions are filled).

• If you submit your completed application by Wed, April 30, you’ll be notified by Tuesday, May 6, about whether you’re invited to do a first interview by phone (remember that a completed application includes the Standard AmeriCorps Application, Resume, and Responses to the Supplemental Questions)

• If you submit your application after April 30, you’ll be notified within 1 week after the date you submitted your completed application about whether you’re invited to do a first interview by phone

Mon., May 5- First interviews begin by phone on a rolling basis (Kim Menig interviews applicants).  After your first interview, you’ll be notified within 1 week about whether you’re eligible for possible second interviews

Fri., May 16- Second interviews can begin for applicants who meet the scoring threshold after the first interview (SUN Site Managers and selected program staff interview applicants)

• Each SUN Site Manager has an opportunity to invite individual applicants for a second interview.  Some applicants may attend interviews at multiple SUN sites.

• Please note that some second interviews will not occur for several more weeks at a minimum, due to the busy schedules of the SUN Site Managers

• In-person second interviews are preferred, but phone interviews may be considered for non-local applicants (this is determined by each Site Manager)

• Please note that an applicant who meets the scoring threshold after the first interview may or may not be invited for a second interview

• The process of selecting applicants involves gathering input about preferences from both applicants and SUN Site Managers; the goal is to formally offer positions to 10 applicants by Monday, June 30 (though some positions will be offered sooner)

Fri., June 6- Preferred deadline for applicants to submit completed initial applications (applications will continue to be accepted after this date if positions remain unfilled).  First and second interviews continue on a rolling basis

Mon., June 30- Preferred deadline to confirm member selection (pending reference checks, submission of AmeriCorps Certification Form, background checks, fingerprinting, etc.).  Applications will continue to be accepted after this date if positions remain unfilled

Monday, August 18- AmeriCorps term of service begins for selected members (the week of August 18 - 22 is a required team Orientation to Portland Impact, SUN, and AmeriCorps)

Contact Info

Please direct applications and questions to:
Kim Menig
AmeriCorps Program Supervisor
Portland Impact SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods)
Work cell: (503) 853-1534
kmenig@portlandimpact.org

Mailing address:

Portland Impact
7211 SE 62nd Ave.
Portland, OR  97206 
Attn: Kim Menig

Portland Impact is an EO employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates and candidates who support diversity.

*Please note that our ability to offer positions for the 2008-2009 AmeriCorps term of service (as well as the number of positions) is contingent upon receiving grant continuation funds.  We expect to receive funding notification by the beginning of June 2008.