The following AmeriCorps*VISTA positions through the Bonner VISTA Fellows program. Applications are being accepted through June 24, 2014. To apply, please click the links below.
The New Jersey Bonner VISTA Fellow Program is a post-college national volunteer service program developed in partnership of The Center for Community Engaged Learning & Research at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) and the Bonner Foundation. New Jersey Bonner VISTA Fellows serve full-time for one year to enhance volunteerism, develop economic opportunities, and address policy issues across central New Jersey. Fellows will be part of a part of a larger cohort of VISTA members that will receive an on-site orientation and monthly trainings to improve knowledge and skills in the field.
NJ Bonner VISTA – Together for Tomorrow
The Together for Tomorrow VISTA member will work with the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Center at the Trenton School Board. The FACE Center works to create family engagement pathways that honor the dynamic, multiple, and complicated ways that children learn from the Cradle to Career. The FACE Center attempts to fulfill its mission by generating partnerships with the community and faith-based organizations; maintaining Family Resource Centers at each elementary and middle school in the district, and offering support for School and Parent Liaisons by providing them with professional development, sharing information, and assisting them in other relevant areas as needed.
The VISTA Member will work to improve communication and involvement with parents and the community by: 1) Conducting a needs assessment of communication with parents and analyzing the data to develop a plan to improve the level of parental engagement activities. 2) Devising a new communication plan for the district to communicate with parents. 3) Creating a Parent University to develop a parent academy that provides a career ladder for parents to employment as well as tools to increase literacy 4) Ensure that all principals understand and implement required and effective parental engagement practices at their schools and 5) Provide support to the District wide PTA/PTO, Community Based and Faith Based organizations to increase parent engagement and student achievement. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have a college degree to qualify.
To apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=50547&fromSearch=true.
NJ Bonner VISTA Fellows – A Better Way
The Communication and Volunteer Management Coordinator will work directly with A Better Way in Trenton, NJ. A Better Way is a non profit organization which specializes in helping community members to find a better way to live. A Better Way was created by Law Enforcement Officers and mental health professionals who noticed that youth at risk for incarceration and previously incarcerated individuals and their families have the least job training and the lowest rate of employment.
The Communication and Volunteer Management Coordinator will work to improve awareness of A Better Way through communications, while also improving the recruitment, selection and training of volunteers. Duties will include: 1) Update the volunteer management plan as needed to track and incorporate new policies and positions. 2) Implement the utilization of a donor database, determining what to track and develop a template to report year-end results. Create a training tool which can be utilized to train others on how to enter information into the database (i.e., other staff or volunteers). 3) Work with staff to develop a structured orientation session for volunteer groups to educate them on the organization’s mission and goals. 4) Design activities which better connect volunteers and patrons. 5)Create templates of emails and calendars which can be utilized to communicate with volunteers and patrons. 6)Set statistical goals and outcomes for volunteer projects and plans for the year. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have a some college completed.
To apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=55729&fromSearch=true.
NJ Bonner VISTA Fellows – Community Development Coordinator
This VISTA Member will serve at the Trenton Downtown Association (TDA) working with Christian Martin, the executive director. The Trenton Downtown Association (TDA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to making Trenton, NJ’s capital city a more competitive location for business owners and a more engaging center for workers, residents and visitors. Since 1986, TDA has offered programs that promote economic growth and development in the capital city. TDA provides ombudsman services, financing information, referrals, public relations consulting, event planning, and marketing assistance for Trenton businesses. Through maintenance of a clean and safe commercial district, support for the arts and cultural heritage, and public policy planning and advocacy.
To abate poverty through economic development and job creation in the long-term, the VISTA member will: 1) Support the Trenton Buy-Local campaign by conducting research on best practices for buy-local campaigns. 2) Determine strategies to attract younger audiences to Downtown Trenton by conducting research on residents in their 20s, counter-culture and how to determine gaps in the downtown market. 3) Host information sessions for local businesses to learn about funds and opportunities available through the TDA. Educate local institutions on Trenton Businesses they can support. 4) Market grant opportunities (facade improvements) and other avenues of support available to downtown businesses through the TDA. 5) Conduct research on business incubator models and comprise an analytical report. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have a college degree to qualify.
To apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=40899&fromSearch=true.
