Our Organizations:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Lowell is a local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. The agency provides cost-effective, innovative and long term interventions in the lives of children who lack ample adult guidance and support. Programming is targeted at keeping youth safe, support to stay in school and out of gangs, and in general, support to stay on the right track for a successful and productive future. The United Teen Equality Center (UTEC), is a youth-led center for youth development and grassroots organizing, offering a safe-have from gang violence and a multi-cultural place of belonging for youth ages 13-21.

Position Description & Responsibilities:

This is a full-time, stipended volunteer position, funded through the AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) program. This VISTA in Technology will have the unique opportunity to work part-time with two of Lowell’s youth development organizations. The VISTA will split time between work at BBBS and UTEC on schedule agreed upon by all parties.

The VISTA will assist both agencies in:

- Web design and development
- Database creation and management
- Learning new software and developing staff training modules for these software
- Utilizing digital media, including video if appropriate, to help marketing efforts
- Creating and implementing plans for volunteer recruitment

Throughout all of these projects, the goal of the VISTA will be to use technology to promote the mission of both agencies in the Greater Lowell area, to help use technology as a bridge to reach out to constituents, donors and volunteers, and to effectively increase the capacity of both organizations to serve the youth of Greater Lowell. In working with both agencies, the VISTA will help BBBS and UTEC pool our resources to market effectively to our constituencies in the most cooperative way possible.

Qualifications:

The VISTA’s recommended skills and qualifications include:

• Experience and confidence in web design and development
• Ability and desire to work with diverse groups of people
• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications, and knowledge of Photoshop
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree
• Experience teaching self to master new software
• Great writing and communication skills

Application process: Email resume and letter of interest to jwilson@utec-lowell.org. For more information about BBBS or UTEC, please visit http://www.bbbslowell.org/ AND www.utec-lowell.org . Info on the VISTA program can be found at http://www.americorps.org/vista/.

Compensation: Overall, this position is a great opportunity to get hands-on career experience while giving back to a community through service. VISTA members make a one year commitment to AmeriCorps. There is a bi-weekly stipend of $412, plus basic health benefits and various trainings throughout the year. An additional award of approximately $4,725 is also available upon completion of one year's service.