The Root Cellar – Youth Engagement Specialist

Join The Root Cellar to cultivate the social, emotional, and economic well-being of Lewiston’s youth through mentoring, enrichment programs, and skill-building opportunities. 

The Root Cellar engages neighbors and volunteers to cultivate social, economic, and spiritual well-being. The organization provides youth mentoring, food security programs, job training, skill and enrichment classes, English Language Learning, after-school enrichment, and summer day camps. Rooted Mentoring Groups and the Lew Crew offer youth opportunities to work, play, grow, and gather while developing leadership and community engagement skills. Located in Maine’s second-largest city, Lewiston provides a vibrant urban environment with nearby outdoor recreational opportunities. Personal transportation is encouraged due to the nature of the project and Maine’s geography.

The Root Cellar cultivates the social, emotional, and economic well-being of Lewiston’s youth through mentoring, enrichment programs, and skill-building opportunities. By fostering supportive adult relationships, providing access to educational and recreational experiences, and promoting leadership and community engagement, the program strengthens protective factors that improve mental health, resilience, and overall youth development. AmeriCorps members directly contribute to these outcomes by building trusting relationships, supporting academic and social growth, and empowering youth to thrive despite systemic barriers, ultimately enhancing the health and vitality of Lewiston’s diverse communities.

As the Youth Engagement Specialist, the AmeriCorps member in this role will:

• Facilitate cohort-based programming for youth in grades 4-12, including mentoring, experiential learning, goal-setting, and social-emotional development
• Create safe, inclusive spaces for youth to take risks, reflect, and share personal experiences
• Build supportive, strengths-based relationships with youth, fostering confidence, resilience, and skill development.
• Apply youth development frameworks (e.g., Clover Model) and trauma-informed practices to recognize strengths, address challenges, and implement social-emotional interventions
• Mentor youth through academics, enrichment, leadership opportunities, and real-world experiences such as sports, arts, outdoor activities, and job training
• Engage with families to support youth success, including developing “Family-Thriving” strategies and connecting families to community resources
• Promote student voice, choice, and empowerment in program design and delivery
• Foster extended learning opportunities, college readiness, career awareness, and community engagement
• Develop and maintain relationships with parents, guardians, teachers, counselors, and community partners to support youth development
• Track, survey, collect, and report youth development data to inform program improvements and outcomes

In addition to AmeriCorps benefits, including a stipend, education award, and health insurance, site benefits include access to transportation, the food pantry, and outdoor adventure/sports equipment, and reimbursement for mileage expenses associated with project-related travel from the host site at the rate that the organization reimburses existing volunteers and/or staff.

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