AmeriCorps Academic Advocate

AmeriCorps Academic Advocate

Salary

$650.00 Biweekly

Location

Multicultural Family Center - City of Dubuque, IA

Job Type

AmeriCorps

Job Number

01977

Department

Community Impact

Opening Date

10/19/2026

Closing Date

11/4/2026 11:59 PM Central

FLSA

Exempt

Bargaining Unit

NREP

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Summary

AmeriCorps- Academic Advocate

• November 9th, 2026 - July 17th, 2027 (36 Week Contract)

900 Hours Contract - Minimum of 28 hours/week

Compensation: Living Allowance Total: $ 11,700 ($650 every 2 weeks over 36 weeks) + Education Award: $3,697.50*

Closing Date: November 4th, 2026

General Purpose

AmeriCorps is a national service program that takes a different approach to improve lives and fostering civic engagement. AmeriCorps Members commit their time to address critical community needs. In Dubuque, AmeriCorps Members serve at the intersection of education and mental health to help youth understand their emotions, reactions, and relationships through social-emotional learning to improve academic, career, and social success. City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Members implement key skill-building program to have the following impacts:

• Youth experience programs promoting healthy lifestyles resulting in decreased youth risk-related behaviors.
• Youth development skills to build meaningful and healthy relationships while experiencing being valued and respected.
• Providing every young person with the opportunity to grow up safely and access their best possible future.

The AmeriCorps Academic Advocate will play a crucial role in supporting academic and career exploration for youth in the Dubuque community through the Multicultural Family Center. This position aims to provide comprehensive support to students and families from communities facing barriers helping them navigate the education system and stay on track towards their post-high school goals. This position focuses on building relationships with disadvantaged youth and their families, connecting their talents and interests to potential careers, and creating sustainable support systems within the community.

Benefits:

• Education Award received upon successful completion of their term of service.

• Living Allowance

• Student loan forbearance and interest payments for eligible loans

Job Duties

Service Responsibilities

• Program Development and Implementation:

• Design and implement career readiness activities that highlight the education and training requirements for various careers available in the Dubuque community.

• Engage middle and high school students in career exploration and planning.

• Carry out developmental activities that promote skill-building in areas such as such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, personal responsibility, goal directed behavior, decision-making and optimistic thinking.

• Coordinate monthly college and career visits.

• Develop and implement weekly tutoring services, while seeking volunteer tutors to expand the program capacity.

• Host quarterly FAFSA-support sessions in partnership with local college-support organizations and networks.

• Academic Resource Support:

• Identify available academic resources such as free tutoring, FAFSA support, scholarship opportunities, etc., for students who are facing barriers.

• Assist students and families in accessing these resources and address any resource gaps.

• Collaborate with Dubuque Community School District to schedule experiential learning opportunities for students.

• Build and leverage partnerships with Colleges, Universities, and post-secondary apprenticeship programs to enhance program content and career engagement.

• Municipal Career Pathways Program:

• Collaborate with key City staff and external partners to enhance the programs quality and engagement opportunities.

• Collaborate closely with AmeriCorps members serving at program partners (Carnegie-Stout Public Library, Parks Department, Bluff Strokes, Centrally Rooted) to establish collaborative teen-focused programming efforts.

• Volunteer Management:

• Recruit, manage, monitor, train, and document volunteer involvement with teen programming.

• Coordinate with volunteers to support the implementation of activities and ensure a safe and supportive environment for participants.

• Collaborate with local colleges and community leaders to recruit volunteers and mentor to support Teen Empowerment programming throughout the school year and summer months.

• Impact Assessment and Documentation:

• Document and maintain records of the impact on area youth who participate in the teen empowerment programs through weekly data reporting processes.

• Collect data and feedback to evaluate program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

• Conduct and analyze DESSA assessments and evaluations to measure students social-emotional competencies and progress.

• Disaster Response (AmeriCorps-Disaster Response Team)

• Participate in A-DRT training(s) to ensure the member has knowledge and ability to respond to disasters.

