Position Title: Community Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator

Host Organization: Friends of Lafitte Greenway

Deadline to Apply: June 30, 2018 at ServeLouisiana.org

Service Term: Sept. 1, 2018 – July 31, 2019

Printable Position Description: Download here

About Serve Louisiana
As Louisiana's longest-running AmeriCorps program, Serve Louisiana offers young leaders 11-month opportunities to work with community-based organizations to improve the health and lives of South Louisiana families and children. Through progressive, hands-on training, coaching and mentoring, we prepare people to address the real needs facing communities -- poverty, mental health and wellness, education, youth development, environmental preservation -- and help to effect true, long-term change.

About the Corps Member Experience
Corps members serve 40 hours a week from September 1, 2018-July 31, 2019 with a community-based organization (Friends of Lafitte Greenway) providing capacity-building activities such as volunteer coordination, program development, social media/technology coordination, and community outreach.  Through their partner organization site and through Serve Louisiana, corps members enjoy personal and professional development opportunities, workshops, trainings and extensive networking opportunities.  

About Friends of Lafitte Greenway
Friends of Lafitte Greenway was formed in early 2006 by New Orleans community members who saw an opportunity to rethink the city’s landscape to enhance livability, environmental sustainability, open space equity, and health. The organization built a network of diverse constituents who shared its vision of preserving the continuous open space in the former Lafitte rail corridor, and developing a greenway amenity that encourages active living, facilitates economic development, and links adjacent neighborhoods, cultural features, historic sites, retail areas, and public spaces.

The Lafitte Greenway opened in November 2015 as a 2.6 mile pedestrian and bike path and linear park, connecting neighborhoods from Armstrong Park to City Park. Used by 300,000 people annually for transportation, recreation, and play--the Lafitte Greenway is the backbone of New Orleans’ growing bike network. Friends of Lafitte Greenway is the City of New Orleans’ official nonprofit partner, working together to program, develop, and steward the Greenway.

Friends of Lafitte Greenway is a community-driven organization, guided by a Board of Directors, its members, over 700 volunteers, and staff. Our mission is to build, program, and promote the Lafitte Greenway as a great public space. For more information about Friends of Lafitte Greenway, visit LafitteGreenway.org.

Corps Member Benefits & Service Summary
+ A full time workload
+ Major Medical Insurance
+ 10 personal days and 6 federal holidays off
+ In-depth personal and professional development
+ $5,920 education award upon graduation, which may be applied to student loans or additional education
+ $14,000 annual living allowance, paid twice monthly
+ Student loan forbearance
+ Child care reimbursement
+ Valuable networking opportunities 

Program Goals
The corps member’s work will focus on volunteer management and community outreach aimed at enhancing community connections: safely connecting people to destinations on foot and on bicycle, to nature, and to each other.

Position Summary: Community Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator
The Community Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator will recruit, manage, and coordinate and volunteers for Friends of Lafitte Greenway’ community events such as the Greenway Soiree and the Hike the Lafitte Greenway, the organization’s Planning & Design Committee, and Lafitte Greenway Ambassadors.

The corps member will assist in our coordinated work with City of New Orleans and the community to develop shared priorities for the Greenway’s development, driving the implementation of the Master Plan and Revitalization Plan through advocacy, and public and private partnerships, and programming.

Essential Functions of Position:

• Coordinate Planning & Design volunteer committee and subcommittee meetings
• Coordinate other volunteer-driven committees such as the Hike, community events, etc.
• Assist in the Coordination and Facilitation of Greenway Ambassador program
• Form and maintain relationships with neighborhood organizations, non-profit organizations, and other public and private partners to strengthen programming and deepen program impact.
• Represent Friends of Lafitte Greenway at community and neighborhood meetings and events.
• Develop and distribute marketing materials for Greenway events and programs
• Complete data entry and analysis to ensure continued program success.

Community Needs
The Lafitte Greenway is a project that was fostered by community engagement. Opening in 2015, the Greenway has proven to be a great public space but community input has demonstrated that there is still significant work that needs to be done to enhance safety and connectivity, and community use of this new public space.  Louisiana has some of the worst health outcomes in the country. New Orleans consistently ranks near the bottom of Louisiana’s parishes for health outcomes. A 2012 report showed startling disparities within the city itself. The life expectancy in the Tremé neighborhood is 54.5 years compared with 80 years in Lakeview (Orleans Parish Place Matters Team, 2012). The Lafitte Greenway connects six diverse New Orleans neighborhoods, including the aforementioned Tremé and Lakeview. This asset provides a unique opportunity to engage community members in physical activity and recreational programming, to bring community together through arts and cultural programming and community activities.

Member Impact
In the short term the member will work to assist in the production of community events and committee meetings and programming, and effectively communicate upcoming Greenway events and programs online and in-person. In the long term the Community Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator will, with the guidance of the Program Director, implement programs that are focused on increasing health, wellness, physical activity and community connections of low income residents in the surrounding neighborhoods, and arts and cultural activities. The member will also work to advance the community’s vision for the Lafitte Greenway through collaborative efforts with the Executive Director, community members, City of New Orleans, and Friends of Lafitte Greenway Planning & Design Committee.
 
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Proficiency in Microsoft Office products and Google Apps. Ability to stand for extended periods of time. Ability to walk 2.6 miles. Ability to effectively communicate with large range of stakeholders in written and oral form.

Required Academic and Experience Qualifications
High School Diploma or equivalent.

Equal Opportunity
Friends of Lafitte Greenway does not discriminate on the basis of on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, culture, ancestral history, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or domestic partner status, physical or mental disability, or AIDS- or HIV-status. All interested applicants are encouraged to apply.

To Apply
Apply by June 30, 2018 at ServeLouisiana.org