NJ Bonner VISTA Fellows – Isles
The Communication and Volunteer Management Coordinator will work directly at Isles in Trenton, NJ. Isles is a community development and environmental nonprofit organization. With a mission to foster self-reliant families in healthy, sustainable communities, Isles: (1) Supports personal and community change, offering an array of services and training that empower people to improve their lives, families and communities while they restore the environment. (2) Addresses immediate challenges such as food, shelter, jobs, and toxic environments in an entrepreneurial way that impacts future generations. (3) Assumes that strengths and assets exist in even the most challenged areas. (4) Helps people to re-imagine and re-develop older communities. (5) Brings the wisdom of years of community building work to efforts to improve public policy and education. (6) Offers a variety of self-help tools and services that communities choose to use. In addition to community-based development services, Isles provides public education support throughout New Jersey.
The Communication and Volunteer Management Coordinator will work to improve awareness of Isles, Inc. through communications, while also improving the recruitment, selection and training of volunteers. Duties will include: 1) Update the volunteer management plan as needed to track and incorporate new policies and positions. 2) Implement the utilization of a donor database, determining what to track and develop a template to report year-end results. Create a training tool which can be utilized to train others on how to enter information into the database (i.e., other staff or volunteers). 3)Work with staff to develop a structured orientation session for volunteer groups to educate them on the organization’s mission and goals. 4)Design activities which better connect volunteers and patrons. 5)Create templates of emails and calendars which can be utilized to communicate with volunteers and patrons. 6)Set statistical goals and outcomes for volunteer projects and plans for the year. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have a college degree to qualify.
To apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=40973&fromSearch=true.
NJ Bonner VISTA Fellows – New Brunswick Capacity Building
The New Brunswick Capacity Building VISTA member will complete the development of programs, structures, and processes at Rutgers-New Brunswick that mobilize students and faculty to respond to capacity-building opportunities identified by local community groups. The member will build on the service of VISTA members who served this position over prior three years. A particular emphasis will be on formalizing on-going partnerships with local collaboratives, including the New Brunswick Community Food Alliance. In addition, the member will work with Rutgers-New Brunswick staff and faculty to explore the development of a local community-based research institute that will be a focal point for responding to research and information needs of community agencies, as well as maintain the local PolicyOptions.org bureau. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have a college degree to qualify.
To apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=50444&fromSearch=true.
NJ Bonner VISTA Fellows – New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission
The JJC is housed in, but not of the Department of Law and Public Safety, Office of the Attorney General. The JJC’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, operating the State’s juvenile correctional facilities and community-based supervision of juvenile parolees. While holding youth accountable for their delinquent behavior, the JJC provides a multitude of educational, rehabilitative and treatment services to juvenile offenders which are designed to address criminogenic needs utilizing evidence base principles and practices, best practices and promising approaches. To learn more go to: http://www.nj.gov/oag/jjc.
Through interventions and the implementation of reentry best practices, JJC seeks to improve reentry outcomes for its youth thereby lowering recidivism risk. Specifically, to assist in the development, implementation and monitoring of the JJC Reentry Plan the VISTA member will: 1) Develop a quarterly training curriculum for Parole Officers and Community Program Specialists to highlight parolee strengths and weaknesses. 2) Create a program description booklet for JJC staff, residents and outside agencies to enhance their knowledge of the Commission’s community programs. 3) Create a parent orientation program to increase family participation in case planning and service delivery prior to and subsequent to youth’s release. 4) Identify opportunities to provide post-secondary continuing education, training and or apprenticeships sanctioned by the US Department of Labor to interested youth who have earned their GEDs or High School Diplomas but are not yet released from JJC’s custody. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have a college degree to qualify.
To apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=50491&fromSearch=true.
NJ Bonner VISTA Fellows – Newark Capacity Building
The Newark Capacity Building VISTA member will complete the development of programs, structures, and processes at Rutgers-Newark that mobilize students and faculty to respond to capacity-building opportunities identified by local community groups. The member will build on the service of VISTA members who served this position over prior three years. A particular emphasis will be on formalizing on-going partnerships with a network of local organizations and collaboratives. In addition, the member will work with Rutgers-Newark staff and faculty to explore the development of a local community-based research institute that will be a focal point for responding to research and information needs of community agencies, as well as maintain the local PolicyOptions.org bureau. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have a college degree to qualify.
To apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=50442&fromSearch=true.
NJ Bonner VISTA Fellows – PEI Kids
The Communication and Volunteer Management Specialist will work directly at PEI Kids. Members will join a larger cohort of members for an on-site orientation and monthly trainings to develop knowledge and skills. PEI Kids is an organization that has worked for 26 years to ensure the safety of all children in the greater Mercer County area. PEI employs a systemic approach of prevention and intervention. The goal is to keep kids safe from the cruelty of sexual abuse, parental neglect, bullying, cyber-bullying, and the relentless lure of societal and adolescent peer pressure through primary prevention programs in schools. However, significant number of the children in this community suffer in their mental and physical health from the societal ills described above. To address this, PEI Kids provides crisis intervention services for child victims of sexual abuse, juvenile intervention services for first time offenders and visitation services for children in foster care and their biological parents.
