Youth Volunteer Engagement Specialist
Regional Environmental Council

9 Castle St #1, Worcester, Ma 01610, Usa
Visit Website

Youth Volunteer Engagement Specialist

StatusActively recruiting
Openings1 Half-Time
Service datesAugust 22, 2022 - June 24, 2023
Description

Essential Responsibilities:

  • Recruit high school and college age youth to participate in open community volunteer hours at the
  • YouthGROW Farm.
  • Provide direct support at the YouthGROW Farm serving alongside youth leaders in the program and Farm Manager.
  • Mentor and support youth participants in the YouthGROW program to complete programmatic volunteer requirements, including leading youth project-based teams.
  • Work with the youth leaders and Farm Manager to develop and coordinate an urban agriculture workshop series.
  • Strengthen existing partnerships with local school service-learning programs and develop new partnerships
  •  Coordinate volunteer welcome and tracking at weekly farm volunteer hours.
  • Plan and coordinate group service-learning days on the YouthGROW Farm.
  • Complete a minimum of 750 hours of service, serving through June 24, 2023.
  • Attend a minimum of 6 Commonwealth Corps trainings and service events held by MSA post orientation.
  • Participate in a minimum of 30 minutes of MSA-related activities each week. This may include filling out timesheets, completing a bi-monthly reflection or check-in, or other MSA-related tasks or activities.

Marginal Responsibilities:

  • Collaborate with other Commonwealth Corps members to support greenhouse operations to grow $5,000+ seedlings for the community and school gardens network.
  • Collaborate with other Corps members to plan spring community events, including a city-wide Earth Day
  • Clean Up, engaging over 1,000 volunteers and our Annual Spring Garden Festival and Plant Sale.
  • Support non-volunteer-based youth development programming including monthly retreats.
  • Be a part of the greater Commonwealth Corps community, including participating in cross-site learning groups, writing a short profile for the CC newsletter, connecting with other members on our online platforms, and attending optional social/service events.
Locations

Worcester, MA

Living allowanceStipend of $550 semi-monthly while in service, up to $11,550 minus taxes and withholdings;
BenefitsWhat You’ll Get:
  • Stipend of $550 semi-monthly while in service, up to $11,550 minus taxes and withholdings;
  • 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 $2,000 upon successful completion of service, minus taxes and withholdings;
  • Reimbursement for outside training or professional development opportunities relevant to member’s service and/or goals (Up to $100; Dependent on approval from MSA) *REC will provide an additional $200 for approved trainings
  • $80/month produce stipend for local foods available through the REC Mobile Market
  • Extensive training from MSA with a diversity, equity and inclusion focus and other professional development opportunities;
  • Limited reimbursement for travel to Corps-wide MSA-sponsored activities;
  • Internet reimbursement up to $50/month while required to complete some service from home;
  • Limited travel reimbursement from their host site for certain service-related travel away from their usual service location, according to that agency's policies;
  • Mental Health/Personal Day once per month counting towards 4 hours
  • The opportunity for at least 5 days of planned absences (may include holidays, does not count towards hours requirement);
Please note that receipt of these stipends/benefits may impact an individual’s eligibility for certain public benefits.
Desired skills, certifications or qualifications

You must be:

●  A Massachusetts resident (see guidelines here) with legal authorization to work in the U.S.
●  18 years of age at minimum (member age range is 18 – 70+ years old)
●  Excited to give back to your community and interested in developing your skills and gaining new professional experiences
●  Able to balance service internship commitments with personal commitments in a sustainable way
●  Are self-motivated, detail oriented, highly organized and reliable
●  Able to manage multiple tasks with competing deadlines
●  Able to travel independently to sites via personal or public transportation
●  Have strong people and communication skills, both written and verbal

It would also be great if you:
●  Are familiar/have experience with the Worcester community, particularly the Bell Hill and Main South neighborhoods
●  Have previous experience collaboratively working or volunteering with people of diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds
●  Speak a language other than English -- multilingual candidates encouraged to apply
●  Have experience growing food
●  Have experience working with youth
●  Are comfortable with online collaboration tools, e.g., shared calendars, email, shared folders/files (Dropbox, Google Drive, Google Apps)

Desired LanguagesSpeak a language other than English -- multilingual candidates encouraged to apply
Other conditions
Weekly HoursService commitment will average 18-20 hours per week with a minimum of two full service days (9-5) and approximately two evenings per month and up to two weekends per month during the months of September, October, April and May, with advance notice.
Our missionTo bring people together to create a just food system and to build healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities in Worcester, MA and beyond.
Causes
Environment, Health, Hunger