Youth Mentoring Program Coordinator

Are you ready to embark on an incredible journey of mentorship, empowerment, and social impact? As a Mentor Coordinator with The DREAM Program, your main mission will be to support The DREAM Program in establishing a Mentor Chapter at Williams College. You will help recruit and train volunteer mentors from your college campus using our 1:1 and group Village Mentoring model. Through supporting our Village Mentoring model, you'll play a crucial role in nurturing powerful, developmental relationships for the youth we support. Your work will directly contribute to breaking down barriers and creating positive change, making this a life-changing experience for you and everyone involved.

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 The DREAM Program’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.

The Change You Will Create:

• You will support recruitment of Volunteer mentors for our sites, rallying like-minded individuals who are passionate about mentoring and fostering transformative relationships in childhood. 
• You will ensure that volunteer mentors understand the Village Mentoring model and their role and responsibilities as a mentor.
• You will drive communication between the youth, their families, and DREAM members, fostering partnership building and community involvement.
• You will help provide DREAM mentors the resources and training necessary to have a high quality and transformative mentoring experience.
• You will play a coaching and supporting role in the lives of a team of volunteer DREAM mentors, empowering them to be confident in their role.

Your Experience as a DREAM Mentor Coordinator will include:

• This position is anticipated to start in the Fall of 2025! 
• You will be an entrepreneur - bridging the gap between Williams College students, the DREAM Program, our partner community (in Bennington VT), and our local leadership. 
• This is a start up program, and so you will often be connecting with students, developing and implementing a recruitment strategy, and heavily involved in early programming and connection with youth in the community. 
• PART TIME: Members should expect to serve for 3-4 hours in the later afternoon-evenings, 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.
  • Full time is also available, and there is plenty of service to be done to support programs by DREAM in the community. 
• Evening times will regularly be spent in meetings with and conversing with volunteers and mentors, as well as conducting training.
• Communication with mentors and the regional office team occurs every week (or more frequently as circumstances may direct).
• Toward the middle of spring, Mentor Coordinators will support preparations for the summer enrichment volunteer group for our summer program.
• Mentor Coordinators are expected to attend a weekly experience/support meeting with the teams you are a part of. 
• If serving in the summer, summer months will transition to supporting the Youth Services Manager and the Summer Enrichment Coordinators in creating and delivering activities that support summer learning. You will help support the execution of engaging activities, academic enrichment and fun for youth. Beginning in June, daily and weekly schedules will adjust to deliver DREAM Summer Programming.

Compensation and DREAM AmeriCorps Benefits: 

• Living Stipend provided to you in biweekly payments. The amount varies on your hours committed.
  • Part time term: $250 biweekly pre-tax
  • Full time term: $850 biweekly pre-tax
• AmeriCorps members are also eligible for:
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (food stamps)
  • Child care assistance
  • Medicaid
  • Student loan deferment (forbearance)
  • Other publicly-funded benefits, such as heating and utility assistance.
• 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. The Education Award varies by the total hours you serve in your term.
  • Part time 300 hour term: $1,565.08 Education Award 
  • Full time 1700 hour term: $7,395.00 Education Award
• As an AmeriCorps member at DREAM, you will have the additional support of supervisor and also DREAM's 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 holds AmeriCorps Development Days and 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:

• 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.
• Must be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident 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 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.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Valid driver's license and insurance
• 18 years old with a clean driving record
• Ability and willingness to travel to local program 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 softwares 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) and interregional 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 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.

Salary : $1,565 - $7,395