The Communication and Volunteer Management Coordinator will work to improve awareness of PEI Kids through communications, while also improving the recruitment, selection and training of volunteers. Duties will include: 1) Update the volunteer management plan as needed to track and incorporate new policies and positions. 2) Implement the utilization of a donor database, determining what to track and develop a template to report year-end results. Create a training tool which can be utilized to train others on how to enter information into the database (i.e., other staff or volunteers). 3) Work with staff to develop a structured orientation session for volunteer groups to educate them on the organization’s mission and goals. 4) Design activities which better connect volunteers and patrons. 5) Create templates of e-mails and calendars which can be utilized to communicate with volunteers and patrons. 6)Set statistical goals and outcomes for volunteer projects and plans for the year. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have a college degree to qualify.
To apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=40974&fromSearch=true.
NJ Bonner VISTA Fellows – Shiloh CDC (SCDC)
The Communication and Volunteer Management Coordinator will work directly at Shiloh CDC in Trenton, NJ. The objective of SCDC is to bring about change in the community through the delivery of services that positively affect Education, Community Relations, Crime, Substance Abuse, Health Care, Employment, Housing and Economic development. The Mission of SCDC is to support the mission, vision and operations of all of its sub-corps that are committed to improving the quality of life of residents in Trenton and neighboring communities through training in the areas of spirituality, family life services, cultural arts, education and financial literacy. To learn more about SCDC, go to http://www.shilohcdc.org.
The Communication and Volunteer Management Coordinator will work directly with the director to improve awareness of Shiloh CDC through communications, while also improving the recruitment, selection and training of volunteers. Duties include: Community Awareness and Engagement: Update community needs assessment; Update community assets inventory; Update civic engagement tool kit. Materials Development: Assist in the creation of program services infomercials; Design and edit Shiloh CDC annual report; Produce quarterly newsletter; Implement social media strategy. Outreach: Coordinate quarterly community issue forums; Coordinate semi-annual community resource fairs; Support monthly stakeholder meetings; Maintain and disseminate updated community calendar. Volunteer management: Revise Volunteer Management Plan; Provide training for program staff on on-boarding and effective use of volunteers; Upgrade the volunteer tracking system; Coordinate volunteer recognition program and event. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have a college degree to qualify.
To apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=50915&fromSearch=true.
NJ Bonner VISTA Fellows – Trenton Capacity Building
Founded in 2004, the Bonner Center for Civic and Community Engagement at TCNJ helps the college maintain its mission to sustain and advance the communities in which they live. It does so by creating teaching and learning opportunities that simultaneously build the capacity of TCNJ students in addition to local non-profits and neighborhoods. In the end students become more knowledgeable, skilled and civic minded, while community partners gain additional resources to effectuate positive change. To learn more about the Bonner Center at TCNJ, go to http://bonner.pages.tcnj.edu.
The 3 Trenton Capacity Building VISTA members will complete the development of programs, structures, and processes at TCNJ that mobilize students and faculty to respond to capacity-building opportunities identified by local community groups. The member will build on the service of VISTA members who served this position over prior three years. A particular emphasis will be on formalizing on-going partnerships with a network of local collaboratives. In addition, the member will work with TCNJ staff and faculty to explore the development of a local community-based research institute that will be a focal point for responding to research and information needs of community agencies, as well as maintain the local PolicyOptions.org bureau. Three VISTAs will fill this role. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have a college degree to qualify.
To apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=50443&fromSearch=true.
NJ Bonner VISTA Fellows – Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK)
The Communication and Volunteer Management Coordinator will work directly at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) in Trenton, NJ. TASK provides more than 3,000 free meals per week to people in need in the Trenton area. TASK directs its activities toward helping patrons achieve healthier lifestyles, increased self-esteem, and self-sufficiency. To this end, TASK and agencies using the facility provide a wide array of social, community, and health services, including educational training for patrons to acquire a GED, learn computer skills, gain work experience and prepare for interviews. To learn more about TASK, go to http://www.trentonsoupkitchen.org.
