ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COORDINATOR AmeriCorps VISTA 2022-23 at HANDS

Advance Economic Justice Imbedded in a Resilient NJ City - Live your Values – Change Lives Empower people to generate economic prosperity that benefits ALL residents and entrepreneurs (NYC metro)

DESCRIPTION 

Housing and Neighborhood Development Services, Inc. (HANDS) is a 36-year-old community development nonprofit recognized as an innovator in resident-driven neighborhood revitalization. We work in and near Orange, NJ to amplify the underappreciated strengths of income-constrained residents and organizations. Our goal is to help them build up and sustain healthy neighborhoods that provide economic, educational and cultural opportunities and outcomes rivaling those found in more affluent cities.

We actualize our vision by building safe and affordable housing and commercial space and bolster economic development activities with innovative community empowerment initiatives that inspire neighbors to cultivate their inherent assets to help build a JUST and BEAUTIFUL CITY.

To achieve our vision in this time, HANDS recognizes that we must take on a key driver behind the interconnected impediments to revitalization: the huge and growing disparity in income and wealth between residents of cities like Orange and residents of more affluent places. We are linking our longstanding commitment to addressing the lack of decent affordable housing with new efforts on the economic development front to build personal, family and neighborhood income and prosperity in the neighborhoods we serve. The task before us is to empower business owners, homeowners and all residents to take control of their financial future. In the past year, we piloted programs to aid small businesses with training and capital, assist homeowners to maintain and enhance their largest asset, and help individuals and families to increase their capability to manage their finances and accumulate savings. This year, we will evaluate, adjust and grow these programs. Our VISTA will join a community, impact the trajectory of lives and enhance our capacity to execute well-designed initiatives.

DUTIES

Our VISTA will change futures and boost capacity by coordinating programs to (1) arm small businesses owners with tools and mentors to grow profitability; (2) provide homeowners with small rehab grants to raise their homes’ livability & value, (3) provide learning and referrals to improve residents’ financial management habits/savings and (4) research creation of a special improvement district & improving profitability for small construction contractors. The successful candidate will be able to:

§ Create and manage communications materials, surveys and data for participants to assess needs and program effectiveness

§ Work with small businesses to coordinate program delivery with provider and gather/analyze data           

§ Work with homeowner grantees to monitor progress

§ Curate workshops and service referrals for residents facing financial challenges

§ Use creative and critical thinking, a sense of humor and teamwork to get the job done

Conversational Spanish desired - - Car helpful; not required

Work setting: currently hybrid remote/in-person & subject to change