Martin Luther King Day and Semester of Service AmeriCorps Vista Position

Youth Service America seeks to improve communities by increasing the number and diversity of young people, ages 5-25, serving in important roles.    Founded in 1986, YSA is an international nonprofit resource center that partners with thousands of organizations in more than 100 countries to expand the impact of the youth service movement with families, communities, schools, corporations, and governments.  For more information: www.YSA.org.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (“A Day On, Not a Day Off”): In 1994 Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act, designating the King Holiday as a national day of volunteer service. Instead of a day off from work or school, Congress asked Americans of all backgrounds and ages to celebrate Dr. King's legacy by turning community concerns into citizen action. The King Day of Service brings together people who might not ordinarily meet, breaks down barriers that have divided us in the past, leads to better understanding and ongoing relationships, and is an opportunity to recruit new volunteers for your ongoing work. Participation in the King Day of Service has grown steadily over the past decade, with hundreds of thousands of Americans each year engaging in projects such as tutoring and mentoring children, painting schools and senior centers, delivering meals, building homes, and reflecting on Dr. King's life and teachings. Many of the projects started on King Day continue to engage volunteers beyond the holiday and impact the community year-round. For more information: www.MLKDay.gov.

Global Youth Service Day:a public awareness and education campaign that highlights the amazing contributions that young people make to their communities 365 days a year. On April 24-26, 2009, young people ages 5-25 will lead service projects in areas ranging from literacy and the environment to disaster relief, hunger, and help for the elderly. As the largest service event in the world, engaging millions of young people, Global Youth Service Day draws together a remarkable consortium of local, regional, and national partners, while supporting youth on a life-long path of service and civic engagement. Finally, the Global Youth Service Day international media campaign educates the public, the media, and elected officials about the role of youth as leaders and community assets. For more information: www.YSA.org/gysd.

Semester of Service: In 2008, Youth Service America and the Corporation for National and Community Service partnered to develop a program that launches on Martin Luther King Day in January and culminates on Global Youth Service Day in April. The Semester of Service will link each organization’s existing partnerships, create a quantum leap in the number of children and youth engaged in service, and advance bold quantitative goals that the Corporation and YSA have both set to expand the American youth service movement. During those 12 weeks, projects will take place in classrooms as part of the academic curriculum; in schools as part of the extra-curricular activities of student councils, honor societies, student clubs, and sports teams; in congregations of faith; and in youth development groups in neighborhoods across the United States.

As one of the recipients of generous support from the Corporation for National and Community Service YSA will select 10 lead agencies to lead Martin Luther King Day 2009 activities and engage thousands of students between the ages of 5 and 25 to serve at least 70 hours during the school semester, culminating in Global Youth Service Day. These lead agencies will also participate in YSA’s training institute to prepare for Semester of Service activities.

Youth Service America is pleased to offer an Americorps VISTA position to an organized, detail-oriented, and dynamic individual to join our team as we launch the Semester of Service 2009 program. The Americorps VISTA member’s key role will be to support and build the capacity of YSA’s Semester of Service sub-grantees to exponentially grow the participation of youth in Martin Luther King Day of Service through Global Youth Service Day 2009. For specific information about the VISTA program, please visit: http://www.americorps.org/for_individuals/choose/vista.asp

• Become familiar with the tools, resources and best practices of CNCS, YSA and the other grantees participating in this initiative
• Establish base line information on each of the sub grantees and work with them to develop a plan that localizes each of the over arching goals and objectives, with a focus on developing partnerships, recruiting volunteers, securing cash and non-cash resources to support community building service projects, and collecting and reporting results.
• Assess the sub grantees’ strengths and the resources needed to meet goals.
• Link sub grantees to YSA’s and the Corporation’s tools and resources including those found at www.mlkday.gov .
• Connect sub grantees to their counterparts within the network and to other CNCS assets in their states and communities.
• Work with the Director of Communications to promote the Semester of Service sub grantees and their projects.
• Assist the Grants Manager in incorporating Semester of Service resources into other grant opportunities provided by YSA.
• Work with the Service-Learning Director to develop planning and promotional materials to educate the public and assist participants in planning a Semester of Service.
• Work with the Vice President of Global Youth Service Day to encourage all participants to celebrate a Semester of Service.
• Develop reporting systems that support YSA’s  overall data and activity requirements

Applicants should have:

• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities
• Strong interest in youth service
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs such as Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to work independently and as a team player
• A good sense of humor.

Compensation

VISTA members who complete a year of service receive an Education Award, a living allowance of approximately $490 paid every two weeks, 10 personal days and 10 sick days, health care benefits, and relocation assistance. For additional information about serving as an Americorps VISTA, please visit http://www.americorps.org/about/programs/vista.asp

Location

Youth Service America
1101 15^th St. NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005

To apply

Send cover letter and resume to: Karen Daniel, VP of Global Youth Service Day, kdaniel@ysa.org. The title of the e-mail should read, “MLK Day VISTA”.

Youth Service America (YSA) is an equal opportunity employer that seeks to engage individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.