AmeriCorps Youth Education Specialist

Position Name: "Youth Education Specialist AmeriCorps member"
Number of individual AmeriCorps members serving in this position: The Program aims to recruit 3 (three) full-time, 5 (five) half-time and three (3) quarter-time AmeriCorps members to serve in Baltimore.
Member Immediate Supervisor Name:
The Site Supervisor will provide day-to-day supervision and evaluate the AmeriCorps member's performance according to the Program policies and procedures.
Crisaly De Los Santos is the Baltimore Manager of Education. She can be reached at
Position Start Date :
The Program launch will be on September 3, 2024 If there are any positions available after that day, members may start as agreed with the Program Supervisor. The actual start date for each individual will be identified on the Service Agreement.
Position End Date: August 14, 2025
Days/ Hours of Service
Full-time AmeriCorps members' schedules are flexible but will serve approximately 40 hours per week.
If based on program needs part-time AmeriCorps members are accepted after consent from the GOSV/CNCS, half-time member' schedules are flexible but will serve approximately 20 hours per week.
Regular service time will occur Monday through Friday, 10:30am to 6:30pm. Some evening and weekend service is required.
Individual schedules are agreed by the AC member and the Program Supervisor at the beginning of the program. The schedule may be changed upon agreement, based on program- or member's need.
Host Sites Locations:
Members will serve at one of the following locations:
CASA Baltimore: 2706 Pulaski Hwy, Baltimore MD 21224
Members may be asked to run activities at local schools, included but not limited to:
Dundalk High School - 1901 Delvale Ave, Baltimore, MD 21222
Lansdowne High School- 3800 Hollins Ferry Rd, Lansdowne, MD 21227
Woodlandand High School- 1801 Woodlawn Dr, Gwynn Oak, MD 21207
If due to COVID-19 CASA should close its offices, members will be allowed to continue service on virtual mode for the time of the closure.
CASA's Mission and goals.
CASA's Mission is to create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working-class Black, Latino/a/e, Afro descendent, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities.
CASA's Visions is that, rooted in the collective power of our community, our inclusive, permanent, member-led movement radically transforms communities and systems to ensure the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members are fully met as we strive for justice and full liberation at home and in solidarity with others across the world.
Project Mission and Goals:
The mission of CASA's Mi Espacio Program is to build the next generation of youth leaders by promoting high school graduation, post-secondary enrollment, career readiness and leadership development for newcomer and second-generation immigrants. The program is predicated on the theory that when these youth are presented with culturally and linguistically responsive programming in a safe space facilitated by caring adults, it increases their sense of belonging and enhances their academic and socioemotional skills. The program educates participants of their post-secondary options and to assist them through the enrollment process. The curriculum also supports youth in developing the professional skills needed for success in the workplace, including a summer internship experience. Leadership development focuses on a respect and understanding of one's own culture as well as the cultures of others in addition to exploration of a wide variety of social justice themes and hands-on experience in movement work. Additionally, CASA partners with Baltimore County Public Schools to facilitate Escalera, an in school and after school program for high school juniors and seniors that focuses on career exploration and college readiness with hands-on support throughout the college application process. We envision a future in which immigrant youth graduate high school as emerging leaders, well prepared for academic and career success after having positive engagement in afterschool and enrichment programming designed through an equitable lens to meet their specific needs and with their voices included. We expect this generation of immigrant youth leaders to become civically engaged and the agents of change at their schools, neighborhoods, and communities at large through active CASA membership on the local, state and national level.
Community Need:
CASA's youth programs support first and second generation immigrant youth living in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, a region that possesses a unique set of opportunities and challenges. Its position as a port city has fostered a great deal of diversity in Baltimore's economy and population, which includes immigrants from countries across the globe. It is a minority-majority city, with African Americans comprising the largest majority population (more than 60%, including the growing African immigrant population), and Latinos as the next largest majority group in the city. Baltimore has a long history of major civil rights legacies and victories as well as a complicated history of racial segregation and tension, and as Baltimore's Latino community expands to new areas of the city, longtime residents face new challenges and opportunities in welcoming new neighbors. Furthermore, systemic poverty plagues many neighborhoods - with nearly 24% of Baltimoreans living below the poverty level and an unemployment rate of approximately 8% - as does a lack of support systems in the areas of employment, education, transportation and housing. These conditions have helped to inflame historical divisions between racial, cultural, and socioeconomic groups. Over the past four years, the number of ESL (English as a Second Language) students in Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) has doubled in every grade from Pre-K to 12, and schools have been scrambling to provide adequate academic support to this growing student population. Part of this growth has included an influx of "newcomer" students - high school aged students
Member Position Summary:
Members will primarily support CASA's Mi Espacio Program at CASA's Baltimore Welcome Center. They will implement the Mi Espacio curriculum during weekly after school classes with a cohort of 15-30 students, and will also participate in follow up meetings with students and their families where necessary. They will also support the creation of new curriculum materials and engage in program outreach. Furthermore, members will provide workshops to high school students and their families regarding the post-secondary application process, financial aid, career exploration, and enrichment lessons.
Additionally, members will support CASA's Escalera Program which provides standalone college and career exploration at local high schools. They will implement the Escalera college prep curriculum during weekly after school classes with a cohort of 15-30 students and will also participate in follow up meetings with students and their parents where necessary.
Required training prior to Member Placement:
CASA will provide a two-week orientation program at the beginning of the Service Year. Some training will include the Escalera curriculum, college access and financial aid workshops, racial equity, classroom management, and program facilitation. as well as best practices on outreach, record keeping, and other relevant issues. The training includes an overview of National Service, the role of CNCS and Maryland's GOSV, as well as training on prohibited activities as described by CNCS.
Member Impact:
Members will assist program participants in graduating from high school, completing an internship, applying to post-secondary institutions, choosing a career pathway, and seeking financial aid, where relevant. Members will also help participants to build their leadership skills, develop their self-confidence, problem solving abilities, and engage families into the students' academic and higher education experience. Members will be evaluated about outcomes such as the following: number of students who participate in the Mi Espacio Program; number of attendees at family workshops; number of Mi Espacio participants who graduate from high school, apply for financial aid, apply to multiple post-secondary institutions and are accepted into post-secondary institutions; number of youth who successfully complete a summer internship and increase in family engagement. Members will also be evaluated on their soft multiple-skills required in every job environment, such as public speaking, learning will, teamwork, communication, and professionalism.
Essential Functions of Position:

