Providence ¡CityArts! for Youth is seeking a creative individual to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA for the 2017-2018 service year. The CityArts VISTA will help to strategically improve and expand arts learning opportunities by assisting in evaluating and improving existing systems that support teaching and learning for CityArts’ in-school and out-of-school programs. CityArts’ programs are offered at schools in South Providence that are highly under-resourced, leaving students with little to no arts programming. The VISTA will support CityArts’ strategic planning process by helping to research and evaluate the ways that CityArts can best support access and opportunity in the arts, and provide evidence as to the importance of arts education as a way to inspire social change, promote youth development, and engage student learning at schools and in our community. The CityArts VISTA program offers individuals an opportunity to strengthen their evaluation and arts administration skills, while deepening problem solving and leadership abilities.
VISTA Duties Include:
1. Develop Tracking and Activity systems to collect quantitative data on programs
A. Create and maintain activity and attendance logs on students in programs using Google docs or other qualitative metrics format.
B. Create and maintain more effective demographic databases.
C. Research and develop effective data collection systems for program evaluation, and create surveys and logs.
D. Assess current material and data collection systems to use for funding.
2. Develop systems to collect quantitative data on programs and participation
A. Devise and maintain systems to track teaching best practices and lesson plans.
B. Devise and maintain web-based digital media that includes student work and reflections using a portfolio program or other electronic program.
C. Create digital narratives that convey the effects of the program on youth, parents, community.
3. Support distribution of that data to inform strategic planning and communication around CityArts’ capacity.
A. Create and maintain digital and web-based documentation that can be used for strategic planning and social media communications.
B. Develop print and digital manuals on best-practices and lesson plans to be distributed to schools, teaching artists and partners.
4. Build and strengthen relationships with university/colleges, and community organizations
A. Research potential and current partners to assess possible ways to increase collaboration.
B. Develop communications around interrelated programs and projects to support and develop
networks related to creative youth development and social justice.
C. Organize community conversations to develop partnerships with community members.
D. Organize arts events by working with university partners.
Qualifications:
o High School degree required, some college preferred.
o Must be a US citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
o Strong interest in service and community development.
o Experience in graphic design.
o Strong interest in providing high quality arts education to Providence youth.
o Experience with data and administrative tasks.
o Proven ability to organize and manage simultaneous tasks and projects.
o Attention to detail and excellent quantitative and record-keeping skills.
o Flexibility, creativity, independence, accountability and reliability.
o Ability to receive feedback and adjust performance to the standards of the program and staff.
o Ability to speak Spanish a plus.
Providence ¡CityArts! for Youth is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive artistic community; ¡CityArts! considers applicants for employment without regard to, and does not discriminate on the basis of, gender, race, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
For all ¡CityArts! AmeriCorps position inquiries, please contact Vanessa DeNino, ¡CityArts! AmeriCorps program director at: vanessa@providencecityarts.org