Coconino County Community Services

Title of AmeriCorps service assignment:
BBE/NANACT Program Assistant
Part-time, 900 hrs.

Location of organization: 2625 N. King St. Flagstaff, AZ 86004 

Website of organization: www.coconino.az.gov/comsvcs.aspx?id=5497

Brief description of organization:

The Coconino County Community Services Department (CCCSD) is the county’s designated Community Action Agency, locally leading the fight against poverty.  In spring 2007, CCCSD launched Basic Business Empowerment (BBE), an Assets for Independence program providing micro-business training and Individual Development Account (IDA) match savings grants for micro-business capitalization, primarily to socio-economically disadvantaged community members. 

In summer 2008, CCCSD became the coordinating agency for the Northern Arizona Native American Culture Trail (NANACT) project.  NANACT is a collaborative effort connecting regional visitors/tourists with Native American culture, and assisting Native American economic development by helping Native artisans to better market and sell their arts and crafts.

AmeriCorps Service Assignment Description:

1. The service assignment will aid community improvement by developing relationships in the community and recruiting and assisting skill development among Basic Business Empowerment (BBE) and Northern Arizona Native American Culture Trail (NANACT) community program participants. Duties may include learning, developing, and sharing skill development best practices, as well as building collaboration and liaison with community organizers, planners, and business owners, and others. (Maintaining clear and regular communication with collaborators will be critical for project success.)

2. Assist with BBE and NANACT trainings and/or financial education classes by helping with curriculum development or adaptation, facility reservations, guest speaker recruitment, room set-up, training facilitation, and clean-up.

3. Develop and maintain program participant management systems, including the use of spreadsheets, manuals, or other tools for surveying, tracking, and managing participants, as well as creating detailed progress reports to funders.

4. May assist as needed with development and enhancement to BBE and/or NANACT Web pages, maps, resource lists, and/or other support materials.

5. Assist CCCSD staff with other related economic development efforts as necessary..

AmeriCorps Member Qualifications:

1. The candidate needs to be a self-starter, with strong attention to detail, coordination, and customer service skills.

2. A good communicator / trainer verbally and in writing with the ability to work respectfully and effectively with others from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds and age groups.

3. Ability to develop and maintain records and participant files and to use these to create and submit detailed reports for funders and program partners. Related computer skills needed, include: report writing word processing (MS Word), data entry and spreadsheets (MS Excel), and communication (MS Outlook).

4. This is a full-time (900 service hours) position, in which occasional flexibility and availability on Saturday or evenings will be helpful.

5. An Arizona driver’s license and a good driving record are preferred.

6. Interest in and knowledge of small business and Native American culture and artisan skills could be helpful.

7. Interest, education, and/or experience in small business management, accounting, website development, public relations, business marketing/communications/media, as well as Native American culture and artisan skills could be helpful.

8. Bilingual abilities (English and Navajo and/or Hopi) could be helpful.

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