Americorps State Positions Available This Fall Through Community Youth Concepts (CYC)!

AmeriCorps State Positions available this fall through Community Youth Concepts (CYC)!

Gain valuable experience working with youth, networking with nonprofits in the Des Moines area, and receiving extensive free training in best practices in youth development/volunteer management, all while giving back to your community!

AmeriCorps State members with CYC will work in schools and community organizations coordinating in-school or after-school programs that engage youth in service learning. This is a great opportunity for those looking to get into nonprofit work, education, working with youth, volunteer management, or who just want to give a year of service. In addition to being eligible for a living stipend, education award, health benefits, and more, AmeriCorps State members are able to hold second jobs and attend school. Give a year of service through CYC at one of these great sites:

Community Youth Concepts: Coordinate the Junior Police Explorers Program, designed to provide career exploration, service and leadership opportunities, and positive connections to police in communities that have not historically had positive relationships with police. The member will engage middle school youth at four area schools in these activities at least once per week as a smaller group, and once per month they will join the Des Moines Police Department’s larger program to build connections.

Children and Families Urban Ministries: Two AmeriCorps members are needed to facilitate The Backyard Boyz and Whyld Girls programs. The focus of the programs is support of educational success and development of personal and group leadership with youth in grades 6-12. The approach to the programs is multi-faceted and includes individual and group work, extensive connection with community resources, involvement with the arts, attention to health and fitness, cultural analysis and critique, community engagement and travel. At the heart of the programs is listening to youth—the dreams the hold, the deficits they face, the strengths and challenges of their everyday lives, their insight, their ideas. Special projects include a summer literacy and leadership institute, Product with a Purpose, and “Future: the Alternative F Word” campaign.

Girl Scouts: Bring Girl Scouts programming to underserved Kindergarten through 12th grade girls in the Des Moines community. Focus on recruitment, retention, and supporting girls in programs including Power Up, a bullying initiative, and Lego League, which engages girls in a hands-on, team environment to build robots while applying real world math and science. Facilitate programming while developing young leaders.

Metro West Learning Academy: Students at Metro West are ages 15-19, at risk of dropping out of school, and referred from six school districts: Adel-DeSoto-Minburn, Dallas Center-Grimes, Johnston, Saydel, Urbandale, and Waukee. Collaborate with staff to engage students in service learning projects connected to the Iowa Core learning objectives. Facilitate service learning projects, seek grants and donations to secure resources for projects, and serve alongside certified teaching staff to support students in earning credits toward graduation. (Applicant must have completed a college degree program and be able to obtain an Iowa Teaching Certificate)

LGBT Health Forum: Develop and facilitate a program for middle and high school students to address inequities that the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community faces. Empower and engage students on community outreach, networking, program planning, program implementation, program evaluation, education, training, marketing, and community organizing, focusing on developing programs that reduce behavioral health risks.

EMBARC(Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center): Work with volunteers to develop and facilitate academic support services specifically for refugee youth who are ethnic minorities from Burma. Specifically, help youth ages 5-18 develop their talents and skills to give back to their new community as a mechanism to apply educational learning.

Interested in Applying?

Please visit and click on “Apply to Serve” to complete an online application. (Please note, the CYC Youth Service Movement AmeriCorps Program is not yet searchable on the AmeriCorps website, however we will be able to search for and find your application)

Next email your resume and cover letter to with the subject line of: AmeriCorps application materials. Please note in your cover letter that you have completed the online myamericorps.gov application, as well as which specific program site is of interest to you.

Initial interviews will be held in late May through June, followed by site interviews in June and July. Interviews will be held until all positions are filled. Position start date will be September 3, 2013.

For more information, please see the general position description, below. If you have additional questions not covered in this document, contact Michelle Raymer at or 515-243-4292.

Please note that openings are dependent on funding.

