<p>Summary:</p><p>Michigan Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (MI GEAR UP) is seeking a hardworking and innovative AmeriCorps VISTA member to join the Employment and Training Designs, Inc. (ETDI) GEAR UP Workforce Development Pilot Program team for a full year of service starting in November 2013 and ending in November 2014. The goal of workforce development is to facilitate the attainment of long-term employment; ETDI achieves this by providing job training and placement services through federal and state-funded programs. MI GEAR UP is designed to increase the number of low-income youth who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education and aims to achieve the following goals:</p><p> Educate MI GEAR UP students and families on the importance and accessibility of a college education.  Provide academic support and guidance to make college enrollment and retention achievable.  Increase the student and family capacity to make college affordable, allowing students to enter the collegiate process and leverage financial options.</p><p>The workforce development pilot supports MI GEAR UP in accomplishing the above goals while complementing existing services to offer workforce development and career preparation programming for the current cohort of 9th graders. ETDI is located in Wayne, MI, but the VISTA will be delivering programming in the Romulus, Highland Park, River Rouge, Westwood, and Harper Woods school districts and must be willing to travel to other sites for meetings, events, etc. Services provided include career exploration, pre-employment workshops, and preparing for the future.</p><p>Responsibilities and Activities:</p><p>The ETDI GEAR UP VISTA will work with the Program Coordinator to promote workforce development and college access to ETDI GEAR UP participants. Possible ETDI GEAR UP VISTA activities include:  Developing workshops designed to introduce 9th grade students to educational opportunities and career pathways  Creating in-school opportunities to work on employment readiness skills (interviewing, resume writing, accountability, etc.)  Planning and coordinating large scale events such as career fairs and field trips  Collaborating with institutions of postsecondary education, businesses, and local organizations, such as Local College Access Networks, to promote career readiness and a college-going culture in ETDI GEAR UP communities  Researching and creating asset maps of ETDI GEAR UP communities to connect ETDI GEAR UP participants to existing resources and services and leveraging those resources and services to enhance programming  Presenting at conferences and other events to increase awareness of the pilot program and to expand the network of the program  Collaborating with university partners to provide additional resources and services offered to ETDI GEAR UP participants  Creating programming and seeking opportunities to engage community members and ETDI GEAR UP families</p><p>The VISTA will also be supported by the MI GEAR UP State office and will have the opportunity to collaborate with other VISTAs across the state to promote statewide initiatives.</p><p>Previous MI GEAR UP VISTA Projects  The VISTA member assigned to the Western Michigan University (WMU) GEAR UP program coordinated service learning activities at GEAR UP high schools, as well as at a community organization.  The VISTA member assigned to the University of Michigan (U of M) GEAR UP program developed a step-by-step guide for high school juniors to prepare them for their senior year of high school and first year of college.  The VISTA member assigned to Lake Superior State University (LSSU) developed a one week college access program designed to assist students in the college admissions process. The goal of the program is for students to leave with a personalized, detailed plan for college admission, as well as an early start on the college application and financial aid process.</p><p>Overview of AmeriCorps VISTA:</p><p>Prior to placement, the VISTA candidate must attend a Pre-Service Orientation (PSO) November 12-15 in Chicago, Illinois. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) enrollment deadline for this PSO is September 30th. Therefore, we would like to have a candidate selected by September 23, if possible. Here is some additional information:</p><p> VISTA Role: VISTA members serve a year-long term of service working on projects designed to start, strengthen, or expand programs, systems or services that help people move out of poverty. VISTAs work to increase the capacity of the low-income community they serve by generating resources, recruiting volunteers, and implementing community programs. They mobilize the community and its resources so that the community can sustain the activities after the VISTA term of service is concluded. The role of the VISTA is to create sustainable improvements to programs, not to provide direct services to program participants. For example, the VISTA should be establishing a tutoring network rather than tutoring individual students. </p><p> Allowable VISTA Activities: o Build partnerships with local private and/or public organizations o Recruit, train, and coordinate part-time volunteers o Write grant applications for funding o Solicit donations and other in-kind support o Publicize the project o Create community events to support the project o Mobilize resources in support of the project o Promote project sustainability</p><p> VISTA Candidate Eligibility Requirements: VISTA candidates cannot hold part-time jobs. All VISTA candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria: o At least 18 years of age o U.S. Citizen or permanent resident alien status o Not listed in the National Sex Offender Registry database as convicted of a sex-related crime o Able to complete one year of full-time service without regard to regular working hours o Not related by blood or marriage to project staff or WDA staff o Have reliable transportation</p><p>Benefits:</p><p> An annual living allowance of $11,796  Standard AmeriCorps member healthcare coverage  Income-eligible childcare assistance  Ongoing professional development and networking opportunities  Option of $1,500 end-of-service stipend OR education award of $5,500 to pay for college, graduate school, or qualified student loans (pending completion of term of service)  Student loan deferment, forbearance, or forgiveness opportunities are available depending on type of student loan</p><p>To Apply: There is a 2-part application process (see below).</p><p>1. VISTA Candidate should create an account at http://www.nationalservice.gov/ a. Click on “I’m ready to serve” b. Click on “Join AmeriCorps” c. Click on “Click here to create an account” d. Apply to MI GEAR UP</p><p>2. Contact Andrea Varty at [email protected] to schedule an interview.</p>