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Contact Us:
NJ Commission on National
& Community Services
NJ Department of State
P.O. Box 459
225 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08625-0459
(609) 633-9627
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Keeping
America’s Promise to Youth
Building on AmeriCorps'
success, New Jersey AmeriCorps Promise Fellows is a leadership
cadre of committed, talented individuals who dedicate a year
of their lives to building a better future for children and
youth. As part of this special partnership between AmeriCorps
and America's Promise, AmeriCorps Promise Fellows are spearheading
community efforts to provide young people with the five fundamental
resources identified at the Presidents’ Summit for America's
Future: 1) a healthy start, 2) mentoring, 3) safe places, 4)
quality education, and 5) opportunity to give back to the community.
In
support of this partnership, the New Jersey Learn and Serve
America program will serve as the lead agency and will coordinate
the overall New Jersey AmeriCorps Promise Fellow Program.
The program will focus on three fundamental resources: 1) a
healthy start and a healthy future; 2) ongoing relationship
with a caring adults – mentoring; and 3) opportunity for
youth to give back to the community through service and service-learning.
In
exchange for their year of service, New Jersey AmeriCorps
Promise Fellows receive extensive professional development
training, basic health care insurance, a living allowance of
$13,000, and an education award of $4,725 that can be used
to finance higher education or help pay off student loans.
New Jersey AmeriCorps Promise Fellows will fulfill their twelve-month
term of service with one of the following host sites:
- New Jersey Learn & Serve
America: The fellow hosted by New Jersey Learn & Serve
America (NJLSA) will be based in Trenton at the State Department
of Education. This fellow will increase student, teacher,
and community participation in service-learning projects
by 1) updating and maintaining the NJLSA web site; 2) creating
and implementing a statewide promotional campaign for the
Presidents’ Student Service Challenge; 3) coordinating
the NJ AmeriCorps Youth Service Leaders initiative; 4)
developing the semi-annual NJLSA newsletter. The NJLSA
Fellow will also assist in the coordination of the Governor’s
School Volunteer Program, which encourages state employees
to volunteer their services in New Jersey’s schools
and the New Jersey Mentoring Coalition.
- Jersey Cares: The
two fellows hosted by Jersey Cares will be deployed in their
Essex County and Morris County locations to establish county-wide
Youth Service Boards (YSB). Each fellow will be responsible
for 1) serving as a YSB project coordinator; 2) recruiting
young people ages 13-18 to become YSB members; 3) coordinating
year-round community service and service-learning projects;
4) tracking and maintaining volunteer hours for YSB members;
and 5) providing outreach to schools and community-based
agencies. The Jersey Cares Fellows will also be responsible
for promoting NJ KidCare and disseminating applications to
potential enrollees.
- The Coalition for
Service-Learning: The Coalition for Service-Learning
will host one fellow in its Monmouth County office to participate
in activities designed to promote the creation of school-based
service-learning programs through outreach to educators,
students, parents, non-profit agencies, CBOs, governmental
and civic organizations, and the business community. Specifically,
the CSL Fellow will be responsible for 1) developing press
releases and other PR material; 2) coordinating CSL student
conference; 3) developing corporate partnerships; and 4)
facilitating partnerships between schools and community
agencies. The CSL Fellow will also be responsible for promoting
NJ KidCare and disseminating applications to potential
enrollees.
- Community Planning & Advocacy
Council: Community Planning & Advocacy Council
will host one fellow to assist the Camden County Youth
Volunteer Corps, promoting civic responsibility through
volunteerism among youth ages 11-18. The CPAC Fellow will
work with the YVC to 1) recruit young people from Camden
County and Burlington County to become YVC members; 2)
provide outreach to schools and community agencies; 3)
organize year-round community service and service-learning
projects; and 4) track volunteer hours for YVC members.
The CPAC Fellow will also be responsible for promoting
NJ KidCare and disseminating applications to potential
enrollees.
For more information on
the New Jersey Promise Fellows program or to request an application,
please contact:
Linda V. Rivera, Senior
Program Officer
Office of Community Services
New Jersey State Department of Education
PO Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625-0500
Phone: 609-292-1834 Fax: 609-777-293
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