Needs From: HandsOn NWNC

Community Outreach Ambassadors

Reports to: Stevii Mills - Marketing Manager

Volunteer type: Adults, individuals students (must be at least 16 with parental consent), anyone interested in connecting with the community more.

Status: Volunteer, Ongoing, 5-10 hours as needed  

Overview: The Literacy Community Outreach Ambassador role is a vital position within our organization aimed at expanding our reach and impact within the Guilford County community. This role is perfect for individuals passionate about literacy, community engagement, and making a positive difference in people's lives through education. As a Literacy Community Outreach Ambassador, you will represent our organization, build partnerships, and develop initiatives to promote literacy awareness and engagement across diverse communities. As a Literacy Community Outreach Ambassador, you will help identify and coordinate (in conjunction with staff) outreach events and activities including; attending community fairs and events, tabling, networking meetings and more to help connect the community to both external and internal community outreach purposes related to the mission and purpose of the organization.

Summary: If you enjoy giving back to your community, meeting new people, attending local community events and sharing information about what you are passionate about then becoming a literacy outreach ambassador is the volunteer opportunity for you! Tabling at community events to educate the Guilford County community and beyond about literacy and Reading Connections is how you can be involved and get others to join you. Volunteers can work independently or in groups to set up, attend, and break down for an event.

Essential Functions: Engage with individuals at events to share information about Reading Connections Encourage attendees to complete a "call to action" i.e. sign up to volunteer, join a class, pick up information, etc. Collect contact information from prospective volunteers, students, partners, etc. Identify potential outreach opportunities

Roles & Responsibilities: Volunteers will engage in some but not all of the following below:

Community Engagement: Actively engage with local communities to promote the importance of literacy and the services offered by our nonprofit. Assist in the planning, promotion, and execution of literacy events, workshops, and activities such as training, projects, and storytelling sessions.

Outreach and Networking: Identify opportunities to collaborate with schools, libraries, community centers, and other organizations to expand the reach of our literacy programs.

Resource Distribution: Distribute educational materials, books, and resources to underserved communities and individuals in need.

Storytelling and Advocacy: Share personal stories, testimonials, and success stories related to literacy to inspire and motivate others to engage in literacy activities.

Social Media and Promotion: Support our organization's social media efforts by sharing updates, event announcements, and success stories to raise awareness and encourage community involvement. Volunteer Recruitment and

Training: Assist in recruiting new volunteers and provide training and support to ensure they are equipped to effectively contribute to outreach efforts.

Qualifications: Attend an informational session and training Must be at least 16 years of age (with consent if under 18) Must have reliable transportation Must be able to complete light physical tasks relating to setting up and breaking down for events Reside within or close to Guilford County Strong interpersonal skills, written, and verbal communication Passion for literacy and a strong belief in its transformative power. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences. Prior experience in community outreach, partnership development, or related fields is a plus. Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to multitask and prioritize effectively. Cultural competence and sensitivity to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Flexibility and adaptability to work independently as well as part of a team in a dynamic nonprofit environment. Proficiency in basic computer skills and familiarity with social media platforms.  

Hours: Flexible and vary according to events that occur throughout the year.  

Volunteer Benefits:

1. Opportunity to make a meaningful impact in promoting literacy and education within the community.

2. Professional development and networking opportunities within the nonprofit sector.

3. Flexibility to tailor initiatives and projects to align with personal interests and community needs.

4. Satisfaction of being part of a dedicated team committed to empowering individuals through literacy.

5. Potential for growth and advancement within the organization.

6. Volunteers obtain practical experience with networking, communication skills, marketing, and building strong partnerships.  

Join us in our mission to empower individuals, transform communities, and build a more literate society for all!

How to apply: Contact us at info@readingconnections.org for more information on how to get started!

Did you know that 1 in 5 adults in Guilford County, North Carolina, struggles with basic literacy skills? That's almost 80,000 adults! Reading Connections exists to support these individuals in reaching their literacy goals. Not being able to read or write in English hinders one's ability to get a job, thrive in a career, seek proper healthcare, and engage with their community. Reading Connections exists to support these individuals in reaching their literacy goals. We're looking for dedicated volunteers to tutor students one-on-one and in small groups to improve their reading, writing, speaking, listening, math, technology, and employability skills.