• Recruiting students to participate in youth programs;
• Facilitating the Mi Espacio and/or Escalera curriculums at CASA's Baltimore Welcome Center and target schools;
• Conducting individual goal-setting sessions with families at the beginning of the school year;
• Delivering educational workshops and activities related to college- and career-readiness, leadership development and civic engagement, and health and financial literacy, as well as other life skills training and academic enrichment;
• Developing and leading community service activities and field trips for participants;
• Providing individual mentorship and support to program participants;
• Develop internship opportunities and connecting program participants to these opportunities;
• Facilitating multiracial safe-space conversations and other activities intended to improve school climate;
• Providing referral to other services as appropriate; and
• Administering pre- and post-tests and tracking all program participation.

Note: The AmeriCorps member will not be allowed to perform duties that violate the AmeriCorps Prohibited Activities or fall outside of the program goals.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and abilities:

• Bilingual in Spanish and English; additional language proficiency beneficial but not required
• Experience performing duties in multicultural environments.
• Highly organized and efficient, "can-do" attitude, flexibility, teamwork, and attention to detail; high degree of initiative.
• Fast learner.
• Some experience as a facilitator a plus
• Highly organized and efficient with attention to detail, deadlines and punctuality
• Team-oriented with a "can-do" and flexible attitude; high degree of initiative
• Highly computer literate including proficiency and experience with Google Suites (PowerPoint/ Google Slides, Google Forms, Excel Sheets/ Google Sheets, Microsoft Word/ Google Docs)
• Energetic and effective in community outreach
• Supportive of diverse learning styles and enthusiastic about developing curriculum materials that ensure all students progress at the same pace
• Energetic and extremely patient when working with self-conscious learners
• Access to personal transportation.

Required Academic and Experience Qualifications:

• A high school diploma or GED or agree to obtain one during the service year.
• Associates degree or higher preferred.

