Language & Community Integration Support AmeriCorps Volunteer

Job title: Language & Community Integration Support AmeriCorps Volunteer

Position type: Job

The Language and Community Integration Support AmeriCorps Volunteer teaches ESOL to adults, leads the afterschool programs for youth, and collaborate with volunteer teachers to strengthen program coordination that supports community integration for immigrants and refugees. The AmeriCorps Volunteer plans educational activities, recruits, trains, and manages community volunteers, and leads workshops that help immigrants navigate daily life in the U.S. Through these efforts, the AmeriCorps Volunteer fosters language acquisition, cultural understanding, and social integration, strengthening community connections and empowering immigrant families to integrate.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide instruction in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) for adult immigrants and refugees in one or more classes (15-20 students) that meet twice a week, including planning and implementing lessons for each class 
• Lead a small-group academic support (supplement to classroom instruction) session for elementary aged ESOL students twice a week at a partner elementary school 
• Support volunteer ESOL teachers with orientation, assessments, enrollment, attendance tracking, and lesson plan advice for Adult and Youth ESOL programs • Plan educational activities, including field trips, for after school programs and youth summer programming. 
• Recruit, train, and manage volunteers for Buddy Program to foster a sense of belonging and build community connection. The Buddy Program pairs interested immigrants and refugees with community volunteers for one-on-one partnerships. These “buddies” provide social support, practice conversational English, and help newcomers navigate local resources. 
• Lead integration workshops that educate immigrants on topics related to living in America (speaking to your child’s teacher, how to ride public transportation, how to buy a house, how to access public services in Charlotte, etc.)
• Attend and represent IH Education Department at events and resource fairs for community outreach.
• Identify and assess student needs within the classroom or during community outreach events and provide appropriate referrals to IH services and/or external community partners.
• Serve as language interpreters for parents/families, if applicable.
• Plan and implement special projects to support students enrolled in educational programs as interest and volunteer capacity allows. Examples have included: Community Resource Guide for parents of youth program participants, development of new integration workshop curricula and leading short-term topic-specific to ESL programs.
• Participate in IH staff meetings and professional development trainings to enhance service delivery

Qualifications

• Excellent organization and communication skills
• Independent, responsible, and self-motivated
• Culturally sensitive, with experience working with diverse populations
• Computer proficiency required (Microsoft Office and Google Suite)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in Spanish or French preferred; proficiency in other world languages is highly valued (Arabic, Tigrinya, Mandarin, etc.)

This position is an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in gaining experience in education, nonprofit programming, volunteer coordination, community outreach, and immigrant and refugee support services while making a meaningful impact in the community.