The Bridge to Finish Outreach and Communications VISTA will build the capacity of the Benefits Hub Program in King County to connect low-income students to the resources they need to attain credentials, obtain good jobs, and achieve financial stability by improving persistence and completion rates for low-income community and technical college students. This position will offer opportunities to further develop your professional and leadership skills through project management, systems change, and application of racial equity strategies.
Service Activities
Duties and Responsibilities:
Research best practices for student communication and engagement and implement communication improvements that result in a better service experience and utilization
Research best practices for student communication and engagement and implement communication improvements that result in a better service experience and utilization
Project manage strategic communications to convey program updates to key stakeholders
Coordinate activities for student ambassadors and evaluate impact of program for participants
Improve service delivery and follow-up so that students report feeling confident and supported, and receive multiple interventions
Community Need Addressed
Community and technical colleges are an affordable way for people to get a higher education, yet fewer than half of community college students earn a credential. Further, the COVID-19 crisis demonstrated the importance of a college education. So far during the pandemic, the unemployment rate for those with a high school diploma has been roughly twice that of those with a bachelors degree at 9% and 4.8% respectively, disproportionately impacting black, indigenous, and people of color individuals. Bridge to Finish helps students stay in school and complete their education by offering financial tools and resources through coaching, workshops, and grants.
Position Outcomes
In the 2022-2023 school year, Benefits Hub will provide 20,000 interventions to 8,000 students and target our efforts toward students of color, parenting students, and first-generation college students to take steps towards undoing systemic inequities.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Relocation allowance (if applicable), Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Living allowance of $2,004.24 (pretax), monthly
$1000 additional stipend upon successful completion of service
$6,395 Education Award or $1,800 cash stipend upon successful completion of service
Loan deferment and payment of interest accrued during service year on qualified student loans (loans must be federally-backed; personal/private loans not eligible) – By law, only AmeriCorps VISTA members who are either U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, or Lawful Permanent Resident Aliens—sometimes referred to as “Lawful Permanent Residents”—are eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award. All other members will receive an end of service cash stipend.
Health benefits that meet the minimum standards of ACA compliance
ORCA LIFT card
Childcare assistance
10 days sick leave, 10 days personal leave, 9 federal holidays
Enrollment in an assistance program with 24-hour access to phone counseling
Noncompetitive eligibility for federal jobs for up to one year after completing service
Professional work experience
Unique cohort experience with monthly team meetings to participate in high-quality training, professional development, networking opportunities, and one-on-one support from a VISTA Leader
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers
Decisions
Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Drive decision making, Set goals
Service
Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Understand and anticipate the needs of others