Other requirements:

• Ability to perform all of the duties outlined above.
• U.S. Citizen or U.S. Legal Permanent Resident (recently naturalized citizens are encouraged to apply).
• At least 17 years old.
• Pass a national service criminal history check of the national sex-offender registry, state repository check (Maryland and state of residence), and FBI fingerprint check, before starting national service.
• Express commitment to complete one full year of National Service.
• COVID-19 vaccination: CASA has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy effective July 1, 2021 requiring COVID-19 vaccination(s) for all employees and prospective employees, AmeriCorps members, and paid or non-paid internships. In accordance with CASA's duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards, we are adopting this policy to safeguard the health of our employees, AmeriCorps members and interns, and their families, CASA members and visitors, and the community at large from infectious diseases that may be reduced by vaccinations. In making this decision, the executive leadership team reviewed recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and local health officials. All prospective employees will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or appropriate medical/religious accommodation documentation prior to the first day of employment with CASA. AmeriCorps member candidates will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or appropriate medical/religious accommodation documentation at the time of presenting proof of citizenship and SSN eligibility.

Placement Type:
The position is not a reassignment from a previous Host Site/Agency.
Prohibited Activities:
Citations:

• 45CFR § 2520.65 -
• 2012 AmeriCorps Provisions IV.D.3 -

While charging time to the AmeriCorps program, accumulating service or training hours, or otherwise performing activities supported by the AmeriCorps program or CNCS, staff and members may not engage in the following activities:

1. Attempting to influence legislation;
2. Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes;
3. Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing;
4. Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements;
5. Engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office;
6. Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials;
7. Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any form of religious proselytization;
8. Providing a direct benefit to-
   1. A business organized for profit;
   2. A labor union;
   3. A partisan political organization;
   4. A nonprofit organization that fails to comply with the restrictions contained in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 related to engaging in political activities or substantial amount of lobbying except that nothing in these 9 provisions shall be construed to prevent participants from engaging in advocacy activities undertaken at their own initiative; and
   5. An organization engaged in the religious activities described in paragraph 3.g. above, unless CNCS assistance is not used to support those religious activities;
9. Conducting a voter registration drive or using CNCS funds to conduct a voter registration drive;
10. Providing abortion services or referrals for receipt of such services; and
11. Such other activities as CNCS may prohibit.

AmeriCorps members may not engage in the above activities directly or indirectly by recruiting, training, or managing others for the primary purpose of engaging in one of the activities listed above. Individuals may exercise their rights as private citizens and may participate in the activities listed above on their initiative, on non-AmeriCorps time, and using non- CNCS funds. Individuals should not wear the AmeriCorps logo while doing so.
Benefits:
Full-time commitment (1700 hour/year):
Biweekly living allowance of $1,140.00, health care coverage. Member may apply for child-care allowance.
Member will be entitled to a $7,395.00 education award upon program completion.
Three-Quarter Time Commitment (1200 hour/year):
Biweekly living allowance of $855.00.
Member will be entitled to a $5,176.50 education award upon program completion.
Half-Time commitment (900 hours/year):
Biweekly living allowance of $570.00.
Member will be entitled to a $3,697.50 education award upon program completion.
Quarter Time Commitment (450 hour/year):
Biweekly living allowance of $285.00.
Member will be entitled to a $1,956.35 education award upon program completion.
Living allowance will be paid bi-weekly by direct deposit and is taxable.
Individuals may be eligible to have the repayment of their qualified students loans postponed while serving. This postponement is called forbearance. While interest may continue to accrue during your service, if you successfully complete the term of service the National Service Trust will pay all or a portion of the qualified loan's interest that accrued during your service. Most federally-guaranteed student loans are eligible for forbearance.
CASA offers a variety of free-, high quality- training courses on Financial Education, Taxes and Citizenship.
Selection Process:
To be considered for the New Americans Opportunity Project program, interested individuals must submit a current resume and cover letter in the CASA website ( Staff will review the application, request an interview and application (if appropriate), conduct three reference checks, and match a potential applicant with a host site. After the applicant has met with the site supervisor at the host site, the applicant will be responsible for getting a three part criminal history check. Individuals will not be allowed to start orientation or be enrolled in the program until all appropriate background check and paperwork is received by CASA.
Contact: For more information, contact:
Visit for more Information on AmeriCorps programs, and for more information about CASA, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Crisaly De Los Santos
Baltimore Manager of Education