The Communication and Volunteer Management Coordinator will work to improve awareness of TASK through communications, while also improving the recruitment, selection and training of volunteers. Duties include: 1) Update the volunteer management plan as needed to track and incorporate new policies and positions. 2) Implement the utilization of a donor database, determining what to track and develop a template to report year-end results. Create a training tool which can be utilized to train others on how to enter information into the database (i.e., other staff or volunteers). 3) Work with staff to develop a structured orientation session for volunteer groups to educate them on the organization’s mission and goals. 4) Design activities which better connect volunteers and patrons. 5) Create templates of e-mails and calendars which can be utilized to communicate with volunteers and patrons. 6) Set statistical goals and outcomes for volunteer projects and plans for the year. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent to qualify.
To apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=40982&fromSearch=true.
NJ Bonner VISTA Fellows -Statewide Community Networking
The Statewide Community Networking Coordinator’s role will be to strengthen our program by working closely with the on-site supervisor to: 1) provide training and related support to five local Capacity Building VISTAs to perform their assigned roles; 2) help develop guide and related resources for establishing capacity building project partnerships, with a special focus on supporting local collaboratives working towards collective impact on poverty-related issues; 3) help develop programs, structures, and processes at Rider, the Princeton Theological Seminary, and (possibly) Princeton University that mobilize students and faculty to respond to capacity-building opportunities identified by local community groups in Mercer County. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have a college degree to qualify.
To apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=50438&fromSearch=true.
NJ Bonner VISTA Fellows -United Way of Greater Mercer County
The Communication and Volunteer Management Specialist will work directly at the United Way of Mercer County. United Way of Mercer County is an independent nonprofit organization that provides a neutral table around which diverse groups can partner and collaborate to produce measurable results in local human care issues in the greater Mercer County area. They are governed by local volunteers and managed by a professional staff. United Way’s mission is to improve people’s lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities and upholdng their business philosophies which includes. 1) creating a better future for everyone in the community by providing help and hope to people in need 2)being impassioned and responsible advocate for the well-being of this community3)inspiring and mobilizing the community to take a leading role in helping its members achieve personal and family self-sufficiency 4)assuring that resources are invested wisely and effectively to address current and emerging needs of the community 5)setting a standard for fiscal responsibility, ethical behavior and integrity for non-profit organizations 6) fostering partnerships to improve the quality of life for those in our community and 7)recognizing that the strength of United Way lies in the “system of caring communities” in New Jersey and across the nation, and provide leadership and support to achieve the system’s fullest potential.
The VISTA Coordinator will work to improve awareness of the United Way’s programs through communications, while also improving the recruitment, selection and training of volunteers. Duties include: 1) Update the volunteer management plan as needed to track and incorporate new policies and positions. 2) Implement the utilization of a donor database, determining what to track and develop a template to report year-end results. Create a training tool which can be utilized to train others on how to enter information into the database (i.e., other staff or volunteers). 3) Work with staff to develop a structured orientation session for volunteer groups to educate them on the organization’s mission and goals. 4) Design activities which better connect volunteers and patrons. 5) Create templates of e-mails and calendars which can be utilized to communicate with volunteers and patrons. 6) Set statistical goals and outcomes for volunteer projects and plans for the year. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent to qualify.
To apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=40886&fromSearch=true.
NJ Bonner VISTA Fellows-Office of the Attorney General (OAG)
The OAG VISTA will serve directly at the Office of the Attorney General in Trenton NJ. Reducing New Jersey’s crime rate requires an integrated approach to criminal justice policy that recognizes the need to attack criminality at the front end – when youth and young adults are at-risk, but not yet justice involved – and at the back end – preparing incarcerated individuals to successfully transition back into their community. Crime reduction efforts demand outreach and engagement with those who are at-risk of, and/or are currently engaged in the criminal justice system; The objectives are better coordination and implementation of criminal justice policy, practice, and programs. For more information, please go to: http://www.nj.gov/oag
Reducing New Jersey’s crime rate requires an integrated approach to criminal justice policy including collaboration, accountability, and partnership with municipal government, non-profit and philanthropic organizations, and data collection and analysis. To assist this process, the OAG VISTA will: 1)Assist the violence reduction community planning process by devising a long-term crime and violence prevention plan. 2)Assist in the creation of a Violence Reduction Strategy. 3)Continue to update a library of evidence-based programs that are effective in prevention/violence reduction strategies. 4) Build community capacity in Camden, Newark, Trenton, Asbury Park, Atlantic City, and Vineland by engaging stakeholders, conducting outreach and facilitating connections.5) Develop assessments and evaluations that will measure the capacity in the OCJ’s outcomes and outputs. 6) Enhance community outreach by developing and managing OCJ webpage and social media accounts for the planning boards. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have a college degree to qualify.
To apply, visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=50493&fromSearch=true.