AmeriCorps Community Engagement and Volunteer Leader

Hands On Nashville

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Job Summary

Are you passionate about Nashville and enhancing people’s access to the arts? Hands-On Nashville (HON) is looking for college students to serve as Community Engagement and Volunteer Leaders at local nonprofits. Become a part of a cohort serving across the Nashville metro area to meet community needs through outreach and volunteerism. This position is part of a paid yearlong, part-time (900 hours) AmeriCorps service program, where members are matched with area nonprofits to help them enlist volunteers and engage community members in their work.

The Community Engagement and Volunteer Leader will develop outreach skills through training and active service in the community through a partnership between Hands On Nashville and area nonprofit organizations. Members will gain marketable experience and grow their professional networks while making a meaningful difference in their communities

The Hands On Nashville AmeriCorps program is made possible through the support of Volunteer Tennessee and participating AmeriCorps host organizations.  

Nashville is powered by people of all ages, races, ethnicities, skin tones, sexes, genders, sexualities, religions, abilities, and socioeconomic statuses engaging in service together. This is a city where YOU matter and YOU make a difference. Join us as we tackle the community’s most pressing challenges through service by becoming a Hands-on Nashville AmeriCorps member. 

Nonprofit Partners for 2024

• The Contributor– Members plan and participate at outreach events throughout Nashville to expand reach into the community, and strengthen and educate our volunteer force. Members will participate in recruiting and managing volunteers.
• Metro Arts Nashville– Members will attend local community events and tables to recruit local artists to connect with MNPS schools and teachers and ensure an arts presence at every school open house in the coming academic year. Use social media to promote an organization and its programs.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee– Help continue and enhance BBBS’s Mentor Satisfaction initiative. Build relationships with current volunteers and work to gain a better understanding of their experience with our program. Send and receive volunteer satisfaction surveys and report their findings to staff. Organize and host regular volunteer focus groups. The goal of these groups is for volunteers to discuss their experiences and ideas for program improvement.
• Shower the People– Help with outreach events at the local schools/colleges and community events, lead volunteer activities alongside our shower program as well as onsite at our office. Shower the People is a small organization that relies on volunteers to complete a large portion of the work that we do.
• Sexual Assault Center– Address our volunteer and community engagement needs. Expand tabling offerings to ensure the community is aware of services. Develop tabling materials, train volunteers for tabling events, and manage the overall process. Members will actively engage in volunteer outreach, recruitment, and leadership activities. Recruit and train volunteers to ensure they possess the necessary knowledge and skills to address sensitive questions and disclosure conversations from individuals seeking information.
• Healing Arts Project, Inc.– Be a part of the strategic planning process for HAPI. Members assist with managing volunteer portals, managing HAPI’s customer relation management database for volunteers, surveying past and present volunteers about their experience and useful feedback with HAPI, outreach to potential community partners, and corporate giving/volunteer committees.
• The Land Trust for Tennessee– Participate in various community tabling opportunities to provide organizational outreach and recruit volunteers. The Land Trust for Tennessee’s Glen Leven Farm requires the use of volunteers to enhance and maintain the property for educational and outreach use. Members will help engage communities and various groups in conservation education and best practices. The AmeriCorps member will be leading a diverse audience through volunteering and educational opportunities.
• Friends of Mill Ridge Park– Members will administer the HON volunteer portal, table at community events, present to community organizations, and speak with community groups about the opportunities to volunteer and participate at Mill Ridge Park. Research and assist with the application of effective methods for recruiting, engaging, and retaining volunteers and facilitate in-person and electronic correspondences with current and prospective volunteers.
• Greater Nashville Regional Council– Recruit volunteers and expand partner networks, particularly in Cheatham, Dickson, Humphreys, Robertson, Sumner, Trousdale, and Williamson Counties. Increase volunteer engagement in those areas and foster stronger collaborations with local organizations. The Member will represent GNRC at various community events, partner agency meetings, and more.
• Edgehill Neighborhood Partnership– Members will fine-tune outreach strategies by participating in service fairs, creating relationships with the local universities and high schools, and engaging in community fairs to help broaden our volunteer base. We also provide ample opportunities to participate in professional development and leadership training to help the members develop holistically. Spearhead the volunteer recruitment and retention of our FreeStore.

Job Responsibilities

Community Outreach and Volunteer Leaders will serve at local nonprofits to recruit and engage a wide variety of volunteers to bolster the work of Hands On Nashville’s community partners. Leaders will build relationships with volunteers to improve recruitment and retention and inspire a lifelong commitment to service.

HON is looking for enthusiastic members with an interest in volunteerism to build strategic relationships with schools, civic organizations, and neighborhood groups. Ideal candidates are dedicated to community work and looking to grow their skills. Leaders will help foster community engagement; therefore, they must be confident in taking initiative, enjoy working with people, have strong interpersonal and customer service skills, and be comfortable with public speaking. Proficiency in a second language, involvement in local community organizations or grassroots initiatives, and attending an MNPS or Nashville-area charter school are a plus.

Duties may include:

• Developing resources for recruitment, training, and retention to improve volunteer engagement in host organization programs
• Creating campaigns and materials that display the impact of your organization on a variety of audiences
• Organizing and leading volunteer projects
• Cultivating relationships with local community leaders, volunteers, and organizations
• Building and updating outreach lists that include key individuals, groups, businesses, events, online spaces, and more 
• Serving as a knowledgeable, friendly resource for individuals interested in volunteerism
• Increasing awareness of community needs and ways to help
• Creating informative and visually appealing displays at community events
• Being an active and enthusiastic advocate for the organization you represent
• Strategizing ways to enhance the experiences of volunteers and partners
• Developing methods for assessing volunteer needs through feedback

Qualifications

The Hands On Nashville AmeriCorps Program is designed for college students from the Nashville area who are interested in making our city a better place. You have amazing skills. We will teach you how to put them to work for the greater good.  
Minimum Requirements 

• High School Diploma/GED 
• Valid driver’s license 
• Reliable access to transportation for training, host-site service, and community events (Members will be reimbursed for service-related mileage.) 
• U.S. Citizen, National, or Lawful Permanent Resident 
• National Service Criminal History Check clearance   

 

Additional Information

Benefits

How to Apply

Please contact Megan Spencer at mspencer@hon.org or visit hon.org/americorps23-24 to receive a member application.

Details

• Date Posted: November 10, 2023
• Type: VISTA / AmeriCorps
• Job Function: Administrative
• Service Area: Arts / Culture
• Start Date: 01/08/2024
• Salary Range: $10,000/year
• Working Hours: 25 hrs/week