Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement Public Service & Careers for Good Resource Guide Americorps Your World. Your Chance to Make it Better. AmeriCorps is your chance to put your ideas into action while learning new skills, making new connections, and earning money to pay for education. Website: The Americorps website has a wealth of information to help you select the program that is right for you. Search by interest area, location or skills. http://www.americorps.gov Programs: there are 3 main branches of Americorps: 1) Americorps State & National 2) Americorps VISTA 3) Americorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) Benefits: In addition to the new skills, knowledge and leadership experience you will gain with AmeriCorps, members receive a modest living allowance, student-loan forbearance, health coverage, and child care for those who qualify. After completing their term of service, they receive an AmeriCorps Education Award of up to $4,725. This award can be used to pay off qualified student loans or to finance college, graduate school, or vocational training at eligible institutions and is good for 7 years. Americorps State & National Details: The largest of AmeriCorps programs, AmeriCorps State and National provides funds to local and national organizations and agencies committed to using national service to address critical community needs in education, public safety, health and the environment. Each of these organizations and agencies, in turn, uses their AmeriCorps funding to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members. AmeriCorps members serve in AmeriCorps State and National projects in every state, U.S. territories, and on tribal reservations. AmeriCorps State and National programs are open to U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent resident aliens age 17 and older. Members serve full- or part-time over a 9- to 12-month period. Americorps VISTA: Thirty-seven million Americans live in poverty. Through AmeriCorps VISTA, you can make a tangible difference. And, you ll find the fulfillment that comes from using your knowledge and skills to help those in disadvantaged circumstances turn their dreams into reality. AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 40 years. VISTA members commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, strengthen community groups, and much more. With passion, commitment, and hard work, you ll create or expand programs designed to bring individuals and communities out of poverty. Americorps NCCC: AmeriCorps *National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) is a 10 month, residential, team-based program for 18 to 24 year olds. Team leaders can be any age over 21. Housing, food, transportation and uniforms are provided. This includes transportation from your home to and from your campus. 1700 hours of service, including 80 hours independently, must be completed to graduate. Everyone always ends up with over 1700 hoursnccc has responded to every natural disaster and wildfire since it has been in existence.no previous skills or degree is needed to join NCCC. There is one month of training at one of the three campuses (Denver, Sacramento, Perry Point, MD). Then, each team goes off to a variety of projects in your respective regions (determined by your campus) and the gulf. The projects focus on education, disaster relief, environment, and unmet human needs. SAS Connection: Kate Fenerty (SAS A09)If you are considering doing NCCC, please feel free to contact me on the ship or at home: knfenerty@semesteratsea.net or thrice3fenerty@yahoo.com or facebook.
City Year Give a Year. Change the World. Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement City Year unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them skills and opportunities to change the world. City Year corps members serve full-time at one of 19 locations across the United States as tutors and mentors, running after-school programs and leading youth leadership programs. Website: www.cityyear.org Eligibility: A year of service is challenging and tiring, but also rewarding and fulfilling. While there is no typical corps member background, all corps members must have the ability to work on a team, be a leader, and develop leadership skills, and be ready to commit 10 months of full-time service for children and communities across the country. Corps members must also meet these eligibility requirements. To participate, you must: Be between the ages of 17 and 24 Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident alien Be ready to dedicate 10 months to full-time service Be a high school graduate or GED recipient or agree to work toward high school equivalency while serving at City Year* Have served no more than 2 terms in another AmeriCorps, NCCC, or VISTA program Agree to a background or security check Peace Corps There are currently 7,786 members serving with the Peace Corps at 70 posts in 76 countries. Serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer means 27 months of hard work. It takes determination, flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor. And while applying to the Peace Corps is easier than being a Volunteer, the qualities that make a good Volunteer