"Change maker" -- Mary House Immigrant and Refugee Family Advocate in Nation's Capital

More than simply "doing good", Mary House and AmeriCorps' Notre Dame Mission Volunteers have created an opportunity to experience a Direct Services approach to social justice. Searching for grassroots community work? Taking a year off before pursuing academic goals? Unsure about graduate school? Spend a year providing compassionate and competent services for immigrant and refugee families, children, and seniors.

Mary House is a community based organization that provides transitional housing services, shelter, and social support programs to low-income immigrant and refugee families. With thirteen sites in the D.C. area, Mary House can serve up to 60 families with housing. In addition to housing and the support from advocates, Mary House provides families with food and educational support programs. More information on our organization is available on our website, maryhouse.org.

The AmeriCorps term is from August 18th, 2025 through June 30th, 2026. AmeriCorps provides a stipend of $21,000 pre tax and a $7,395 Segal Education grant.

Mary House provides an additional $3000 cost of living bonus upon completion of program in July 2026 and up to a $150 relocation reimbursement. AmeriCorps provides health benefits and supplemental food resources. Mary House provides housing, free off street parking, laundry, and Internet to team members paying a monthly utilities fee for housing.

Family Advocate Role (All Staff):

Each Mary House AmeriCorps staff member will assist 10-15 families as a family advocate. The family advocate role includes:

• Regular meetings and communication with families to discuss identified health, career, legal, or educational goals.
• Concrete work of supporting families' access to formal services like health care, schooling, legal services, and more.
• Accompanying families on appointments, school meetings, court dates, immigration meetings, etc.

Food Pantry Coordinator:

• Create and sustain partnerships with D.C. food bank and food donors.
• Ensure families and seniors' access to nutritious food and personal care products.
• Manage food pantry inventory.
• Create and maintain schedule for food distribution.
• Maintain registration database and food pantry data collection.

Parent/ Child Education Program Coordinator:

• Coordinate child after school education program for children ages 3-12.
• Offer mentorship and personalized tutoring on homework assignments and other tasks.
• Foster a safe space for children participating in after school program.
• Produce creative and engaging lesson plans.
• Create and implement education programming for parents, as requested.
• Provide fun and stimulating arts and crafts activities for children participating in both after school program and summer camp activities.
• Establish an open line of communication between Mary House, families, and schools.

ALL TEAM MEMBERS:

While each team member is responsible for their respective support service(s), ALL team members work together in ensuring Mary House's goals are met. This includes:

• Staffing of after school program.
• Pick up and distribution of food.
• Staffing of summer camp.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:

Qualified candidates must have advanced conversational proficiency in Spanish and English.

Amharic and Tigrinya are a plus.