Afvn University Of Florida Community Engagement Coordinator

AFVN University of Florida Community Engagement Coordinator

According to data from the 2021 US Census, the percentage of individuals below poverty level in Alachua County was 20.1% compared to the state percentage of 13.1%. Alachua county is in the bottom quartile of individuals below poverty in the state of Florida, meaning about ¾ of other Florida counties have more favorable conditions for their residents (Florida Department of Health, 2023). A recent study completed in Gainesville highlighted the need for student volunteer opportunities that focused on a single organization over several years, rather than limited hours of service at multiple non-profit organizations (Jones, Giles, & Carroll, 2019). This study along with feedback from the community encouraged the Brown Center to remove some of the single day of service opportunities and create the new initiative, UF Serves. The VISTA member will help connect faculty, staff, and college students to the community and provide much needed volunteers for local non-profits through this new initiative.

UF Serves is a multifaceted initiative that will 1) create and implement long term mutually beneficial relationships with community members and establish consistent volunteer opportunities 2) design and implement improved training for students and community members and 3) research, design, and implement an effective volunteer matching tool to promote community opportunities to the University population. Through this initiative the VISTA will help raise awareness of local issues and help students find an outlet for their service passion through the Brown Center for Leadership & Service. The VISTA will work directly with local agencies working in the areas of homelessness, hunger, education inequity, health, and other areas impacting communities. through UF Serves, which provides on-going service opportunities for college students through providing trained student site-leaders in their agencies to coordinate the volunteers. Further help on this page can be found by clicking here.

Member Duties : The UF BCLS VISTA will assist in designing & coordinating programming to provide trained Site Leaders to coordinate on-going volunteerism in agencies working in areas of poverty, education inequity, affordable housing, health & other issues impacting communities. These efforts, combined with ongoing BCLS initiatives, build capacity for organizations addressing education needs & poverty by providing educational service-based programs.

The VISTA will focus on the research, design, & implementation of an effective volunteer matching tool to promote community opportunities to the University population & the design & implementation of improved community engagement training for students, faculty, staff, alumni, & community partners to increase recruitment, retention, & impact of volunteers. Establish a sustainable system for identifying, coordinating, & improving community engagement partnerships between UF, Santa Fe Community College, & the community related to the alleviation of poverty.

Program Benefits : Health Coverage* , Training , Mentoring, Professional Development , Living Allowance , Relocation Allowance , Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend , Childcare assistance if eligible .

Terms :

Car recommended , Permits attendance at school during off hours .

Service Areas :

Children/Youth , Technology , Neighborhood Revitalization , Community Outreach , Housing , Health , Education .

Skills :

Community Organization , Fund raising/Grant Writing , Computers/Technology , Communications , Education , Leadership , Recruitment , Social Services , Team Work , General Skills , Public Speaking , Writing/Editing , Event Planning , Conflict Resolution , Public Health .