Seeking Civic Engagement Coordinator – LISC AmeriCorp Service Position
Housing Corporation of Arlington (HCA) is a 37-year old nonprofit community development corporation with a mission to provide affordable, stable housing and empower residents in order to build a supportive and equitable community. Learn more at: www.housingcorparlington.org
This is a full time service position with HCA through the LISC AmeriCorp program – somewhat like a full time, internship with a stipend. With residents and partners, LISC forges resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America – great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families. The Member will receive significant training and work experience, in exchange for a monthly stipend and other benefits described below. Learn more about LISC at: www.lisc.org.
HCA’s work is carried out by a small staff who support each other within a collegial environment. We aim to be intentional in how we carry out our work in order to meet diversity, equity and inclusion values. We look forward to welcoming another person into our team and benefiting from their unique energy and perspective.
HCA currently owns 150 units of affordable housing in Arlington and provides a range of social services for our
tenants and other low-income families in Arlington and the surrounding area. We have a 43-unit affordable housing development in our pipeline and other prospective projects under review. In 2023 we started to engage our membership in giving feedback on Town issues. We also helped a group of tenant leaders start to build a Tenant Council at our properties in order to give our residents a greater voice in how their homes are managed, and greater leadership opportunities within our organization.
The Civic Engagement Coordinator will be an essential member of HCA’s staff. They will engage HCA tenants and other community members in advocacy and other civic activities including the HCA Tenant Council. At times the Civic Engagement Coordinator will support intake and other social services work for the tenants being engaged. This position is guided and supervised by the Executive Director and, at times, receives support from the Social Service Coordinator.
Responsibilities:
· Support and staff the HCA Tenant Council, including supporting the tenant leadership group in facilitating the Tenant Council including helping that group develop and implement the structure of the Tenant Council, set agendas, conduct turnout, run tenant meetings and strategize on next steps.
· Engage HCA tenants and other Arlington residents in participating in town public processes and in the advancement of state legislation in order to ensure that low-income Arlington residents have a say on issues that directly impact them.
· Conduct the annual tenant satisfaction survey and HCA member survey, and compile and analyze results.
· Continue to build HCA’s volunteer database and engage volunteers as needed.
· Help plan the annual summer cookout, and other events/programs as needed.
· Represent HCA on Town of Arlington committees or at local events, such as the Resource & Connections Fair or Arlington Town Day.
· Participate in the Arlington Human Services Network; build working relationships and with local and regional agencies to whom HCA may refer residents for assistance.
· As needed, conduct intake and provide direct services and/or referrals for HCA tenants and members of the public seeking assistance; conduct follow-up as needed.
· Support organizational wide efforts as needed, such as the HCA Annual Meeting, HCA’s
attendance at an annual Lobby Day, and HCA’s annual Walk for Affordable Housing.
Qualifications:
· Passion for social justice and drive to work towards justice goals.
· Ability to apply a racial equity and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) lens to your work, or an interest in learning about how to do this.
· Ease working with people who vary with regard to income, race, ethnicity, gender identity, religion or other factors. Able to quickly build trusting relationships with a range of people.
· Experience in, or interest in working in affordable housing, community development, macro social work, leadership development, and/or community building.
· Ability both to carry out independent work and to collaborate in order to develop goals, strategies, and work plans, and effectively implement plans.
· Highly organized; effective in time management and in keeping accurate records.
· Self-reflective, able to hear feedback; a life-long learner.
· High school diploma or GED
· Conversational and basic written Spanish or Haitian Creole skills a plus.
· To join the AmeriCorp program you must be a citizen, permanent resident or national of the United States. Additionally, you are not eligible if you: (1) are subject to registry on the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW); and/or (2) have been convicted of murder; and/or (3) have a non-resolved/non-adjudicated criminal offense.
Work Schedule:
This is a full-time position that starts on February 15, 2024 and will run for approximately 11 months, or a total of 1,700 hours.
The Civic Engagement Coordinator will work at HCA’s office in Arlington, but may work remotely at home once a week, with their HCA issued laptop. Employees may set their own work hours, as long as they are generally working during HCA’s core hours of Monday through Friday, 10 am – 3 pm. In addition, the Member will:
· Attend onboarding sessions coordinated by LISC
· Attend a national leadership conference in Spring 2024, all expenses paid
· Attend locally sponsored monthly meetings
· Participate in nationally sponsored webinars and trainings
· Participate in at least two team coordinated service
projects (one for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and one for National AmeriCorps Week)
LISC AmeriCorp Program Benefits:
· The position pays a total stipend of $25,500; the stipend is taxable and paid in 22 equal checks twice a month from LISC. Direct deposit is required.
· Upon successful completion of 1,700 hours of service, the Member will be eligible for a $6,895.00 education award to pay off existing, eligible student loans or utilize the funds to return to school at institutions that accept the education award.
· Members are eligible to place qualifying, existing student loans (not in default) into AmeriCorps forbearance or apply for income-based repayment. Certified time in AmeriCorps service may be counted toward public service loan forgiveness. More information can be found here: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service.
· A bronze-level health care benefit is available for the participant only; LISC covers 100% of the premium costs directly to the insurance provider.
· For members with children under the age of 13, there is a childcare subsidy benefit available which is dependent on the participant meeting all eligibility requirements.
· Additional benefits for AmeriCorp alumni can be found here: https://www.nationalservice.gov/specialinitiatives/employers-national-service/alumni
To apply: Email your resume and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you are interested in the position to: ESchwarz@HousingCorpArlington.org by January 12th, 2024.
Resumes will be reviewed as they are received; early applications are encouraged!
HCA is a safe, inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds. We encourage applications from people of all races, religions, national origins, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientations, and ages, as well as from veterans and individuals with disabilities. If you believe in HCA’s mission, and feel you have the skills for this position, please apply!