The mission of the Commonwealth Corps service internship program is to engage Massachusetts residents of all ages and backgrounds in direct service and capacity building to strengthen communities, address unmet community needs, and increase volunteerism.

Commonwealth Corps members with United South End Settlements will serve 10.5 months in a full-time capacity. What they have in common is a desire to put their talents and ideas to use in the service of their communities and the Commonwealth.

The mission of United South End Settlements (USES) is to harness the power of our diverse community to disrupt the cycle of poverty for children and their families. USES will host two full-time Commonwealth Corps members as Commonwealth Corps Youth STEAM Integration Coordinators, serving in USES’s club48 after school program and focusing on program and curriculum development for K – 7th grade. These members will play a key role in building out and integrating STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math with an Arts lens) programming for our school-age children, ensuring that club48 prepares children for success in the 21st Century classroom and workforce.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

ESSENTIAL

• Complete a minimum of 1,500 hours of service, serving through June 27, 2020.

• Attend all required Commonwealth Corps trainings and service events held by MSA (minimum of 6 total, post orientation) and United South End Settlements, including a new member orientation on August 15 & 16, 2019.

• Participate in a minimum of 1 hour of MSA-related activities each week (in person or virtually).

• Conduct research on social-emotional development and STEAM curriculum, lesson plans, and best practices for children.

• Contribute to the development of age-appropriate STEAM curriculum and lesson plans for club48 that focus on social-emotional learning.

• Implement with guidance trainings on STEAM curriculum for club48 and other relevant USES staff.

• Pilot new STEAM curriculum in the classroom in collaboration with the classroom Group Leader.

• Identify parent engagement opportunities around USES’s STEAM curriculum, ensuring that parents are well-versed in how STEAM is playing a critical role in the program and with this particular age group.

• Recruit and coordinate volunteers from community and program parents who have a background/expertise in a STEM field to lead classroom activities, workshops, and/or field trips. 

• Build and strengthen partnerships with STEM-focused organizations, companies, and universities to participate in weekly “STEAM Lab” activities in the classroom. 

MARGINAL

• Provide classroom support during afternoon program hours as related to service position.

QUALIFICATIONS:

REQUIRED

• A strong interest in working with children and belief in their potential 

• Massachusetts residency and legal authorization to work in the United States

• 18 years of age or older

• Experience with or interest in volunteerism and community engagement

• Ability to balance service commitment with other family/work/school/community commitments in a sustainable way

• Commitment to USES’s mission and core values

• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills

• Flexible, creative, and willing to go beyond one’s comfort zone

• Ability to take initiative, and serve both independently and as part of a team

• Presentation and communication skills 

• Appreciation of the utility, collection and analysis of data

• Strong foundation in STEM subject matter and experience with arts (visual preferred) 

PREFERRED

• Experience with school-age children and in lesson-planning/curriculum development a plus

• Coursework in Child Development, Behavior Managements and Curriculum Development

• Problem-solving, customer service, behavior management, and classroom management skills  

SERVICE ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS (WITH OR WITHOUT ACCOMMODATION) 

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by a service member to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. United South End Settlements is proud to be a champion of diversity and an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this position, the service member is regularly required to:

• Sit, stand, or reach for extended periods of time;

• Move around the service environment independently;

• Communicate via computer, multi-line phone, and smart-phone; and,

• Push, pull, or lift up to 25 pounds for short periods of time.

• The noise level in the space is usually moderate, but may vary based on a number of external factors. Service is performed in an office/childcare setting.

MEMBER BENEFITS:

• Stipend of $600 every other week while in service, up to $14,400, minus taxes and withholdings; 

• Health insurance (individual coverage only);

• Completion award of up to $2,500 upon successful completion of service, minus taxes and withholdings;

• Reimbursement for outside training or professional development opportunities relevant to member’s service and/or goals (Up to $50; Dependent on approval from MSA)

• Additional training and other professional development opportunities;

• Monthly bus/subway pass;

• Limited reimbursement for travel to Corps-wide MSA-sponsored activities;

• Limited travel reimbursement from their host site for certain service-related travel away from their usual service location, according to that agency's policies;

• The opportunity for at least 10 days of planned absences (may include holidays); and

• Opportunity to join with others with a common sense of purpose as part of the Commonwealth Corps service internship program.

Please note that receipt of these stipends/benefits may impact an individual’s eligibility for certain public benefits.

TERM OF SERVICE:

• Position Start Date: August 15, 2019

• Position End Date: June 27, 2020

• Service commitment will average 38-40 hours per week during the following days/times Monday-Friday from 8:30-5:30, with 1-2 evenings per month scheduled in advanced.

• The Youth STEAM Integration Coordinator may be asked to participate in 1 weekend event/month scheduled in advanced. 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• Accepted members will be required to undergo a criminal offender and sexual offender background check.

United South End Settlements will recruit and select persons in all positions to ensure a diverse and inclusive climate without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, color, political affiliation, creed, national origin, marital status, or any other status as protected by federal, state, and local laws. United South End Settlements welcomes applications from individuals with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodations for interviews and for service upon request.