Mentor Coordinators serve DREAM by supporting Youth Service Managers with training, supporting and recruiting volunteer mentors from college campuses. Mentor coordinators’ main responsibility will be assisting with our Village Mentoring and Afterschool program to provide holistic support for mentees.
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 DREAM’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.
Objectives of Service as a Mentor Coordinator:
- You will ensure that volunteer mentors understand the Village Mentoring and Afterschool model and their role and responsibilities as a mentor.
- You will communicate with the Youth Services Manager to have an individual needs assessment of mentees and will encourage communication and partnership between the community, support staff, and mentors.
- You will ensure that volunteer mentors are provided with the resources and training to provide a high quality mentoring experience.
- You will build a relationship with every volunteer mentor and mentee of the chapter being supported.
- You will aim to bring your chapter to the next level. Ensuring mentors and mentees have an amazing experience, are well trained, and there is a 1:1 ratio of mentors and mentees, as well as strategic planning for chapter wellness (recruitment, preparation for mentees of graduating mentors, supporting compliance of youth documents and background checks, etc.)
The Experience of Service as a Mentor Coordinator:
- Developing a relationship with and responding to the program’s direction, the needs of the Youth Services Manager, and the campus mentoring programs will be critical to success.
- Members should expect to serve for 10-15 hours a week in the later afternoon-evenings, some weekends, catering to the needs of the mentoring chapters you’re supporting. At the start of your service, your regular schedule will be created and communicated with your team.
- Evening times will regularly be spent in meetings with and conversing with volunteers and mentors, as well as conducting training.
- You will be responsible for attending your chapter's weekly Village Mentoring program.
- Communication with mentors and the regional office team occurs every week (or more frequently as circumstances may direct).
- Mentor Coordinators are expected to attend a weekly experience/support meeting with the teams you are a part of.
- Mentor coordinators should expect to serve for the entirety of the academic year.
Compensation and DREAM AmeriCorps Benefits:
- Living Stipend provided to you in biweekly payments of $250.
- 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. $1565.08 for a 300 hour term.
- As an AmeriCorps member at DREAM, you will have the additional support of a DREAM 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 we hope to provide 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
- 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.
- Current Chair for DREAM at one of our Northern Vermont Chapters.
- Commitment to the entire service term.
- Commitment to the mission of AmeriCorps and DREAM.
- 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.
- Ability and willingness to travel to college campus sites
- Have participated in a leadership role in a club or extracurricular activity
- Interest and investment in youth development
- Ability to work as a member of a team
- Commitment to holding unconditional positive regard for DREAM youth
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 software 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). 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.
At will employment: The DREAM Program is an at will employer. Employment with The DREAM Program is voluntary and is subject to termination by you or The DREAM Program at will, with or without cause, and with or without notice, at any time. The policy of employment-at-will may not be modified by any officer or employee.
