Neighborhood Clean-Up Program Coordinator

Neighbors West-Northwest supports grassroots democracy in action! The staff at NWNW supports neighborhood volunteers as they govern their own affairs, advocate for their community interests, and promote public involvement in the development of public policy. Neighborhoods are a volunteer-driven training ground for aspiring citizen activists. Our staff provides resources to help develop future leaders. 

NWNW supports neighborhood volunteers by providing direct service and expertise in community involvement, outreach, communications, land use, fiscal management, and much more. Our region includes the residents and businesses in 10 officially recognized neighborhood associations in inner southwest and northwest Portland, Oregon.

Visit our website for more information about Arlington Heights, Forest Park, Goose Hollow, Hillside, Linnton, Northwest District, Northwest Heights, Northwest Industrial, Pearl District, and Sylvan-Highlands.

Position Summary: 

Neighbors West-Northwest is working to recruit, organize, and train volunteers by providing expanded support for neighborhood clean-ups. Neighborhood clean-up activities happen every year with minimal support from our office, but these highly visible, useful events can increase interest and participation in neighborhood associations. In addition, active volunteers will be able to build their leadership skills as neighborhood coordinators.

Clean-ups can include:

• Walking to pick up litter on neighborhood streets,
• Collecting garbage, bulky waste, and recycling during large events at central locations,
• Cleaning up illegal dump sites,
• Eliminating graffiti,
• Removing invasive species,
• Replanting natural areas with native plants. 

We are looking for an AmeriCorps member to serve as Neighborhood Clean-Up Program Coordinator, providing direct support to each neighborhood organizer. Direct support includes assisting each neighborhood in planning their clean-up events; helping neighborhood volunteers develop skills that will be transferable to other events and projects; and recruiting new neighborhood members who may participate in future clean-ups and other neighborhood activities. The AmeriCorps member will also educate neighborhoods about the resources available to support their clean-ups and provide information about applicable environmental issues. 

This is an 11 month AmeriCorps position with the newly created Professional Placement program (P2) and offered through the Northwest Service Academy's Lower Columbia Center. P2 has been designed to provide opportunities for highly qualified men and women to serve on compelling, environmentally focused projects.

A win-win situation is achieved by placing highly qualified professionals in an environment that allows them to transition into this promising field while contributing to the developmental needs of a small non-profit or a transitional program with a larger organization. See http://www.p2professional.org or http://www.nwserviceacademy.org. 

General Responsibilities: 

Membership Recruitment 

• Utilize clean-ups as a recruitment tool for the neighborhoods to get new people involved.
• Encourage an environment that helps new participants feel welcome.
• Track participants' volunteer interests.
• Invite clean-up participants to get involved in additional neighborhood activities related to their interests. 

Event Planning 

• Recruit volunteer clean-up organizers from each participating neighborhood.
• Support the neighborhood organizers by coordinating other event planning tasks like scheduling locations, soliciting donations, sending out thank you letters, etc.
• Solicit or write articles and announcements for the clean-up events and trainings.
• Canvas neighborhoods & explore other tools to increase clean-up participation, especially targeting underrepresented groups including renters.
• Develop community partnerships with businesses, community centers, non-profits, and schools.
• Develop a volunteer recognition program element.
• Coordinate resources available from Metro, the City of Portland, and SOLV for neighborhood clean-ups. 

Training 

• Work with staff to develop trainings about volunteer recruitment & management, meeting facilitation, event planning, and other related topics.
• Promote related trainings available through the City or other organizations. 

Education 

• Inventory local opportunities and resources for neighborhood clean-ups.
• Create & develop neighborhood written materials to support clean-ups. 

Website 

• Maintain the Neighbors West-Northwest website regarding the clean-ups, resources and trainings. 

Office 

• Maintain databases to track volunteers participating in clean-up events. 

Requirements: 

• Skills and interest in building organizations, creating partnerships and reaching underrepresented groups.
• Overall competence with MS Office applications: Outlook, Excel, and Word.
• Desktop publishing skills, preferably In Design or PageMaker.
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities.
• Availability to work some evenings and weekends. (Evening and weekend hours will be heaviest in the spring when most clean-ups occur.)
• Regular access to a reliable vehicle (Some NW Portland neighborhoods do not have bus access.)
• U.S. Citizen, national or lawful permanent resident.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background or skills in event coordination, community outreach and educational programming.
• Ability to share information utilizing many techniques.
• Experience with web site content management.
• Public speaking experience and skills.
• Interest in the City of Portland's neighborhood system.
• Passion about recycling & environmental stewardship. 

Stipend and Benefits: 

Benefits include a living allowance of approximately $1250/month before taxes, basic medical insurance, workers compensation, qualified student loan forbearance (after successful completion of term of service, AmeriCorps may pay the accrued interest on qualified student loans) and a training fund of up to $500.

Upon completion of term of service, an education award of $4,725 can be used to repay existing student loans or further your education. Mileage reimbursement provided. 

Position Term:  October 2007-September 2008. 

Hours:  40hrs/wk. 80 hours personal leave.

Application Deadline:  4:00 PM Thursday, September 13, 2007 

To Apply: 

Submit a letter of interest and resume by email or postal mail to:

Angela Southwick
Community Outreach Specialist
Neighbors West-Northwest
2257 NW Raleigh St
Portland, OR 97210

No phone calls or visits please.