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Community-Building and Outreach VISTA

Position Description
 
Guided by a mission of “development without displacement,” the Chicago Rehab Network (CRN) strives to make housing affordable for every Chicagoan through research, capacity-building, and advocacy. As a coalition of community development corporations and housing advocates, CRN focuses on both low-income communities facing housing insecurity as well as the non-profit housing developers that serve these communities. The Outreach & Community-Building VISTA will support the longevity of our Center for Shared Ownership programming for housing co-ops, build and increase engagement within our network of member organizations, and will lead a communications and outreach strategy to grow our digital presence and increase constituent engagement.
 
An ideal candidate will be comfortable working independently with the support of a team. They will have experience doing outreach and will be excited to take on creative leadership in building and tracking member relationships and connecting with constituents through newsletters, social media, and fundraising campaigns.
 
Duties & Responsibilities
 
  • Build the Chicago Rehab Network’s capacity for outreach and communications, coalition-building, and long-term program sustainability.
  • Increase engagement with and grow CRN’s membership base and will have the opportunity to lead member engagement strategies including the creation and distribution of surveys, research, and outreach to establish new partnerships, and the development of a member tracking system.
  • Launch a communications strategy that increases the visibility of CRN’s work and engages more constituents across our communication platforms.
  • Through this creative outreach strategy, increase donorship as well as engagement in CRN programming and recruit and market CRN activities including trainings and meetings.
 
Program Description
 
This position is a part of the Housing Action AmeriCorps Network, which is an AmeriCorps VISTA program managed by Housing Action Illinois since 2010. As such, this position will receive customized training, support, guidance, and networking opportunities, in addition to the traditional opportunities for AmeriCorps VISTA positions. Learn more about the program at Housing Action’s website.
 
Benefits - Financial
 
Bi-Weekly Living Allowance: $575
Choice of two End-of-Service Awards: 
  • Segal Education Award: $6,345 
  • Cash Stipend Award: $1,800
Forbearance or Deferment of Student Loan Payments While in Service
Non-Competitive Eligibility Status
Healthcare Allowance
Leave Days: 10 Personal and 10 Medical
 
Positions located in the Chicagoland area that use public transportation to commute to and from your office receive or are reimbursed for an unlimited pass to use the public transit system.
 
Some organizations can offer supplementary financial benefits in the form of a housing or grocery stipend. Ask your interviewer if they offer any supplemental benefits.
 
Benefits - Training
 
In addition to the trainings offered by AmeriCorps to all members in the VISTA program, Housing Action coordinates two mandatory, multi-day, trainings. One in September focused on setting AmeriCorps members up for success during their term of service, and one in the spring focused on setting AmeriCorps members up to secure their next professional endeavor after their term of service. Both trainings are highly specialized based on Housing Action’s experience running the program, contemporary best practices, and trends, and input from the currently serving AmeriCorps members themselves.

Benefits - In-Kind
 
  • Waived registration fee for annual Housing Action Conference
  • Waived registration fee for annual Housing Action Benefit Event
  • Informational interviews through your hosting organization and Housing Action network(s).
  • Peer networking among the cohort.