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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT POSITIONS—ENCHANTED CIRCLE CORPS

GAIN VALUABLE CAREER EXPERIENCE, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES AT GREAT TAOS AREA NONPROFITS—WHETHER YOU’RE 18 OR 108!
No experience needed.


APPLY TODAY TO START THIS SEASON

• Time commitment | 3-11 month service terms at 16-36 hours per week.
Term of Service and Time Requirements:
Offering 3, 5, 8, or 11 month service terms at 17, 24, or 34 hours per week.

• Build relationships | Kickstart or change your career path & gain valuable career experience. No previous job experience necessary!

• Full-time & part-time available | With our many wonderful local host sites. We include non-service time to allow for breaks or vacations.

• Receive a living allowance | Plus, an education award to pay for college or student loans, including your existing loans, college or trade school, and help cover your living expenses.

• AmeriCorps Member Assistance Program & Alumni Perks! | Free tax support, government hiring eligibility, loan deferment, potential additional scholarships, and more.

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Participating Taos Enchanted Circle Corps Host Sites in past service years have included:

∙Big Brothers Big Sisters
∙Bridges
∙DreamTree Project
 ∙Enos Garcia Nurturing Center
∙NEST (Local crisis shelter for adults)
∙Not Forgotten Outreach
∙Rocky Mountain Youth Corps
∙Taos Center for the Arts
∙Taos Education & Career Center (TECC)
∙Taos Milagro Rotary
∙Taos Whole Community Health
∙Twirl
∙UNM Taos - K-12 Outreach
∙Youth Heartline

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Reports To:
Host Site Supervisor and AmeriCorps ECC Program Coordinator

Purpose: 
The Enchanted Circle Corps (ECC) — a program under DreamTree Project, believes that increased outreach and coordinated pathway navigation are necessary in Taos County and along the Enchanted Circle to locate and connect hidden and underserved populations to nonprofit programs and services that will improve residents’ quality of life and allow for a higher standard of living. ECC and its partner organizations will support community members by guiding them to and helping them access available services and resources. ECC performs outreach to increase general community awareness of partner organizations in Taos County, and facilitates an increase in community members accessing services and resources or increasing service access/frequency. Through this outreach and collaboration, ECC is working to develop a robust support network of community-based nonprofits to support community members navigate the path toward receiving the highest level of services available. The ECC Program will engage AmeriCorps Members to serve between for 3-month service terms at 25 hours per week with a variety of partner organizations that host ECC Members on-site in Taos County and along the Enchanted Circle. Members will serve to directly connect community members to programs and services offered by Taos County nonprofit organizations, through a variety of activities (listed below) that foster a stronger community network of pathway navigation and access to available services and resources. The goal of the Program is to increase the number of community members accessing the services of Host Site partners as well as increase the frequency and level of service for current recipients.

Description of Activities:

  • Represent organization by hosting a table at community events as they are available

  • Participate in community meetings with other community organizations and act as a liaison with other Host Sites to strengthen community pathway navigation

  • Provide presentations and/or training as needed to community groups, organizations, churches, businesses, schools, etc.

  • Help to create, and disseminate, outreach resources for specific target audiences, using various forms of media including flyers, social media, public service announcements, etc.

  • Participate in infrastructure building to benefit and connect community members to resources and the community

  • Support program staff, your supervisor, and administrative staff in appropriate duties that are related to outreach and community engagement, as necessary

  • Consult with your supervisor if you have any ideas, issues, or concerns, offering analysis and solutions whenever possible

  • Make connections with individuals and volunteers in the community for program outreach and program enhancement

  • Assist in enrolling individuals into services

  • Assist AmeriCorps ECC Members and staff in programming and activities

  • Train and assist volunteers as needed

  • Attend ECC cohort training and events throughout the year

Requirements:

ECC Requirements & Expectations:

  • Commitment to the concept of community service

  • Appreciation and willingness to collaborate with multiple community partners

  • Sensitivity to and awareness of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of the populations served, and of fellow Members

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: 

  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills; virtual and in-person communication is anticipated

  • Active problem solver with the ability to adapt and provide flexible and creative solutions to challenges

  • Sincere willingness to engage community members and share information on available services and resources

  • Great flexibility to work with a diverse group of individuals working at different sites and in various sectors of supportive services

  • Keen ability to focus on current tasks and follow through to completion

  • Strong communication skills in order to consistently update: Host Site Supervisor (and other staff as appropriate) in all outreach and community engagement opportunities and events; community groups in service and resource information; Host Sites with creation and completion of presentations; community members with guidance and assistance; and, local providers on pathways to access services and resources

  • Moderate technology literacy to include: use of a computer, correspondence and communication via email, use of an online calendar (such as Google) and submit documents online (like timesheets)

Education and Experience:

  • Applicant must have, at minimum, a high school diploma or high school equivalency, or must agree to obtain either a diploma or high school equivalency before using an education award


Additional Requirements:

  • Participants must be at least 18 years of age at the start of service; there is no maximum age limit

  • Criminal history check and clearance

  • Clean driving record prior to and during the project

  • Ability to keep confidentiality issues with respect to community members, clients, staff, and other Members

  • Documentation of citizenship: must be a US citizen, a national, or a lawfully permanent resident alien of the United States

Term of Service and Time Requirements:

Three Month Term to Serve, 25 hours per week.

Orientation and Training:

  • Members will receive AmeriCorps training and Host Site orientations prior to beginning service. Additional skills training and professional development workshops will be offered throughout the service term.

  • Participate in community service activities, and AmeriCorps National Days of Service, such as: 9/11 Day of Remembrance; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; and Cesar Chavez Day.

Benefits

  • Living Allowance

    AmeriCorps Members are provided a living allowance to cover the cost of living expenses such as food, housing, or transportation and is not paid based on hours served. The living allowance is paid in regular bi-weekly increments ranging from $525 to $991.67 depending on hours served per week.

  • Non Service Time 

    AmeriCorps Members are allowed up to five weeks (depending on length of service term) of non-service time which includes: holidays when Host Sites are closed, days when members may not have hours due to being ill, and days off.

Education Award

The Segal Education Award is a post-service benefit earned by AmeriCorps Members who successfully complete their term of service. The award may be used to pay expenses at eligible educational institutions, including many technical schools and G.I. Bill approved programs, or to repay qualified student loans, and ranges from $1,242.86 to $4,441.50, depending on the number of hours served and the length of term.

Personal and Professional Development Benefits

All Members receive beneficial work experience in Taos County’s ever-growing nonprofit sector, as well as additional professional and personal development trainings, and the achievement of providing much-needed services to the Taos County community.

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, or military service.