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HandsOn AmeriCorps
Hands On Hartford – Hartford CT

Hands On Hartford
Hands On Hartford is many things to many people - a social service agency that operates a soup kitchen and food pantry, offers tutoring and after school programs for inner city children, and provides housing and support services for people with HIV/AIDS. Our motto and aim is “Caring in Action!” Hands On Hartford is also an affiliate of the Hands On Network, an innovative national alliance of organizations committed to reshaping volunteerism and civic engagement in the U.S. and in the world.

HandsOn AmeriCorps Member
Hands On Hartford seeks three full-time, one-year AmeriCorps Members. The HandsOn AmeriCorps Members will serve in three areas: developing and training volunteer leaders who will then spearhead projects aimed at poverty alleviation and recovery; building the volunteer capacity of partner agencies; and assisting in the design, development and implementation of creative new volunteer projects and events. The service varies from day to day, offering a mix of management/administrative duties, leadership development and training projects, and hands-on work with people in need…all within the context of a dynamic and supportive team. The members will be part of the national HandsOn AmeriCorps, encompassing members who work at Hands On Network affiliates throughout the country. Members will participate in a national training program, engage in bi-monthly conference calls, work as part of a dynamic local team, and serve as a support network for each other during the term.

Commitment
These positions run September 1, 2009 to August 31, 2010. The Members will be supervised and supported by Hands On Hartford’s Director of Community Engagement. The Members will serve a flexible 40-hour week, including occasional evenings and weekends, in a business-casual setting. The AmeriCorps members will be required to complete 1700 or more hours of service over the 12-month period.

Compensation
$250 per week, paid bi-weekly, plus an educational award of $4,725 (for full-time members) upon completion of service to be used for college or graduate school or toward repayment of student loans. Training and mentoring will be provided by Hands On Hartford staff and the national Hands On Network. These positions include a basic health care plan (Corps Members only, no dependents), loan forbearance for federal student loans and childcare assistance.

Qualifications
Applicants should be college graduates or have completed at least two years of college, be U.S. citizens or resident aliens, and have interest and experience in volunteer involvement and/or community development on the local level. Skills required include strong organizational ability, good work ethic, strong written and oral communication skills, flexibility, creativity and a good sense of humor. Members should also be able to adhere to an established service schedule, meet deadlines, keep accurate records, and be familiar with common software programs (Windows, Excel, etc.), e-mail and the internet. Members should also be comfortable serving with a culturally diverse group of volunteers, program participants and colleagues.

To Apply
Interested candidates should submit by e-mail the following:
1. Letter of application that addresses the candidate’s qualifications relevant to the position requirements
2. Current resume
Please e-mail your application to: tbright@handsonharford.org