The Grinnell Education Partnership would like to announce that applications are now being accepted for an AmeriCorps VISTA position beginning in August. The GEP Planner will serve in a capacity-building position focused on creating systems to support community-based partners, such as researching best practices for effective collective impact strategies, identifying growth areas, and helping to formalize policies, procedures, and templates.
This VISTA position is a full-time volunteer position, requiring approximately 40 hours of service per week, for a full year. This position is scheduled to begin on Monday, August 2, 2021 and continue through to August 2022. Day-to-day activities may include documenting meetings and establishing archives of documents, meeting and collaborating with community stakeholders, reviewing GEP data to assess efforts, supporting GEP Taskforce efforts and projects, and creating advisory reports or presentations to share with community partners.
About the Grinnell Education Partnership
The Grinnell Education Partnership brings together community non-profits, area employers, the Grinnell-Newburg School District, and community volunteers to support PK-12 children and families in Grinnell, Iowa. The Partnership is dedicated to increasing community-wide collaboration to close achievement gaps, give students a strong start in the early school years, and finish strong so they are prepared to do well after graduation. The Partnership has been in existence for six years and is now focused on continuing to support community-based education initiatives while adapting to the changing landscape brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. This project is part of the Community Corps VISTA Program, operated by Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact.
Eligibility
To be eligible for these positions, all applicants must meet the following requirements:
Be at least 18 years of age at the commencement of service.
Have a completed some college coursework. A college degree, or equivalent work experience, is preferred.
Be a U.S. Citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States.
Successful completion and clearance of required background checks including a nationwide National Sex Offender check; a Statewide Criminal History check; a state of residence check if applicable; and a fingerprint-based FBI check.
Preference will be given to those who:
have interest or experience in non-profit management or community organization;
possess superior writing, editing, speaking, presentation, and general communication skills;
are organized, self-motivated, reliable, and dependable;
and demonstrate strong teamwork and leadership skills.
Benefits
AmeriCorps team members are eligible for the following service benefits:
Living allowance. Members will receive a monthly living allowance for their term of service. GEP will also provide a grocery card for $100 each month.
End-of-Service Award. Upon successful completion of service, service members are eligible for an education award or a service stipend. The education award can be used to repay qualified student loans and to pay current educational expenses at eligible institutions. It is good for up to seven years. If the member is 55+, the award may be transferred to a child, grandchild, or foster child. For VISTA, the education award benefit is approximately $6,000. The end-of-service stipend is a cash award of approximately $1,800. You can find more information about the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award at this link.
Loan Forbearance. Qualified student loans are eligible for forbearance during AmeriCorps terms and many members qualify for income-based deferment of their student loans. (For more information on deferment/forbearance, visit Student Aid Loan Deferment.)
Health Coverage. For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit the VISTA Campus Healthcare page.
You can learn more about the benefits of being an AmeriCorps VISTA service member at the VISTA Campus Benefits website.
How to Apply
Applicants will need to complete the application available at MyAmeriCorps. Please create an account to complete the application. Please also send a cover letter and resume to info@grinnelleducationpartnership.org. Interviews will occur on a rolling basis, and the position may be filled before the deadline. Applications are being accepted now through Friday, July 2nd.
Please direct any questions to Liz Hansen at hansenel@grinnell.edu.