Our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program seeks tutors to support non-native English speakers. Training and resources are provided for all tutors. Tutors are matched with students based on their areas of interest and availability. All new tutors must complete a 2-hour training before being matched with a student. We offer free monthly training sessions on Zoom. Tutoring takes place at our offices in Greensboro and High Point or in other public spaces throughout Guilford County.  

Responsibilities:

Time Commitment: Tutors are asked to meet with their student(s) for 2-4 hours each week for six months

Qualifications:

Scheduling and Tutoring Sites: The meeting day(s), time(s), and site will be selected at the mutual convenience of both the tutor and student, as indicated on their applications.

If you're interested in making a life-long impact on adults seeking literacy instruction, this is the opportunity for you!

Do you love working with children and watching them learn and grow? Then, join our team as an in-person child classroom assistant in Greensboro! Reading Connections is the largest adult literacy nonprofit organization in North Carolina.  Our Family Literacy Program provides literacy support for families at Title I elementary schools and community centers in Guilford County during the school year. This program offers parents an opportunity to support their children’s literacy development while improving their own literacy skills at the same time. Centered on the belief that parents are their children’s first teachers, the program incorporates focused literacy instruction for parents and children, fostering both a habit and a love of reading among the families we serve.

As a classroom assistant, you will support the lead teacher, help children with homework, and help facilitate whole-class and small-group activities. Daytime and evening shifts are available. Orientation and training provided.

Daytime Shifts: 

Tuesday, 10am-1pm

Thursday, 10 am-1 pm

Evening Shifts: 

Monday, 4:30-7:30pm 

Tuesday, 4:30-7:30 pm 

Wednesday, 4:30-7:30 pm

Thursday, 4:30-7:30 pm

Do you want to help address food insecurity in our community? Then, this is the opportunity for you! Reading Connections is the largest adult literacy nonprofit organization in North Carolina. Our Family Literacy Program provides literacy support for families at Title I elementary schools and community centers in Guilford County during the school year. This program offers parents an opportunity to support their children’s literacy development while improving their own literacy skills at the same time. Centered on the belief that parents are their children’s first teachers, the program incorporates focused literacy instruction for parents and children, fostering both a habit and a love of reading among the families we serve.  

Because our in-person family literacy programs are offered during mealtimes, we always provide families with lunch or dinner as part of the program. Providing meals for families that are a part of our Family Literacy program is a fantastic opportunity for civic or faith-based groups to come together to serve low-income families in Guilford County! 

There are three ways to help out. You can… 

-Sponsor a lunch ($150) or dinner ($200)

-Make and deliver a lunch or dinner 

-Order lunch or dinner from a restaurant 

Lunches should serve 60 people (30 adults, 30 children); dinners should serve 120 people (40 adults, 80 children). 

Zip Codes for Daytime Sites: 27407, 27260

Zip Codes for Evening Sites: 27405, 27407

Did you know that 1 in 5 adults in Guilford County, North Carolina, struggles with basic literacy skills? That's almost 80,000 adults! Reading Connections exists to support these individuals in reaching their literacy goals. Not being able to read and write in English greatly hinders one's ability to get a job, thrive in a career, seek proper healthcare, and engage with their community. Reading Connections exists to support these individuals in reaching their literacy goals. We're looking for dedicated volunteers to tutor students one-on-one and in small groups to improve their reading, writing, speaking, listening, math, technology, and employability skills.

Our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program is seeking tutors to support non-native English speakers. Training and resources are provided for all tutors. All tutoring sessions are conducted virtually.

Requirements

Time Commitment: Tutors are asked to meet with their student(s) for 2-4 hours each week for at least six months

Qualifications:

If you're interested in making a life-long impact on adults seeking literacy instruction, this is the opportunity for you!

Reading Connections helps adult students in basic reading, writing and math, enabling them to increase their literacy skills and more fully recognize their potential as individuals, employees, and citizens.

We are creating posts for social media based on individual student, volunteer, and stakeholder stories. We are looking for a team of social media volunteers to help interview and draft stories for Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms.  

Responsibilities

Qualifications

Time Commitment

2-5 hours per week, hours can be completed towards course/program credits Hybrid opportunity with flexibility working in our Greensboro/High Point offices.

Benefits to Volunteer