How can a museum truly be “for everyone”? What do strong community partnerships look like, and how far can they be expanded to support museums, community partners, and the people we serve?
Think through these questions as the Community Outreach Coordinator at the Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum! And please share this information with strong candidates you know who might be interested. We encourage interested applicants to submit their applications no later than February 5, 2016.
This is a 900-hour AmeriCorps Fellowship, beginning on March 7th and anticipated to last 5-8 months, depending upon the number of hours worked per week. There is a $5500 living allowance, along with a $2,822 education award which can be used for tuition, student loans, and school-related supplies after the completion of the Fellowship. Here is the full position description:
Americorps Fellow: Community Outreach Coordinator
The Community Outreach Coordinator is responsible for two programs: Celebrate Peoria and the PlayHouse Explorer Program:
Celebrate Peoria
Celebrate Peoria is a monthly series dedicated to discovering and celebrating the diversity of Peoria and Central Illinois. Each month, the PlayHouse examines one of the many cultures that make up the dynamic fabric of our community.
The Community Outreach Fellow plans and implements these events, including:
- Identifying different cultures and traditions represented in Peoria, and creating a calendar of events related to these traditions for Fall 2016 and all of 2017.
- Identifying representatives of these cultures who are interested in partnering with or supporting the PlayHouse in developing programs related to these traditions. Coordinating meetings with these representatives, both before the event to plan, and after the event to reflect and assess, and to consider future collaborations and programs.
- Marketing the event, including preparing flyers, promoting the event through social media, and editing press releases.
- Creating program materials, including exhibit signage and other educational materials.
- Develop training for PlayHouse staff and volunteers about cultural traditions andCelebrate Peoria events and goals.
- Recruit and manage volunteers for these events.
- Evaluate events and make suggestions for future programs.
PlayHouse Explorer Program
The PlayHouse Explorer Program allows low-income families to visit free of charge, to become members for $10 per family per year, and to attend programs at reduced prices. This program is coordinated in partnership with community partners: local service providers who promote the program to families throughout the area.
The Community Outreach Fellow ensures that the Explorer Program runs smoothly, and evaluates program success, including:
- Meet with community partners to promote the program and gather feedback.
- Arrange walk-throughs and group visits for interested partners and their clients.
- Process registration forms.
- Evaluate the 2016 program, make changes for 2017 as needed, and implement these changes.
- Inform community partners and pass holders of special events and activities.
In addition to these primary areas of focus, the Community Outreach Coordinator:
- Represents and promotes the PlayHouse at local events, including East Bluff Build It Up meetings and Early Childhood Forum.
- Attends PlayHouse staff meeting and trainings.
- Collaborates with education staff and other staff to contribute expertise and ideas to other areas of programming and operations.
- Reports all visitor comments, complaints, and trends to Operations Manager.
QUALIFICATIONS:
The ideal candidate will have a college degree, and demonstrated interest in working in museums and/or conducting cultural outreach work. He or she will have experience working in an office setting, and will be familiar with the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).
The candidate should also possess excellent oral and written communication skills, and be comfortable working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and ages. He or she should be creative, with a strong interest in developing original programming that introduces new community members to the PlayHouse, and existing PlayHouse community members to the diverse traditions represented in the region.
The candidate should be able to work on multiple projects simultaneously, and be self-directed and able to move projects forward with little oversight. He or she should be able to work in a busy and sometimes distracting environment. He or she must be able to represent the PlayHouse professionally and positively.
Candidates must be available to work days, weekends, and some evenings and holidays. We can only consider candidates who are 18 or older and are able to pass a DCFS background check.
COMPENSATION:
AmeriCorps fellows are paid a “living allowance”—a small stipend to help with essentials like bills and groceries—during their service term. The PlayHouse Community Outreach Coordinator will receive $5500 for 900 hours of service. In addition to the living allowance, AmeriCorps members who complete their service terms are given an education award of $2822, which can be used for tuition, student loans, and school-related supplies.
PlayHouse staff can assist the AmeriCorps fellow in looking for affordable housing (rentals can be found in the area for approximately $300 per month and up), and the Fellow can arrange his or her schedule to work additional part-time hours at another job if needed.
To apply for this position, please send a cover letter and resume to: Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum, 2218 N Prospect Road, Peoria, IL 61603. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled; however, we strongly encourage potential candidates to submit their application by February 5, 2016. We anticipate beginning to interview candidates in early February.
Learning African dance at Celebrate Peoria: Kwanzaa in December
Making Warli paintings at Celebrate Peoria: Makar Sankranti in January
Trying on saris at Celebrate Peoria: Makar Sankranti
Listening to traditional Native American stories at the first Celebrate Peoria event, in November 2015.
