Phoenix, Arizona

One of best parts of serving in Phoenix is the weather; it is hardly ever a disappointment! No one can complain about sunny, warm weather in the middle of January. There is so much to do and see around the valley and plenty of new experiences to be had. Some of the great things NDA members have enjoyed are: the culture, the fantastic Mexican food, the many mountains just waiting to be hiked, Latin dance, sports activities and sports leagues, lots of fun people, and swimming!

Site Director: Carmen Silva, SND
Phone: 602-243-1164
E-mail: phoenix@ndmva.org

Members from Phoenix created this video about their work to share at the 2009 NDMVA Midyear Conference.

Roosevelt School District

Notre Dame - AmeriCorps members serve with various K-8 schools throughout the Roosevelt School District in south Phoenix. Participating schools currently include Valley View, I.G. Conchos, and V.H. Lassen. Members may also serve in other grant-funded programs, such as community planting and education at the Orchard.

NDA members lead students in a variety of capacities, such as working in school gardens, taking care of Valley View animals, and teaching classes on outdoor education and healthy living. Other potential duties include working at the Orchard, one-on-one and small group instruction, assisting teachers in classrooms, and working with students in extracurricular activities/programs that interest the members.

For more information on RSD, visit: www.rsd.k12.az.us

Conchos Elementary School

Conchos Elementary School is in the Roosevelt School District in Phoenix, AZ and serves students K-8. Despite having many needs, the school is on the rise. In the past year, the school attained “Performing” status and has created more options for its students. Conchos Elementary School is served by an NDA volunteer who serves as a teacher’s assistant, paraprofessional, computer lab aid, and after school club leader.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international non-profit dedicated to serving the homeless and working poor as well as providing others with the opportunity to serve. SVDP offers services such as free Dinning Rooms for the hungry, shelter for homeless and disabled, job assistance for unemployed and healthcare to struggling families. St. Vincent’s also offers a place where people can make a difference. Thousands of volunteers each year work to improve communities and reach out to those who are struggling.

Opportunity Program Coordinator: The Opportunity Program is a SVDP program that focuses on assisting homeless individuals and struggling families reenter the work force through on site job training and work experience. The NDA member works directly with the clients and, with the help of volunteers, offers mentoring, job search and resume writing assistance, mock interviews and computer skills development.

Volunteer Coordinator: Assists in the Volunteer Services Department recruiting and coordinating volunteers. Some of the areas of responsibility include: orientation of and placing volunteers, works with other staff members, tracking, scheduling and maintaining records and calendar of events, welcoming volunteers and guests, coordinating groups of volunteers with special projects. The volunteer needs to be extremely versatile and able to multi-task many activities and be out-going.

For more information, visit www.stvincentdepaul.net

Southwest Key Program

The Southwest Key Program is a shelter for unaccompanied immigrant minors, whose mission is to open doors to opportunity so that young people can achieve their dreams. The program’s main concern is reunifying immigrant minors with their families in the United States. The program provides medical, dental, counseling, case worker and educational assistance to all minors entering the program.

The NDA member(s) will be a teacher’s assistant and will provide assistance in the classroom in the educational department. The member will work in collaboration with a co-teacher to educate minors with the SEI (Structured English Immersion) program. Spanish is a requirement for this position.

For more information, visit: www.swkey.org