Community Organizer- Americorps (COVID19 Response)

Community Organizers are members of DREAM's DreamCorps and a part of regional teams. DREAM strives to achieve our mission of closing the opportunity gap for children in low-income housing (which is a root cause of why almost half of low-income children become low-income adults) by building trusting mentoring relationships, providing summer enrichment and out-of-school experiences, and investing in post-secondary support. Community Organizers serve by leading community based enrichment programs, including academic resource access, homework/academic support, enrichment activities, post-secondary planning and access to adventures. Community organizers also serve as a person whose objective is to bring together/connect all the resources serving each youth and engaging the larger community in the development of the youth population. A two year commitment is preferred, but not required.

DREAM is committed to serving our youth with culturally appropriate programming. We seek members who contribute to the diversity and excellence of The DREAM Program and who foster an inclusive environment.

Position type/expected hours of work: This is an AmeriCorps position with a negotiable term length (options below). A commitment must be made to serve the assigned families for a calendar year. Term lengths and implications list below. The minimum amount of hours is required by AmeriCorps to receive the end-of-term education award. For successful completion of the service term, DREAM indicates an average number of hours per week of service, through the end-of-term date indicated on the member agreement. Some terms include regular evenings and occasional weekend events over the course of the academic year (including quarterly overnight member retreats). During the summer season, when school is out, the position experiences a transition in hours and service. While there is no maximum hours – DREAM expects members to continue serving average hours a week for the service term chosen until the end-of-term date of their service commitment – DREAM encourages a healthy work/life balance, including taking vacation, lunch time and other time off.

Service term options:

Full Term (full time hours - average 39.5 hours/week - 1700 hour min. requirement)

Half term (part time hours during school year - 20 hours/week, full time hours during summer - average 37.5 hours/week - 900 hour min. requirement) 

Supervisory Responsibility:  This position supports volunteers and AmeriCorps members, but does not have any direct reports.

Work environment/physical demands:  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 standard office/school equipment (such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and printers) as well as equipment characteristic of an outdoor youth day camp (pop-up shade canopies/tents, hand tools, food preparation equipment, storage spaces and sports equipment/toys).

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 must 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, partners and communities with which we work) and regional 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 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.

Other duties:  Please note this position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee/member for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

[Visit our website (dreamprogram.org) or see us social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)]

We seek a world in which all children have the opportunities, resources, and relationships necessary to achieve their dreams.

Our mission is to close the opportunity gap for children living in low-income housing.