will also come in handy during the application process. Yes, applying to become a Volunteer takes some time, preparation, and effort. But as with volunteering, the rewards far outweigh the difficulties. Website: www.peacecorps.gov Eligibility: You may already know that all Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens of at least 18 years of age. Here are a few things that might surprise you: There is no age limit. In fact, the oldest Volunteer ever to serve in the Peace Corps was 86. You don't have to know another language. Having a four-year college degree by the time you're ready to leave for the Peace Corps will help your chances of acceptance. But it isn't absolutely necessary, and for some programs work experience, relevant skills, and/or a community college degree can qualify you. Benefits: You give and you get. The chance to make a real difference in other people's lives is the reason most Volunteers serve in the Peace Corps. But that is not the only benefit of Peace Corps service. Volunteers also have the chance to learn a new language, live in another culture, and develop career and leadership skills. The Peace Corps experience can enhance long-term career prospects whether you want to work for a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or a government agency. The Peace Corps can even open doors to graduate school. From practical benefits such as student loan deferment, career benefits like fluency in a foreign language, and the intangible benefits that come with making a difference in people's lives, there are a variety of rewards for the dedicated service of Volunteers. Rewards that last a lifetime. Volunteers receive a monthly living stipend, 2 vacation days per month of sevrice, and $6000 stipend for transition after Peace Corps. I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve. Albert Schweitzer
Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement Teach for America Teach For America aims to end educational inequity the reality that in our country, where a child is born determines his or her educational outcomes and life prospects. We are working with a great sense of urgency to build the movement to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting our nation's most promising future leaders in the effort. Our vision is that one day, all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education. Website: www.teachforamerica.org Eligibility: We seek individuals from all backgrounds and career interests who have what it takes to excel as teachers and to ultimately exert broader societal influence in our nation. Demonstrated past leadership and achievement: achieving ambitious, measurable results in academic, professional, extracurricular, or volunteer settings Perseverance in the face of challenges Strong critical thinking skills: making accurate linkages between cause and effect and generating relevant solutions to problems Ability to influence and motivate others Organizational ability: planning well, meeting deadlines, and working efficiently Understanding of and desire to work relentlessly in pursuit of our vision Respect for students and families in low-income communities Bachelors Degree 2.5 Cumulative GPA US Citizenship / Permanent Resident status Finally, we seek evidence that applicants operate with professionalism and integrity, and meet basic writing standards. Commitment & Placement: Members make a 2 year teaching commitment and must attend a 5 week intensive summer training. You are assigned to a region based on the following 4 factors: Your regional and teaching subject preferences Regional requirements for incoming teachers Regional certification requirements The availability of teaching assignments Benefits: Members receive the same starting salary and health/insurance benefits as starting teachers in the region. Salaries range from $27,000 to $47,500, depending on the region. Corps members teaching in urban areas typically have higher salaries, starting at $30,000 and going up to $47,500. Corps members in rural regions, who make between $27,000 and $45,000, tend to have more discretionary income because the cost of living is disproportionately lower in these areas.. We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. - Sir Winston Churchill
Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement Doctors Without Borders: Put Your Ideals Into Action Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971. Today, MSF provides aid in nearly 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. MSF provides independent, impartial assistance to those most in need. MSF reserves the right to speak out to bring attention to neglected crises, to challenge inadequacies or abuse of the aid system, and to advocate for improved medical treatments and protocols. Website: www.doctorswithoutborders.org Positions Available: Medical Personnel Physicians, HIV/AIDS and TB specialists (URGENTLY NEEDED), Obstetricians/Gynecologists (URGENTLY NEEDED), Anesthesiologists/ Nurse- Anesthetists (URGENTLY NEEDED), Surgeons, Registered Nurses/Nurse Practitioners, Nurse-Midwives/Certified Midwives (URGENTLY NEEDED), Pharmacists, EpidemiologistsLicensed Mental Health Specialists,Laboratory Scientists/Technicians Non-medical