What are the responsibilities and job description for the AmeriCorps Summer Academic Advocate position at City of Dubuque?
Position Summary
Contract dates: May 27, 2025 – August 2, 2025 (10 Week Contract);
300 Hours Contract - Minimum of 35 hours/week depending on placement
Compensation: Living Allowance Total: $3,900 ($780.00 before taxes every 2 weeks over 10 weeks) Education Award: $1,565.08
Opening Date: February 2, 2025
Closing Date: June 3, 2025
Description:
AmeriCorps is a national service program that takes a different approach to improve lives and fostering civic engagement. AmeriCorps Members commit their time to address critical community needs. In Dubuque, AmeriCorps Members serve at the intersection of education and mental health to help youth understand their emotions, reactions, and relationships through social-emotional learning to improve academic, career, and social success. City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Members implement key skill-building program to have the following impacts:
Youth experience programs promoting healthy lifestyles resulting in decreased youth risk-related behaviors.
Youth development skills to build meaningful and healthy relationships while experiencing inclusion and belonging.
Providing every young person with the opportunity to grow up safely and access their best possible future.
The AmeriCorps Academic Advocate will play a crucial role in supporting academic and career exploration for youth in the Dubuque community through the Multicultural Family Center. This position aims to provide comprehensive support to students and families from marginalized communities, helping them navigate the education system and stay on track towards their post-high school goals. The Academic Advocate will develop and lead Future-Ready programming for high school students at the Multicultural Family Center, while also engaging junior high students in similar activities. This position focuses on building relationships with disadvantaged youth and their families, connecting their talents and interests to potential careers, and creating sustainable support systems within the community.
Benefits:Education Award received upon successful completion of their term of service.
Living Allowance
Childcare coverage if the member qualifies
Student loan forbearance and interest payments for eligible loans
Job Duties
Service Responsibilities:
Program Development and Implementation:
Collaborate with the Teen Empowerment Coordinator and Teen Night Manager to provide Future-Ready programming and outreach initiatives to teens and families in the Dubuque community.
Provide one-on-one and small group support to set goals, monitor behaviors, and provide feedback and support to students in the Summer Teen Empowerment program.
Utilize existing connections with Dubuque Community School District school counselors and other organizations supporting Future-Ready initiatives.
Design and implement career readiness activities that highlight the education and training requirements for various careers available in the Dubuque community.
Engage middle and high school students in career exploration and planning.
Carry out developmental activities that promote skill-building in areas such as such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, personal responsibility, goal directed behavior, decision-making and optimistic thinking.
Academic Resource Support:
Develop individualized success plans for STEP students focus on:
12th Grade: Post-Secondary Plans for career or educational path.
11 Grade: College exploration, Apprenticeship search.
10 Grade: Job shadowing, skill-based volunteering.
8/9 Grade: Career exploration, elective identification, Goal setting (financial literacy, academic, personal, career).
Develop and implement weekly interventions for individual or small groups of students who are falling behind in STEP curriculum.
Assist students and families in accessing these resources and address any resource gaps.
Municipal Career Pathways Program:
Contribute to the City's Municipal Career Pathways Program by increasing student engagement and facilitating career mentoring opportunities in public service careers through connections with the Teen Municipal Careers member.
Collaborate closely with AmeriCorps members serving at program partners (Hillcrest Family Services, Carnegie-Stout Public Library, and Engineering) to establish collaborative teen-focused programming efforts.
Volunteer Management:
Recruit, manage, monitor, train, and document volunteer involvement with teen programming.
Coordinate with volunteers to support the implementation of activities and ensure a safe and supportive environment for participants.
Collaborate with local colleges and community leaders to recruit volunteers and mentor to support Teen Empowerment programming throughout the school year and summer months.
Impact Assessment and Documentation:
Document and maintain records of the impact on area youth who participate in the teen empowerment programs through weekly data reporting processes.
Collect data and feedback to evaluate program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
Conduct and analyze DESSA assessments and evaluations to measure students' social-emotional competencies and progress.
Disaster Response (AmeriCorps-Disaster Response Team)
Participate in A-DRT training(s) to ensure the member has knowledge and ability to respond to disasters.
Complete other training necessary to support disaster deployments, including but not limited to Volunteer Reception Center (VRC), first aid, mental health first aid, and chainsaw training.
Qualifications
Physical Requirements:
Walk and carry materials up and down steps
Stand and walk for extended periods of time
Lift 30 pounds
Bend, squat and kneel
Desired Skills/Qualifications:
Must be competent in working with at-risk youth, teenaged youth, and marginalized populations.
Applicant must have reliable transportation.
Applicant must be creative, energetic, dependable and a self-starter.
Eligibility Criteria:
Must have a high school diploma or equivalent OR agree to obtain one while under service to the AmeriCorps Program
Be 17 years or older at the start of service (no upper age limit)
Pass a national service criminal history check prior to first day of service due to reoccurring access to vulnerable populations
Hold one of the following citizenship statuses: US citizen, US national, or Lawful Permanent Resident
Supplemental Information
Service Schedule
The Academic Advocates’ scheduled hours may fluctuate based on Teen Programming scheduled throughout the year. Typical schedule: Mon - Thurs: Serve flexibly between the hours of 9am - 8pm, with most hours being served during the 10am - 6pm timeframe, with one day from 12pm to 8pm; Friday: 9am - 5pm; Opportunities for weekend hours or special events may become available during the year.
Example schedule for illustrative purposes:
Monday: 10am – 6pm
Tuesday: 12pm – 8pm
Wednesday: 9pm – 5pm
Thursday: 10pm – 6pm
Friday: 9am – 5pm
Saturday: Off
Sunday: Off
Leave: Sick leave, personal leave, and holiday leave is allowed, but such time off does not count towards the required number of hours needed to successfully complete the term of service. There are additional benefits offered if the member has a compelling personal circumstance.
Disaster Deployments: Member who opt-in to be engaged in disaster deployment/activities will need to ensure availability for the term of the disaster deployments, generally 2-4 weeks. Make plans for pets, family members, other employment and responsibilities that need regular attention.
Evaluations and Alternative Service
AmeriCorps Members are required by the program to complete Self-Evaluations.
End-Term Evaluations: Upon the completion of their AmeriCorps Contract, all members will complete an End-Term Evaluation through AmericaLearns. The End-Term Evaluation must be completed, signed, and submitted to the AmeriCorps Program within 30 days of the member’s final date of service. Non-submission of this document within the 30-day timeframe will lead to the member being exited for cause (see section 9 of the Member Service Agreement) and will forfeit the member’s right to the Education Award.
Members may engage in other allowable activities that are not specifically outlined in the position description, but that support the AmeriCorps program design, and which will help the Program meet its goals. Under no circumstances will members be asked to perform prohibited activities. Volunteers recruited and/or managed by AmeriCorps members will not participate in prohibited activities as outlined in the approved grant application.
Our Commitment to You
We are committed to using a merit-based system in which recruiting, selecting, and advancing employees is based on their relative knowledge, skills, and abilities. The City of Dubuque values a culture of equity, diverse perspectives, and life experiences. Our organization embraces innovation, collaboration and work-life harmony. We offer job stability, a comprehensive benefits package, and an opportunity to serve and support our diverse community. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity and an inclusive workforce. Women, minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
