AmeriCorps Summer Youth Literacy Specialist

Position Summary

Contract dates: May 27, 2025 – August 2, 2025 (10 Week Contract); 

300 Hours Contract - Minimum of 35 hours/week

Compensation: Living Allowance Total: $3,900 ($780.00 every 2 weeks over 10 weeks) Education Award: $1,565.08

Opening Date:  February 21, 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:

1. Youth experience programs promoting healthy lifestyles resulting in decreased youth risk-related behaviors. 

1. Youth development skills to build meaningful and healthy relationships while experiencing inclusion and belonging. 

1. Providing every young person with the opportunity to grow up safely and access their best possible future.

The AmeriCorps Summer Youth Literacy Specialist at Carnegie-Stout Public Library plays a crucial role in supporting academic and social-emotional learning for youths in grades pre-K through 12 in the Dubuque community. This position aims to provide diverse youth populations and marginalized youths with community connections, healthy opportunities, and engaging literacy activities during summer to prevent summer learning loss.

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:

1. Program Development and Implementation:

1. Collaborate with the Youth Services Manager and library staff to plan and provide fun and engaging literacy-based and social-emotional-based library programs for youth and families during the Summer.

1. Develop and implement engaging 30-minute storytimes to underserved K-5 students, including preschool classes, DCSD Summer Academy, SMYE Summer Academy, and other summer youth programs. Use of puppets, dancing, and general silliness is encouraged.

1. Engage middle & high school students in summer enrichment programs through the TeenZone and MakersSpace.

1. Plan and present entertaining and educational outreach initiatives to youth and families in the greater Dubuque community using colored paper, fabric, yarn, and other crafting materials.

1. Manage the implementation of the Summer Reading Program for community youth.

1. Carry out developmental activities that promote personal skill-building in areas such as self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness, relationship skills, personal responsibility, goal-directed behavior, decision-making, confidence, and optimistic thinking.

1. Impact Assessment and Documentation:

1. Document and maintain records of the impact on area youth who participate in programs through weekly data-reporting processes.

1. Collect data and feedback to evaluate program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

1. Personal Skills Development Outcomes

1. Complete comprehensive training on preschool storytime, where the AmeriCorps member will learn to balance education and entertainment principles to present engaging learning experiences to preschool students. 

1. Develop a comfort level with public speaking by presenting storytimes, programs, and outreach opportunities to children.

1. Learn and utilize Canva graphic design program, Microsoft Suite, Brain Fuse, Koha, and other library-related computer programs to market library events.

1. Actively build skills in graphic design, writing, speaking, organization, and computer-program usage.

1. Learn and utilize general business tools such as telephones, copy machines, printers, paper-cutters, three-hole punch, die-cut machine, and various tools in the library’s MakerSpace.

1. Effectively contribute to a team through collaborative programming and assisting as necessary.

1. Volunteer Management:

1. Recruit, manage, monitor, train, and document volunteer involvement with teen programming.

1. Coordinate with volunteers to support the implementation of activities and ensure a safe and supportive environment for participants.

1. Collaborate with local colleges and community leaders to recruit volunteers and mentor to support Teen Empowerment programming throughout the school year and summer months.

1. Disaster Response (AmeriCorps-Disaster Response Team)

1. Participate in A-DRT training(s) to ensure the member has knowledge and ability to respond to disasters.

1. 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 a personal vehicle for outreach programming and appropriate car insurance for mileage reimbursement.  

• Applicant must be creative, energetic, dependable and a self-starter. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• 1-3 years working with youth in an education or library setting 

• Knowledge of children’s literature  

Eligibility Criteria: 

• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent OR agree to obtain one while under service to the AmeriCorps Program 

• Be 18 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 Summer Youth Literacy Specialist’s scheduled hours may fluctuate based on Programming scheduled throughout the summer. Typical schedule: Mon - Friday: Serve flexibly between the hours of 8am - 7pm, and one weekend a month. 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: 9am – 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 America Learns. 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.  
 

Salary : $780