Personnel Logisticians Water & Sanitation Logisticians Administrators/Financial Controllers How to apply / Eligibility: The MSF recruitment process is competitive and MSF seeks individuals who go beyond the minimum essential requirements and embody the principles of independent and impartial humanitarian aid. At least 2 years of relevant professional experience For physicians, completion of residency. Availability for a minimum of 9 to 12 months With the exception of surgeons, anesthesiologists, and OB/GYNs who may be accepted for shorter assignments. No recent gap in clinical experience greater than 2 years French language skills are considered a major asset Relevant travel or work outside the United States Experience supervising, managing, & training others Flexibility and adaptability Placement: About three months before a volunteer's availability, MSF will start looking for field acancies pertinent to professional experience. Lists of vacant field positions are provided to MSF-USA by the five Operational Centers in Europe. HROs propose staff for appropriate vacancies; final decision on placement is taken by the Operational Center after considering relevant candidates from all MSF sections for each vacancy. What expenses are field staff expected to pay? Once a mission is confirmed, MSF will be responsible for all travel, visas, and relevant vaccinations. Field workers should assume responsibility for routine health maintenance vaccinations. MSF will provide staff with: Round trip air tickets from home to mission Accomodation in NYC/Europe during briefing/debriefing Monthly salary of approximately $1300 Full medical insurance
Accommodation in the field (shared housing mostly with private rooms) Per diem on mission in local currency Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement Additional Resources Idealist.org www.idealist.org Idealist is a project of Action Without Borders, a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 with offices in the United States and Argentina. Idealist is an interactive site where people and organizations can exchange resources and ideas, locate opportunities and supporters, and take steps toward building a world where all people can lead free and dignified lives. Connect with Jobs, Internships, Organizations, events and MORE! Backdoor Jobs.com www.backdoorjobs.com Are you looking for opportunities to work, travel, play, learn, help, create, experience and grow in the U.S. or abroad? Come explore, dream, discover and do with Backdoorjobs.com: Short-Term Job Adventures! Volunteer opportunities, domestic and international jobs, internships and more! CommonGood Careers www.cgcareers.org Commongood Careers enables today's most innovative nonprofits to build strong organizations through the recruitment, retention, and development of outstanding talent. Founded by nonprofit professionals, Commongood Careers offers personalized, engaged services to jobseekers and organizations, as well as access to a wealth of information about careers in the social sector Careers for Good - www.careersforgood.org Powered by Idealist. Careersforgood.org provides opportunities from the best organizations in the nonprofit human services sector. Find a job, internship, or volunteer opportunity and start creating solutions to the social problems that face our world. US Department of State (Foreign Service) Career Navigator http://careers.state.gov/resources/career-nav.html Helping you discover careers with the US Department of State. Because choosing a career means choosing how you spend your life, this interactive guide will help you determine which career opportunity is right for you. US AID http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/ The United States has a long history of extending a helping hand to those people overseas struggling to make a better life, recover from a disaster or striving to live in a free and democratic country. It is this caring that stands as a hallmark of the United States around the world -- and shows the world our true character as a nation.u.s. foreign assistance has always had the twofold purpose of furthering America's foreign policy interests in expanding democracy and free markets while improving the lives of the citizens of the developing world. Spending less than onehalf of 1 percent of the federal budget, USAID works around the world to achieve these goals. USAID has been the principal U.S. agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms. Our Work supports long-term and equitable economic growth
and advances U.S. foreign policy objectives by supporting: economic growth, agriculture and trade; global health; and, democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian Center assistance. for Leadership & Civic Engagement Alternatives to the Peace Corps: A Guide to Global Volunteer Opportunities by Caitlin Hachmyer, Contains listings for over 100 carefully selected national and international organizations. Gives firsthand accounts of recent experiences by volunteers who have been there. Offers tips on researching and evaluating organizations as well as advice on budgeting and fundraising. Includes an extensive resource section full of books, websites, and organizations for further reading and research.