Join Americorps
2009-2010 Prospective AmeriCorps Member Information
The Youth Action Project, Inc (YAP) is a community-based, youth-driven, organization that provides educational enhancement, youth development, and community & economic development services in the San Bernardino area. AmeriCorps is a one-year commitment to community service that will allow you to make a difference in your life and in the lives of those around you. YAP uses its members to address critical community needs; with the goal of “empowering communities one youth at a time”.
Please thoroughly read all information and instructions to gain a full understanding of the commitment, demands, and rewards associated with participation in this program.
YAP uses its members in a variety of ways, but there two primary functions:
School-based members:
Academic Support & Youth Development – Provide tutoring, mentoring, and supportive services at San Bernardino City Unified School District high schools, to instruct students on California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) and college preparation. In addition to academic instruction, members will teach youth development/life skills topics.
Community Outreach – Participate in National Days of Service and community-benefit events and workshops.
Who Should Apply?
- Individuals interested in working with youth; especially those with interest in teaching, social work, human services, and/or other related fields
- Individuals possessing strong English Language Arts and mathematical skills
- Individuals with strong writing and documentation skills
- Individuals with experience, or interest in learning, the methods of youth engagement
- Individuals with time availability to commit to between 675-900 hours of service over the program year
Office-based members:
Community Outreach – Program presentations within the community, local college campus outreach to recruit members, locating community-based organizations and projects requiring assistance, planning & facilitating quarterly community-benefit events and National Days of Service, recruiting and managing volunteers for specific events, and maintaining volunteer training materials.
Community Needs Assessments – Conducting surveys, performing social research tasks, imputing and analyzing statistical data and generating reports.
Who Should Apply?
- Individuals with experience or interest in community outreach; especially those with interest in social work, social research, event planning, project management, grant writing, fundraising, public administration, marketing, and other related fields
- Individuals with strong time-management and communication skills (verbal and written)
- Individuals with the time availability to commit to between 675-900 hours of service over the program year
- Additional specialized skills – YAP will seek to fill office-based slots with those candidates possessing not only strong leadership, time-management, and community outreach skills; but with those who also have experience in one or more of the following areas: graphic/web design, marketing/public relations, and social research/program evaluation. Candidates with these skills and wishing to fill one of these slots should indicate their interest and their experience on their application form.
The Youth Action Project, in partnership with AmeriCorps, has strict eligibility requirements. All applicants must meet the following minimum eligibility requirements:
- At least 18 years of age
- Have a high school diploma
- Have completed at least one year at a two or four-year college or university
- Be able to provide verification of the legal right to work in the United States
- Be able to pass background (FBI, Department of Justice fingerprinting and National Sex Offender Registry) check
- Submit negative TB test results
**Candidates who cannot provide the required eligibility verifications will forfeit their slot should they be offered a position.**
Member Benefits:
- Bi-weekly stipend for service (amount varies based on the number of hours you have committed to)
- Valuable work experience and professional development
- Education award for use on approved education costs at the successful completion of program year (amount varies based on the number of hours you have committed to)
Terms of Commitment:
- Once a member accepts a slot they must commit to the entire program year; based on the member commitment either 675 or 900 hours will have to be completed within the program year. The 2009-2010 program year will tentatively run between September 2009 to August 2010.
- Members must remain actively engaged with their primary service activity (either tutoring/mentoring or community outreach) and participate in all other YAP mandated community events and trainings.
Nondiscrimination policy
YAP is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its relations with its applicants, members, and staff members, without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood.
Disability accommodations policy
YAP is committed to providing equal access and opportunities to candidates with legally recognizable disabilities, and prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the application process, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and similar state laws. We will make our best effort to provide reasonable accommodations for our differently-abled candidates at every stage of the application process. Disclosing a disability or requesting a need for accommodations is a separate and distinct process from admissions and will have absolutely no bearing on a candidate’s application status.
Confidentiality
In order to ensure a fair admissions process for all, YAP requires all applicants to treat each phase of the application process as confidential and refrain from disclosing or sharing information or materials provided.
Criminal records/proceedings
Although YAP reviews all criminal findings on a case-by-case basis, YAP reserves the right to deny admission to or dismiss any applicant who has been involved in a criminal proceeding other than a minor traffic violation, regardless of the outcome. This includes criminal matters that were handled by a juvenile court and final determinations that are under seal or otherwise expunged from the public record.
Falsification or misrepresentation
Falsification or misrepresentation of any sort on the application or supporting materials is grounds for non-admission or dismissal.
Additional information
YAP may require additional information from applicants at any point in the selection process in order to make our admission determination.
Feedback
It is YAP’s policy not to provide individual feedback about admissions decisions to applicants who are not accepted at any stage of the application process.
