ALS Outreach Advocate

About I AM ALS 

I AM ALS is a patient-centric movement revolutionizing how to end disease. The nonprofit provides critical support and resources to people with ALS, caregivers and loved ones. We empower advocates to raise awareness and lead the movement against ALS in driving the development of cures. Founded in 2019 by husband and wife team Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya, I AM ALS was born out of their desire to rewrite the ALS story for Brian and the tens of thousands of other people with ALS. 

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is currently a fatal disease with no cures. It attacks cells in the body that control movement and gives most people living with the disease no more than five years to live. It makes the brain stop talking to the muscles, causing increased paralysis over time. Ultimately, people with ALS become unable to eat, breathe or move on their own. 

The Opportunity 

This is an exciting volunteer opportunity to help build a new program that will connect those living with ALS to support and resources that can improve quality of life, and bring more people into the movement to end ALS. We need passionate people like you to achieve this!

As an Outreach Advocate with I AM ALS’ Outreach Advocate Program, you will be working to expand access to support resources and services, and grow the ALS movement within communities that I AM ALS currently is not reaching. With your assistance, we will help people living with and impacted by ALS feel empowered, informed, engaged and supported. Outreach Advocates will have the opportunity to participate in social media outreach and/or local community outreach through this program.

Note: The Outreach Advocate Program works uniquely with people from specific populations to do both social media and local engagement outreach. The program supports the I AM ALS Community Support programs, by expanding access to all resources available. Outreach Advocates will learn how to use social media to engage and mobilize their community, and will share resources and build relationships with local healthcare institutions and organizations all while ensuring people impacted by ALS are getting the support they need. Outreach Advocates will not meet weekly and will do independent work, only coming together for training sessions and check-ins.

Scope of Expectations

Together, we will increase the number of people receiving I AM ALS support services and using our platform to further the movement to end ALS. Outreach Advocates can choose to do social media outreach and/or local community outreach through this program after attending all learning sessions.

Required Expectations

• Attend I AM ALS Outreach Advocate Program orientation, learning sessions and monthly meetings 
• Complete the I AM ALS Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) training 
• Gain an understanding of I AM ALS’ Community Support programs including the ALS Support Team, Peer Support Initiative, Support Groups, online resources, education series; and advocacy opportunities including community teams and online action forms
• Help refer community members living with and impacted by ALS to I AM ALS Community Support programs and resources
• Track and provide monthly reports of your outreach activities to help I AM ALS measure the program’s progress
• Provide feedback on the program to I AM ALS staff

Volunteer Options: Social Media Outreach and/or Local Community Outreach

• Work alongside I AM ALS’s Community Support Outreach and Inclusion Lead and Organizing and Outreach Lead to help identify key social media accounts and local organizations for outreach 
• Use social media to promote ALS supportive services, resources and advocacy opportunities
• Co-create digital outreach materials with I AM ALS staff
• Assist with establishing relationships with local health institutions and community organizations including community health centers and neurology clinics, and other support-related organizations such as churches, hospices and nursing homes
• Distribute I AM ALS print resources to local health institutions and organizations including, but not limited to: brochures, informational cards, educational materials and more
• Attend community fairs and events, tabling booths, networking events in your community to raise awareness of I AM ALS’ support services

You

Volunteers should be:

• Excited, passionate and driven to connect with their community to provide support and resources to those impacted by ALS and to raise awareness of ALS
• Willing and able to learn how to use social media and/or set up and take down outreach materials, banners, tables, etc. 
• Thoughtful, organized and compassionate
• Driven to use their skills and talents to make a positive impact in their community and value collaborating with others 
• Willing to learn about ALS and other related topics in virtual meetings and trainings
• Able to access a reliable mode of transportation (not required)
• Someone who values the power of outreach to drive real change
• Someone who has a desire to end ALS
• Over eighteen years old

Safety Protocols

I AM ALS is committed to the safety and wellbeing of you and your local community members. Based on the CDC’s guidance and recommendations, we ask that all volunteers adhere to local and federal health and safety guidelines while representing I AM ALS in the community. We appreciate your support and commitment to the ALS community.

Time Commitment

We understand that everyone’s ability to commit their time looks different. We want to remain flexible with your schedules and ask you to commit three hours per month to the I AM ALS’ Outreach Advocate Program, beyond the initial orientation and additional mandatory training sessions. Thank you for your dedication to the ALS movement and community. 

Each I AM ALS Outreach Advocate doing local community outreach will receive a t-shirt from I AM ALS which should be worn when representing I AM ALS in the community.

Location

Online and/or locally in Shreveport, LA