Are you ready to embark on an incredible journey of mentorship, empowerment, and social impact? As an Afterschool Enrichment Coordinator with The DREAM Program, your main mission will be to recruit and train volunteer mentors from college campuses. Through supporting a combination of our After School and Village Mentoring model, you'll play a crucial role in nurturing powerful, developmental relationships for the youth we support. Your work will directly contribute to breaking down barriers and creating positive change.

The DREAM Program is committed to dismantling systems of oppression that affect our youth and families. This organizational commitment means that members should join this space with an intention of learning, unlearning, and diving into ways that your involvement will directly contribute to DREAM’s mission of reducing the Opportunity Gap while also supporting the dismantling of other systemic inequities. We seek members who contribute to The DREAM Program’s diverse community, as having different perspectives, identities, and skills are what allow us to excel in our service. DREAM seeks members who are ready to engage in and foster an inclusive environment, and who strive to deliver culturally appropriate and relevant programming to the youth we serve. Incoming members and staff should understand that we serve marginalized communities, which means that it is imperative that diversity, equity, and inclusivity are infused into every aspect of our work as an organization.

The Responsibilities of the Role:

• You will lead afterschool programming including planning for, setting up and cleaning up after programming, which includes care of community spaces.
• You will incorporate mentorship into the afterschool program by supporting one on one mentoring matches between Bennington College students and mentees from the community who participate in the program.
  • This also includes supporting your own mentoring match with a mentee, and leading others to build strong matches through modeling.
• You will lead an additional program responsibility such as: recruitment of mentors, mentor bonding, culminating trip planning
• You will communicate clearly and consistently with your supervisor, other afterschool staff and mentors, families, and community partners
• You will support the completion of necessary paperwork including but not limited to: reporting incidents or accidents with urgency to supervisor, taking attendance, collecting permission slips or program registration forms, and surveys.
• It will be necessary for you to have reliable transportation and/or willingness to make independent travel arrangements
• It is important for individuals in this role to maintain consistency throughout the academic year for the youth we serve. You will co-create the after-school schedule in conjunction with our local director, and it will be your responsibility to attend each session as established for the entirety of the academic year. Following through on the commitment that we’ve made to our youth and communities builds trust and ensures that the opportunities we provide are high-quality and reliable.

Your Experience as a DREAM Afterschool Coordinator will include:

• Due to the nature of this after-school role, members should expect to serve late morning/early afternoon into the evening hours each day of service. You should expect to serve around 10 hours per week (see below for more details regarding the options for days of service).
• Each week you will engage independent research, planning and communication in order to prepare for weekly activities and coordinate your group.
• You will communicate with caregivers every week, or more frequently as circumstances may direct.
• You will meet weekly with Bennington’s regional director for support and supervision. You will also be supported throughout your term by DREAM’s AmeriCorps Director.
• Members should expect to take on a leadership role within programming with lots of opportunities to bring your interests and passions to the youth we serve.
• You will be a positive role model for all youth involved in the program and to treat each youth with unconditional positive regard.
• You will have plenty of opportunities to learn and grow in the youth services and nonprofit field including participation in volunteer recruitment, training, and team building activities.
• You can expect to have lots of FUN with fellow AmeriCorps members, your regional team, the full DREAM Organization, and the youth!

Details Of the Term:

• Start date: the week of September 16th or 23rd
• Available for two or more of the following program days/times:
  • Tuesday: 2pm to 5pm
  • Wednesday: 2pm to 5pm, 5pm to 7pm (earlier availability on Wednesdays is also a plus for school half days!)
  • Thursday 2pm to 5pm
  • Additional time during the week for planning, preparation, and team meetings. While this time can be flexible, communication and consistency are key!
  • Additional programming on Mondays and/or Fridays is possible as capacity allows!

Compensation and DREAM AmeriCorps Benefits:

• Living Stipend provided to you in biweekly payments. The amount varies on your hours committed.
  • Part time 300 hour term, Fall 24-Spring 25: $248.68 biweekly pre-tax
• AmeriCorps members are also eligible for:
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (food stamps)
  • Medicaid
  • Student loan deferment (forbearance)
  • Other publicly-funded benefits, such as heating and utility assistance.
• Upon the completion of the service term, AmeriCorps members are eligible to receive the Segal Education Award, which can be used to pay education expenses or repay qualified student loans. The Education Award varies by the total hours you serve in your term.
  • Part time 300 hour term: $1,565.08 Education Award
• As an AmeriCorps member at DREAM, you will have the additional support of supervisor and also DREAM's AmeriCorps Director to help you navigate your service term and apply for publicly funded programs.
• DREAM is invested in your professional and personal development, and holds AmeriCorps Development Days and a variety of professional development opportunities throughout the service term.
• If you engage in work-related travel outside of a commute, DREAM will provide reimbursement by mileage.

Required Qualifications:

• Must be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the U.S.A. due to AmeriCorps requirements.
• Be at least 17 years of age at the commencement of service OR be an out-of-school youth 16 years of age at the commencement of service participating in a program
• Have a high school diploma or its equivalent OR not have dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant (and must agree to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award) OR obtain a waiver from the Corporation OR be enrolled in an institution of higher education on an ability to benefit basis
• Members must agree to the following Criminal History Checks to be performed in order to serve as an AmeriCorps Member: NSOPW (Public Sex Offender) Check, Statewide Criminal Repository Checks (for State of Service and State of Residence), and FBI fingerprint-based Criminal History Check. The member is aware that that their identity must be verified with a government-issued photo ID. The results of these checks will be kept confidential, but could affect eligibility to serve in AmeriCorps.
• Commitment to the entire service term.
• Commitment to the mission of AmeriCorps and DREAM.
• Commitment to holding unconditional positive regard for DREAM youth
• Ability to work as a member of a team
• Interest and investment in youth development
• Desire to enhance existing skills and develop new skills necessary for service.
• Commitment to serve as a role model for youth.
• A passion for supporting the ongoing work around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Demonstrated practice or education serving diverse communities or populations of people of color in an equitable manner and a manner that is respectful and aware of the community's experience.
• Demonstrated ability to manage time and set priorities while giving consideration to those serving, your fellow team members, the organization, and the self.
• Ability to regularly meet in person with your team or your service assignment in their assigned location (including responsibility for transportation to and from).
• Access to a reliable phone.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Valid driver's license and insurance
• 18+ years old with a clean driving record
• Have participated in a leadership role in a club or extracurricular activity

Work environment: This position operates in multiple spaces. The spaces included may have characteristics similar to a professional office environment, an indoor/outdoor environment with active children and students, a community center, a classroom/campus, and/or the homes of our members and/or participants. This role routinely uses computers and various softwares regularly, as well as standard office/school equipment (such as phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and printers) as well as equipment characteristic of an outdoor and indoor youth day camp (pop-up shade canopies/tents, hand tools, activity supplies,food preparation equipment, storage spaces and sports equipment/toys).

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee/member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• This position requires comfort working in outdoor environments, regardless of the weather. This position can be very active and frequently requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee/member is regularly required to communicate with individuals who talk and hear.
• The employee/member may occasionally lift and/or move items over 50 pounds.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee/member is regularly required to observe and comprehend using vision abilities that include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Travel: Travel includes local travel (colleges, partnerships and communities with which we work) and interregional travel (visiting other DREAM geographies and for retreats and special events) during the work hours described. Out-of-the-area and overnight travel will be occasionally expected.

AAP/EEO Statement: The DREAM Program is an equal opportunity employer and an incorporated 501(c)3 charitable organization. The DREAM Program prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.