Volunteers are needed throughout The Door’s programs to help us fulfill our mission, touching the lives of nearly 10,000 participants every year. Here are just some of the volunteer opportunities currently available.
TALENT SEARCH
Talent Search focuses on those students who require extra support and guidance as they make their way through high school or a GED program. These are, young people who may not be aware that college is accessible or affordable, and/or who not be able to compete for acceptances to competitive universities without the support of tutors, advisors, and mentors. Talent Search seeks to create a space where young people can use their skills and talents in order to achieve their goals and dreams.
WHAT IS TALENT SEARCH?
As result of the Higher Education Act of 1965, Talent Search was created to provide motivation and support for youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. Talent Search was the second outreach program following Upward Bound (in 1964). In 1968, Student Support Services, originally known as Special Services for Disadvantaged Students, was authorized by the Higher Education Amendments to become third of this “TRIO” of programs. Today, TRIO includes six outreach and support programs targeted to serve and assist low-income, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs. To learn more, visit www.trioprograms.org.
Talent Search by the numbers (2006-2007)
►1200 students served. Of the 449 seniors, 425 (93%) earned their high school diploma.
►Of the 546 non-seniors, 520 (or 95%) were promoted to the next grade level.
►44 students received their high school equivalency credentials.
►Of the 569, “college-ready” participants, 405 (or 70%) enrolled in a post-secondary institution.
►Of the 405 students enrolled in a post-secondary institution, 188 attend a private, four-year institution.
Talent Search participants are now enrolled at Babson College, Baruch College, Boston University, Bowdoin College, Brooklyn College, Hobart & William Smith College, Howard University, Lincoln University, Long Island University, Morgan State University, Skidmore College, St. Johns University, Syracuse University, Union College, University of Michigan, Virginia State University.
The vast majority of Talent Search participants are Latino, African-American and Asian-American.
Many of them will be the first members of their family to attend college.
For additional information about Talent Search, contact Carlos Santiago, Talent Search Supervisor, 212-941-9090 x3323 or carlos@door.org.
JOIN THE TALENT SEARCH TEAM!
Tutors
Provide one-to-one or small group tutoring in a subject area of your strength. We offer academic support in all of the following subject areas: Math, English, US and World History, Science, Reading Comprehension, Writing, exam preparation (Regents/SAT/TOEFL/GED) to native- and non-native English speakers. Tutors do not need to be proficient in all areas – just one area will do. We match to your strength.
Tutors are asked to take on the following responsibilities:
- Provide targeted academic support in individual academic or action plan
- Complete necessary evaluations reflecting on each tutoring session
- Assist youth in connecting to services and programs within Talent Search
- Meet with coordinator and Talent Search staff before and after tutoring session
- Conducting intake interviews with young people seeking services
- Creating and organizing student files
- Providing on-going outreach to clients
- Providing administrative support to the Talent Search staff
Interns
Provide support to our Talent Search staff by taking on the following responsibilities:
Group leaders
Develop and facilitate workshops or small classes related to academic support (for example, book club, writing workshop, debate team, etc.) or college access (for example, college application workshop, financial aid/scholarship seminar, “Freshman Survival Skills” discussions.)
Minimum commitment of 3 hours per week. Volunteers opportunities are available Monday-Friday, 10AM-7:30PM.
Would you like to volunteer with Talent Search?
Contact Christian Cabrera, Academic Support Services Coordinator, 212-941-9090 ext. 3285 or ccabrera@door.org in order to set up an interview.
MEMBER SERVICES
The Member Services Department welcomes and orients new members and is responsible for providing a brief interview and risk assessment to all new members. Appropriate referrals are made by Membership intake counselors to The Door’s Health, Counseling, Legal, Education, and Career Departments based on young persons’ needs and interests.
JOIN THE MEMBER SERVICES TEAM!
Volunteer Intake Counselor and Winter Intersession Volunteer Intake Counselor
These intensive internships are suited for students who are interested in exploring direct practice social service work or who wish to use the modality of direct practice work to learn more about social problems, youth development models and/or specific youth populations. These positions will enable the students to begin to hone interview and assessment skills and effective ways to engage underserved populations of young people. Additionally, students who are interested in medicine, education, community organizing, social service programming, and social welfare policy will have a unique opportunity to work in a multi service social service agency that serves young people with overlapping needs.
- Supervisor: Supervisor of Member Services and Membership Assistant
- Responsibilities:
- Conduct 1:1 intake interviews/psychosocial assessments with young people seeking membership and services at The Door
- Inform members of available services at The Door
- Make appropriate referrals based on new members’ interests and needs
- Identify at-risk youth and high risk behavior disclosed in intake interviews
- Complete intake summaries and membership documentation pertaining to new members
- Escort and direct members to services
- Assist in photocopying and other administrative tasks
- Qualifications:
- Interest in working with urban youth, and sensitivity to the interests and needs of the diverse young people who comprise The Door’s membership population
- Record of dependability from at least one professional or academic reference
- Basic computer skills
- Prior work or volunteer experience with adolescents preferred
- Bilingual a plus (Chinese or Spanish preferred)
- Hours and Commitment: Volunteer Intake Counselor
- Contract from a minimum of 8 hours per week for a minimum of 3 months
- Minimum of 2 afternoon shifts per week Monday-Friday. Volunteers/Interns needed between the hours of 2-6:30PM, with the exception of Wednesdays when interns are needed until 8PM.
- Interns are not required to work from December 24-31st and January 1, 2009
- Hours and Commitment: Winter Intersession Volunteer Intake Counselor
- Contract for a minimum of 12-15 hours per week from mid-December through January
- Start/end dates are somewhat flexible if agreed upon in advance
- Minimum of 3 afternoon shifts per week Monday-Friday. Volunteers/Interns needed between the hours of 2-6:30PM, with the exception of Wednesdays when interns are needed until 8PM.
- Interns are not required to work from December 24-31st and January 1, 2009
Would you like to volunteer with Member Services?
Email resume and cover letter to Bailey Huguley, Supervisor of Member Services, bhuguley@door.org. Do not call or send resumes via mail. Qualified candidates will be invited for an interview.
