AmeriCorps Volunteer Position; Stipend Provided
Be part of an inspiring after-school instrumental music program working with underserved children in Seattle. Help guide our team of high school, college and community volunteers as they tutor and mentor younger children.
Seattle Music Partners seeks an AmeriCorps Member to serve as our Program Coordinator.
At Seattle Music Partners, we believe that music is a powerful tool for inspiring and empowering young people.
SMP is an established and growing non-profit that provides free, after-school music lessons to underserved elementary school students in Seattle's Central District. We have a 12-year history, a positive reputation in the community and have thrived primarily through the efforts of volunteers.
Our mission is to help underserved children learn to play instruments and read music. To attain this goal, we recruit, train and support skilled high school, college and community musicians as volunteer music tutors and mentors who lead individual music lessons with their students each week. We also provide instruments for the school year when needed.
Students showcase their skills by performing in several recitals each year. In addition, SMP is dedicated to partnering with school staff to bring music enrichment programs into the schools, including hosting touring musicians and arranging for field trips to music performances.
We believe that providing a child with the opportunity to build a foundation of musical skills, coupled with the strength of a mentoring relationship, helps foster self-confidence and an overall engagement in learning.
SMP currently works in partnership with four public schools in Seattle's Central District that have high 'free and reduced fee' lunch profiles. More than 82% of the elementary school population we worked with this past year received free or reduced fee lunch benefits, compared to a district average of approximately 40%. Our students come from a variety of ethnic groups (almost 90% of whom are students of color) and from varied family and economic circumstances (including homeless families, single parent homes and guardianships).
This year, we provided an average of 100 students with weekly lessons on flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, French horn, violin, viola, cello, piano, guitar and percussion. We also worked with more than 100 volunteers from more than 25 high schools, colleges, and community ensembles (who contributed in excess of 4,600 hours of service).
Since SMP has a very small staff, the Program Coordinator will have a significant impact, playing a role in most SMP activities.
We seek someone who has good organizational skills, is responsible, personable, enjoys and has experience working with children and young adults, and is interested in music, education, youth development and the business of non-profits. A strong music background is preferred; a keen sense of cultural sensitivity is a must.
Benefits:
• $1,125.00 stipend per month
• Health Insurance
• Education award of $5,550 upon satisfactory completion of service.
• Childcare assistance (if eligible)
Training Job Requirements:
• 18 to 25 years old.
• College degree required.
• Full-time: 40 hours / week.
• Begin work September 1, 2012 - Ending July 15, 2013.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple tasks at one time.
• Demonstrated self-starter.
• Able to work with minimal supervision.
• Excellent written & verbal communications skills.
• Effective presentation skills & the ability to facilitate small group discussions.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office and Google Docs programs at an intermediate or advanced level.
• Car required.
Duties:
The Member will collaborate closely with existing staff and directly with students, tutors, families and school personnel. Responsibilities will include the following:
• Daily direct service on-site at schools, coordinating activities of tutors, students and adult volunteers.
• Coordinate volunteer recruitment, training, support and retention efforts.
Help lead communication efforts with families, including family meetings, observation days, phone calls, monthly family newsletters, document translation, etc.
• Coordinate student transportation.
• Help organize recitals and related programs.
• Help coordinate artist visits to schools.
• Chaperone field trips to performances.
• Encourage students and tutors.
• Work with staff on curriculum and classroom issues.
• Ongoing communication with tutors, potential volunteers, students, etc.
• Manage food / snack procurement.
• Assist with instrument inventory and repair.
• Organize student and tutor records and other administrative materials.
• Help draft newsletters and other communications.
• Help with fundraising.
• Manage Facebook page.
HOW TO APPLY
Individuals interested in the position need to prepare the AmeriCorps National Service Application and submit to Americorps.org.
In addition, interested candidates should submit a resume and detailed cover letter that explains how your interests and qualifications make you well suited for our particular program to the attention of our Executive Director. Please put "Program Coordinator Inquiry" in re line.
For further information about Seattle Music Partners, we encourage you to visit our web site at www.seattlemusicpartners.org.
- Location: Seattle
- Compensation: AmeriCorps stipend of $1,125 per month plus select benefits
- This is at a non-profit organization.
- Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
- Please, no phone calls about this job!
- Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
