Art-Reach Volunteer Description
ACCESS Community Ambassador
Reports To: Communications & Engagement Associate and Executive Director
About Art-Reach:
Founded in 1986, Art-Reach increases access to the arts for traditionally underserved audiences, including people with disabilities, economic disadvantages, the elderly in need and at-risk youth. Art-Reach partners with over 125 arts and cultural organizations and 175 human service agencies throughout the Philadelphia region.Each year Art-Reach provides arts and cultural opportunities to over 15,000 individuals who would not normally have access to the arts. Through Art-Reach’s unique programs, people of all ages, economic backgrounds, and physical capabilities can enjoy cultural events and benefit from the richness of the arts. We are the only organization in the Philadelphia region solely devoted to increasing cultural participation among all underserved audiences. In addition, Art-Reach serves as a public resource and advocate for cultural accessibility by helping cultural organizations increase their outreach to underserved communities and diversify audiences.
About ACCESS Admission:
Beginning this fall, ACCESS Cardholders (those Pennsylvania residents who monitor their government issued cash and food benefits with an EBT card), are invited to visit participating museums, science centers, gardens and historic sites at a deeply discounted rate. Similar to the reduced admission offered to students, senior citizens, and military professionals when showing proper identification, ACCESS cardholders will be able todo the same, and enter participating venues for just $2. Beginning September 1st, Seventeenlocal cultural venues will welcome ACCESS cardholders and their families at this deeply discounted rate.
Nationally, EBT is a benefit-delivery system that provides public-assistance recipients with convenient, electronic access to their cash and SNAP benefits. Eligible recipients-including foster children and their caregivers, low-income families, elderly or disabled individuals and more - receive a debit card and access authorized benefits at supermarkets, convenience stores and farmers markets. This card accurately identifies low-income individuals who receive government assistance, andprevents abuse by non-economically disadvantaged people.
The ACCESS Community Ambassador will help Art-Reach spread the word to ACCESS cardholders throughout the city and surrounding areas.
Art-Reach is seeking ACCESS Community Ambassadors to work with the staff to connect with communities across the city. Each Ambassador will focus their outreach to a specific neighborhood, either in the North, Northeast, South or Southwest regions of Philadelphia. Ambassadors will support Art-Reach by adding community events and meetings to a group calendar, as well as being present at said events and sharing information about the program with potential visitors and with other community organizations.
Ambassador tasks may include staffing a table at a street festival, delivering flyers to a community organization, or presenting details of the program at a community meeting.
Ambassadors will receive a detailed training in all Art-Reach programs and services, with a focus on ACCESS Admission, so as to be fully knowledgeable when representing the organization. Ambassadors will also be provided with any needed printed and communication materials for their work.
Ideal Ambassador candidateswill have deep ties to their community and neighborhood with an understanding of how different grassroots, governmental and human-service agencies operate within their area. They will be passionate about the arts and community engagement and the importance of having access to artistic venues within our city. Fluency in Spanish a great benefit. We anticipate that Ambassadors will be present at 4-5 events or meetings per month.
Please send a letter of interest and brief resume to Melissa Roderman, Communications and Engagement Associate, at