• Complete other training necessary to support disaster deployments, including but not limited to Volunteer Reception Center (VRC), first aid, mental health first aid, and chainsaw training.

Qualifications

Physical Requirements:

• Walk and carry materials up and down steps.
• Stand and walk for extended periods of time.
• Lift 30 pounds.
• Bend, squat and kneel.

Desired Skills/Qualifications:

• Must be competent in working with at-risk youth, teenaged youth, and communities facing barriers.
• Applicant must have reliable transportation.
• Applicant must be creative, energetic, dependable and a self-starter.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent OR agree to obtain one while under service to the AmeriCorps Program
• Be 17 years or older at the start of service (no upper age limit).
• Pass a national service criminal history check prior to first day of service due to reoccurring access to vulnerable populations.
• Hold one of the following citizenship statuses: US citizen, US national, or Lawful Permanent Resident.

Supplemental Information

Service Schedule

The Academic Advocates' scheduled hours may fluctuate based on Teen Programming scheduled throughout the year. Typical schedule: Mon - Thurs: Serve flexibly between the hours of 9am - 8pm, with most hours being served during the 12pm - 8pm timeframe, with two days from 12:30pm to 8pm; Friday: between 9am - 5pm; Opportunities for weekend hours or special events may become available during the year. Member must serve a minimum of 28 hrs/week.

Example schedule for illustrative purposes:

• Monday: 1:30pm-6:00 pm
• Tuesday: 1:30pm - 6:00 pm
• Wednesday: 12:30pm-8:00 pm
• Thursday: 12:30pm-8:00 pm
• Friday: 9:00am-2:30pm
• Saturday: Off
• Sunday: Off

Leave: Sick leave, personal leave, and holiday leave is allowed, but such time off does not count towards the required number of hours needed to successfully complete the term of service. There are additional benefits offered if the member has a compelling personal circumstance.

Disaster Deployments: Member who opt-in to be engaged in disaster deployment/activities will need to ensure availability for the term of the disaster deployments, generally 2-4 weeks. Make plans for pets, family members, other employment and responsibilities that need regular attention.

Evaluations and Alternative Service

AmeriCorps Members are required by the program to complete Self-Evaluations.

Mid-Term Evaluations: At the member's halfway point during their term of service, the member will complete a self-evaluation and their Site Supervisor will complete an evaluation on the member. The member and site supervisor will meet, with or without Program Staff, to discuss the evaluations in-depth. These evaluations must be submitted to the AmeriCorps Program.

End-Term Evaluations: Upon the completion of their AmeriCorps Contract, all members will complete an End-Term Evaluation. The End-Term Evaluation must be completed, signed, and submitted to the AmeriCorps Program within 30 days of the member's final date of service. Non-submission of this document within the 30-day timeframe will lead to the member being exited for cause and will forfeit the member's right to the Education Award.

Members may engage in other allowable activities that are not specifically outlined in the position description, but that support the AmeriCorps program design, and which will help the Program meet its goals. Under no circumstances will members be asked to perform prohibited activities. Volunteers recruited and/or managed by AmeriCorps members will not participate in prohibited activities as outlined in the approved grant application.

Our Commitment to You

The City of Dubuque is committed to using a merit-based system in which recruiting, selecting, and advancing employees is based on their relative knowledge, skills, and abilities, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws. Our organization provides equal opportunities for all individuals, fostering a workplace that values innovation, collaboration, and work-life balance. We offer job stability, a comprehensive benefits package, and an opportunity to serve and support our growing community. In accordance with legal obligations our policies and practices are designed to ensure fair treatment and foster a respectful workplace where all are encouraged to apply.

Not Applicable

01

Will you be 17 years of age or older by the contract start date?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Dubuque

Address Human Resources Department

50 W 13th Street

Dubuque, Iowa, 52001

Phone 563-589-4125

Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/dubuqueia