Best Buddies Community Outreach Coordination VISTA 

Best Buddies Community Outreach Coordinator will work to eradicate the social and emotional isolation of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in our local community.   

Best Buddies in Maine aims to eradicate the social, emotional, and economic disparities of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through one-to-one friendships and leadership opportunities. Our programs are based upon the organization’s firmly held belief that people with disabilities have the capacity to be loyal friends, strong community leaders, and valued citizens. People with disabilities can and should be integrated seamlessly into the fabric of the communities in which they live. Yet often they are separated from the rest of the population with little or few opportunities to make organic and valuable friendships and the long-term consequences of such exclusion are devastating. The Best Buddies Friendship Program represents one of our organization’s five key mission pillars, helping build mutually enriching friendships between individuals with and without IDD, offering social mentoring while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion for a population that is often isolated and excluded.  The Best Buddies Citizens program works with individuals 18+ meeting a crucial need within our communities, as many adults with IDD face limited opportunities to further their education beyond high school and may have difficulty securing employment causing their social circle to be limited to family members or paid caregivers. Through the Citizens program, adults with IDD have the opportunity to make meaningful connections within their communities and feel a sense of belonging. While establishing one-to-one friendships between adults (18+) with and without IDD is a main goal of this program, Best Buddies Citizens also works to build community amongst our members. This is achieved through offering a variety of social activities throughout the year and engaging members in state events and local stewardship efforts. The power of our programs lies in its simplicity: everyone does better with a friend. Visit www.bestbuddies.org.maine to learn more. 

The Best Buddies Community Outreach Coordinator (COC) will be responsible for two major components of community building. First is the growth and oversight of our Citizens Chapters. The member will be responsible for regular recruitment strategies employed throughout the year; processing applications which includes running background checks on potential members, interviewing potential members, finding matches for those members interested, regularly checking in on members for satisfaction and program involvement, and planning/hosting events throughout the year. The second is the organization of a yearlong stewardship calendar that engages new community partners while also maintaining and strengthening current connections.  This will include but is not limited to community tabling events, stewardship emails and communications. 

Benefits

• Bi-Weekly Living Allowance of $957.46/Biweekly
• Relocation Allowance of $750 plus $.40 per mile (for those moving more than 50 miles)
• Health Benefits
• Childcare Reimbursement if Eligible
• Student Loan Forbearance for eligible federal loans (interest paid by AmeriCorps)
• SNAP Eligibility (depending on financial situation)
• Training and Professional Development
• Life Navigator (on-staff licensed counselor for members)
• Choice of Segal AmeriCorps Education Award ($7,395) or an end-of-term bonus ($1,800) upon term completion
• Non-Competitive Eligibility for federal employment for one-year post-term
• Public Transportation Pass

*Individuals are limited to two full Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards in their lifetime

Already have a MyAmeriCorps account and want to apply for this specific role? You can find that listing on MyAmeriCorps here.