RIVA AmeriCorps Community Navigator - Des Moines
MAKE AN IMPACT: Serve with RIVA AmeriCorps
Looking for a meaningful way to support refugee and immigrant communities in Iowa, gain professional skills, and grow your career? Join RIVA (Refugee and Immigrant Voices in Action) as an AmeriCorps member!
As a member, you'll help build economic opportunity by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate education, referrals, outreach, and direct services. Along the way, you’ll also receive a stipend, an education award upon successful term completion, and valuable training to support your growth!
APPLY NOW! https://www.rivaiowa.org/apply/#positions
Why RIVA AmeriCorps?
We're immigrant- and refugee-led. We empower local leaders, not just provide services. When you serve with us, you help build lasting community power. At AmeriCorps, we don't just talk about changes, we get the job done.
WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- Passion for community service, social justice, and working across cultures
- Strong communication skills (speaking a language of Iowa's refugee communities is a plus)
- Ability and willingness to serve flexible hours as needed
- Basic computer skills or readiness to learn (email, reporting, storytelling, etc.)
- Experience training or teaching adults (preferably across racial, cultural, class, and gender differences) is a plus
Apply today! https://www.rivaiowa.org/apply/#positions
POSITION DETAILS
Fall Term Length/Position Type
- Full Time (50 weeks) $24,000 + $7,395 Education Award
- Half Time (50 weeks) $12,000 + $3,697.5 Education Award
- Quarter Time (36 weeks) $6,000 + 1,956.35 Education Award
Benefits
- Education Award upon successful completion of service
- Living Allowance (see amounts above)
- Health care (if applicable)
- Childcare coverage (if eligible)
- Student loan forbearance for eligible loans
Start dates
- September 15, 2025
- October 13, 2025
- November 10, 2025
Service Schedule
- Monday-Friday, 8 am - 5 pm, with occasional evenings/weekends for events
- Sick/personal days are allowed (we'll work with you to help ensure you complete your service hours)
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
RIVA AmeriCorps Program Activities:
- Participate in scheduled trainings and professional development workshops
- Collaborate with a diverse team of staff, members, volunteers, and community partners
- Collect and report service data accurately to track your impact
- Support program goals through approved additional service activities that align with RIVA's mission
Site Specific Member Service Activities:
- Provide outreach, assessment, and direct support to refugees and immigrants
- Connect immigrant and refugee families to job training, skills development, and community resources through workshops and advising
- Assist partner organizations in delivering work-readiness training and services
- Lead small group workshops and offer one-on-one advising
- Advocate for accessible and equitable workplace opportunities and help remove barriers (e.g., transportation, childcare, insurance, etc.)
- Provide translation/interpretation services for at least 50 refugee or immigrant clients
QUALIFICATIONS
- High school graduate, GED recipient, working on attaining a diploma or GED during the term of service
- At least 17 years of age at the commencement of service
- Citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States
- Satisfy the National Service Criminal History Check
ABOUT US
RIVA (Refugee and Immigrant Voices in Action) leverages the power of community by training emerging leaders from refugee and immigrant communities to become work-readiness trainers. RIVA leaders connect and support fellow refugees with education, jobs, and services to increase economic opportunities for refugees and economic growth in Iowa.
APPLY NOW! https://www.rivaiowa.org/apply/#positions