GED Plus Mentoring Coordinator

Ensuring Stability Through Action in our Community (ESAC) - GED Plus Mentoring Coordinator, through the Massachusetts Promise Fellowship program.
Massachusetts Promise Fellows deliver the resources that young people need to be successful in life by mobilizing and organizing community activity, creating and leading powerful initiatives, and training and inspiring citizen volunteers.

The Massachusetts Promise Fellowship achieves this by placing Fellows with non-profit organizations and state/local government agencies that focus on fulfilling the needs of our youth by providing; a caring adult, a safe place, a healthy start, a marketable skill, and an opportunity to give back.

Service Description

Ensuring Stability through Action in our Community (ESAC) is a community-based, nonprofit organization serving the elderly, youth and other vulnerable residents of the Greater Boston community. ESAC facilitates and promotes healthy, stable, and integrated neighborhoods, by stimulating efforts to address the economic and social service needs in the community. The primary focus is on: 1) creating family and neighborhood stability by increasing the individual’s capacity to effect positive social change; and 2) fostering community participation to address compelling local issues. ESAC is seeking a Fellow to serve as the Mentoring Program Coordinator for GED Plus. GED Plus is an innovative education program that equips students with the necessary academic qualifications, social and work-related competencies, and essential support systems to achieve economic self-sufficiency and to reach their long-term educational goals. The GED Plus program objectives are to: 1) prepare students to attain the GED credential; 2) provide the support systems necessary for students to address their circumstances and propel them toward self-sustainability and a healthier future; and 3) provide access to further education, training or employment.

Specific Responsibilities

Ø Coordinate and lead the Mentoring Program, and build upon the infrastructure created in the first year of the program
Ø Provide a group mentoring component that will enable the student to successfully complete GED Plus and continue to reach their long term educational and career goals
Ø Conduct outreach and recruit 10 mentor volunteers by building strong relationships in the community
Ø Manage the matching process of the mentors and students
Ø Build relationships and community with GED Plus students and staff
Ø Utilize and build on the mentoring tools and activities produced by this year’s Fellow
Ø Continue to research best practices
Ø Meet weekly with GED Plus staff
Ø Provide orientations and on-going support to the mentors and mentees
Ø Conduct evaluations with mentors and students throughout the year
Ø Travel at least once/month for Fellowship meetings, retreats, and training

Qualifications

Ø Excellent organizational and communication skills
Ø Experience working with urban youth
Ø The ability to work independently
Ø An interest in national and community service
Ø The desire to work with diverse constituencies
Ø Willingness to take initiative
Ø Ability to form partnerships and work collaboratively
Ø Ability to multi-task
Ø US Citizen, US National or Permanent Resident Alien

Benefits
For a one year full-time commitment and 1700 hours of AmeriCorps service Fellows receive:
A taxable living allowance of $250/week ¨ Comprehensive health care benefits ¨ Excellent training opportunities ¨ FREE courses at Northeastern University ¨ Loan forbearance and a $4,725 educational award

Contact Information
Apply ASAP!!! Applicants are hired on a rolling basis. Send a letter of interest, resume and contact info for three references via mail ASAP and before May 16th, 2008 to:

Kathy Kihanya
GED Plus Director
7 Palmer Street, 2nd floor
Roxbury, MA 02119
Phone: 617-541-2639
Fax: 617-541-2660
E-mail: gedplus@aol.com
Website: www.esacboston.org

More Info
Ø Interviews will take place in April and May of 2008
Ø Hiring decisions will be made on or before June 27th, 2008
Ø Program start date is August 2008
Ø Visit www.masspromisefellows.org for detailed program information

The Massachusetts Promise Fellowship is committed to providing equal opportunities. We serve and partner with diverse organizations, and are dedicated to non-discrimination. It is our policy to ensure that all individuals with whom we are in contact are treated without regard to age, color, disability, gender, marital status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or expression, or veteran status. We require that all our partners make reasonable accommodations for any and all individuals with a permanent or temporary disability. We actively partner with organizations representing minority concerns and interests to build high-performing teams that mirror the communities we serve.