AmeriCorps VISTA – Asian American Community Empowerment Project
Apply for the second year of the PAVE Coalition AmeriCorps VISTA Asian American Community Empowerment Project in Chicago. The AmeriCorps VISTA Asian American Empowerment Project’s goal is to alleviate and eliminate poverty in the Asian American Chicagoland community. Nationally, this is the second time that a project of this magnitude has been given to the Asian American community from a government grant. This Project is part of the PAVE (Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment) Coalition and coalition organizations and their VISTAs work together on certain issues that affect the Asian American community. VISTAs will work full time with their sites. Recent graduates with commitment to the Asian American Pacific Islander community are encouraged to apply.
Available Positions
▪ Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago (VISTA Leader)
▪ Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago (Resource Development Associate)
▪ Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago (Volunteer Management Coordinator)
▪ Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment (Volunteer Management Coordinator)
▪ Chinese Mutual Aid Association (Resource Development Associate)
▪ Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (Community Outreach Coordinator)
▪ Indo American Center (Resource Development Associate)
▪ Japanese American Service Committee (Community Outreach Coordinator)
▪ Korean American Community Services (Volunteer Management Coordinator)
▪ Korean American Community Services (Resource Development Associate)
▪ Korean American Women in Need (Resource Development Associate)
VISTA Benefits
· Modest living allowance of approximately $12,000 annual salary (before taxes – direct deposited every 2 weeks)
· End-of-Year benefit choice of the following:
· $5,730 education award OR $1,500 end-of service stipend (before taxes)
· Deferment of educational loans while serving as a VISTA
· Healthcare coverage throughout term of service
· Workers compensation for work related injuries
· Relocation benefit up to $550, if moving more than 50 miles for service
· 10 personal days & 10 sick leave days
· Non-competitive eligibility for a federal government position after completing a term of service
· Childcare allotment available for qualifying members/ up to $400 per child per month
VISTA Requirements
· VISTAs must apply online through the AmeriCorps portal and be accepted by both AmeriCorps, their desired site, and the host site
· Must be a U.S. Citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien
· Commitment to serve a full twelve-month service term (estimated July 18, 2015 through July 16, 2016)
· Participation in a minimum of three (3) National Days of Service
· Project wide 1-2 day orientation by Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago to prepare VISTAs for placements and Asian American PAVE Coalition issues
· VISTAs are required to attend an AmeriCorps Pre-Service Orientation from July 14 – 17, 2015 (all expenses paid/reimbursed)
· Participation in an orientation, ongoing training, meetings, and professional development with Asian Americans Advancing Justice- Chicago
· VISTAs must participate in monthly PAVE Projects
· Be willing to live among and at the economic level of the low-income people served by the project
· Cannot be a blood relation to site staff or board member (immediate family, grandparent/child, first aunt/uncle/niece/nephew/cousin)
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting May 6, 2015
Selected applicants will begin on July 18, 2015 and will serve until July 16, 2016