Community!Youth Concepts

Youth Service Movement AmeriCorps Program

Position Description

Position Title:AmeriCorps Member

Position Type:AmeriCorps State Full Time, 1,700 hour term of service

Organization:Program Site/ CYC AmeriCorps Program

Term of Service:September 1, 2013- August 31, 2014

Stipend:$12,100/ annually (pretax)

Benefits:Health coverage; including basic vision and dental. Successful service results in eligibility of $5,550 education award (pretax) at the end of service that may be applied toward qualified student loans or future education at a qualified educational institution (to be used within 7 years). Members may defer eligible student loans while in service. AmeriCorps members age 55 or older may transfer their education award to an eligible child or grandchild (for use within 9 years). Potential child care stipend available based on income eligibility requirements.

Reports To:Program Site Supervisor and CYC AmeriCorps Program Director

Position Summary:

Community!Youth Concepts (CYC) is a youth development nonprofit based in Des Moines that offers youth programming to 10-24 year olds and training and technical assistance to other youth-serving organizations. CYC offers programming in service learning, mentoring, community engagement, substance use diversion, and after school opportunities.

The CYC AmeriCorps State Program engages AmeriCorps members in leading service learning programs in Des Moines and nearby communities of need. Members will address the needs of at-risk youth between the ages of 5 and 21, resulting in greater engagement of youth in addressing community needs. This program provides youth and adults increased exposure to the value of service learning and expands opportunities for its use.

The CYC AmeriCorps Program Member is responsible for the coordination, planning, and facilitation of service learning and youth development programs; collecting data on program outcomes and measures and providing timely reports on activities; developing Days of Service opportunities and recruiting volunteers; participating in training and networking activities; and building capacity of organizations to create service learning opportunities with youth.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Recruit and support youth to participate in service learning programs.

Distribute and collect releases for student participation; maintain and uphold student confidentiality practices and policies.

Market service learning programming among providers and schools.

Plan lessons and curricular pieces for service learning programming.

Facilitate service-learning programming.

Build capacity of community organizations to create service learning opportunities with youth.

Recruit, manage, and train community volunteers to assist with service learning programming.

Make connections with individuals and organizations in the community for program outreach and program enhancement through presentations and networking.

Accurately and professionally discuss with community partners and volunteers the objectives of AmeriCorps, the CYC AmeriCorps program, and site-specific objectives.

Complete contract service hours and site-specific responsibilities within twelve-months of the member’s enrollment date or within the contracted time frame.

Participate in CYC AmeriCorps orientation and trainings as well as relevant host site trainings.

Assist the site supervisor in addressing each of the CYC AmeriCorps Program’s programming objectives/performance measures.

Document, collect, and report quantitative and qualitative impact data; report needed information and paperwork to CYC AmeriCorps Program Director in a timely manner.

Report any accidents, illness, or sickness to site supervisor.

Learn and follow AmeriCorps, CYC, and host site organization policies and procedures.

Develop and participate in Days of Service including but not limited to MLK Day of Service and AmeriCorps Week; recruit volunteers for Day of Service opportunities.

Participate in AmeriCorps training and events as required and requested by the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service.

Minimum Qualifications:

Must be a lawful citizen, national or permanent resident alien of the United States.

Must be at least 20 years of age.

Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Covered position for the purposes of the three-part National Service Criminal History Records Check due to members’ reoccurring access to vulnerable populations; Must pass a National Sex Offender Registry, FBI and applicable state’s bureau of investigation background checks.

Computer proficient, including experience with Microsoft Office computer software.

Excellent verbal, written communication, interpersonal, organizational/time management and facilitation skills.

Demonstration of high standards of professionalism, personal initiative, integrity and commitment.

Demonstration of adaptability and flexibility.

Experience working with youth, enjoyment of working with youth, and passion for empowering youth.

Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and complete multiple tasks with minimal supervision.

Ability to facilitate groups of youth and adults, with guidance.

Additional Qualifications Preferred:

Bachelor’s degree is preferred.

Experience in the following areas: volunteer engagement, youth work, education, project planning and/or organizational capacity building experience.

Additional computer experience, such as Word Press, social media

Previous employment experience.

Reliable transportation.

EEO Employer