YWCA Tri-County hosting virtual job fair
June 15 event will focus on positions with AmeriCorps and VISTA
Anyone interested in serving as AmeriCorps or VISTA members can join the Zoom meeting Monday.
YWCA Tri-County area will host a virtual employment fair for job seekers interested in serving as AmeriCorps or VISTA members. The job fair will be held on Monday, June 15 from 1 to 2 p.m., via the Zoom conferencing app.
The job fair will give interested job seekers an opportunity to learn more about AmeriCorps and VISTA, according to Jean Kowalski, manager of marketing and development for the YWCA Tri-County Area. They will also learn more about requirements and other details of the open positions, and how to apply.
“Both are programs of the U.S. Corporation for National and Community Service,” Kowalski said. “YW’s VISTA program is entering its third year; the AmeriCorps program is entering its second. YW also operates a third CNCS program, Foster Grandparents Program of Montgomery County.
The current VISTA project is the VISTA Youth Empowerment Survey, with VISTA members investigating youth services in the Pottstown area, with the goal of increasing capacity for all the youth-serving organizations in Pottstown and making recommendations to fill any gaps in services for area youth, Kowalski said.
There are four positions open, and all four VISTA members are based in Pottstown, working out of the YWCA office at 300 King St. The VISTA project is a partnership with GreenAllies and TCN.
AmeriCorps has up to 24 positions open for an equivalent of 10 full-time members in its workforce development program — Dignified Advancement Workforce Navigation (DAWN), Kowalski said. Those employees will be based in Pottstown at 724 N. Adams St., or in Norristown at the Montgomery County OIC. How many members are hired depends on their work preference for full-time or part-time.
“AmeriCorps is a direct-service programs; the workforce navigators will be assisting adults who are challenged by the job market, helping them to create a plan to secure employment and/or additional education or training,” she said. Workforce navigators help people assess their workplace skills, write resumes, conduct job searches, practice for interviews, improve digital literacy, and build soft job skills with the goal of gaining and maintaining employment that will support themselves and their families.
Job descriptions for the open AmeriCorps and VISTA positions can be found at www.ywcatricountyarea.org/who-weare/careers/
During the job fair June 15, YWCA staff will provide an introduction to the organization, to the Corporation for National and Community Service and to the individual AmeriCorps and VISTA programs at YWCA, according to Kowalski.
The virtual job fair will also include two breakout sessions — one for each program — and participants can choose which session to enter.
“In the breakout sessions, participants can ask questions, talk to the program directors and other AmeriCorps and VISTA members, and learn more about the day-to-day responsibilities of the VISTA/AmeriCorps members,” Kowalski added.
AmeriCorps and VISTA members receive living allowances and education credits for their service, as well as ongoing professional development. VISTA members are fulltime;
AmeriCorps members can be full-time or part-time depending upon each member’s preference.
“This is a great opportunity for people that may be in between college and grad school, or not sure how they want to proceed. Even older people who are retired and looking for a way to serve. It is a service
job first,” Kowalski added.
Registration is required to receive a link to the virtual event, and can be completed at tinyurl.com/virtualamericorps; or at the Events tab at ywcatricountyarea.org. Registrants will be asked for their name, email, address and phone number and will be asked to complete five optional
questions. Registration can be completed up until noon on Monday, June 15.
For more information about YWCA TriCounty Area visit ywcatricountyarea.org.