Job Summary
Literacy Achieves is seeking a dynamic and experienced Volunteer Coordinator to lead our volunteer recruitment and training efforts as the organization approaches 30 years of service in the Dallas community.
The ideal candidate will use their community engagement and adult learning skills to attract, recruit, and train the volunteers that power Literacy Achieves' Adult ESL classes. Volunteers are vital to Literacy Achieves - which means your position is as well!
We will count on you to lead the organization in recruiting volunteers, matching them to classes, coordinating their training with help from program managers, and providing ongoing support and learning opportunities. The ideal candidate is energized by meeting new people, attending community events, and organizing adult learning experiences. They are confident working with technology and approach their work with a spirit of continuous improvement.
Responsibilities
- Engage with community, colleges, faith partners, businesses, and the Literacy Achieves board of directors to attract and obtain new volunteers to serve adult programs and to have enough volunteers each semester.
- Manage communication with all prospective and current volunteers
- Manage the volunteer experience, from first inquiry, to placement, then stewardship, and beyond
- Manage volunteer scheduling to ensure adequate coverage
- Maintain excellent records of key volunteer data
Qualifications
- Demonstrated commitment to mission and core values of changing lives through literacy
- Positive, enthusiastic personality
- Effective problem-solving skills
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Organized and able to manage priorities effectively
- Demonstrated ability to provide patience and respect within culturally diverse settings
- High standards of performance, quality, credibility, and integrity
- Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint
About Us
Our Mission
To equip non-English speaking adults and their young children with English literacy and life skills to promote self-sufficiency and the overall well-being of our students, their families and the greater community.
Literacy Impacts Everything
Lack of English literacy severely limits access to employment, effective parenting, and preventative healthcare while increasing vulnerability to living in poverty.
Individuals at the lowest literacy and numeracy levels have a higher rate of unemployment and earn lower wages than the national average. Low literacy costs the U.S. at least $225 billion each year in non-productivity in the workforce, crime, and loss of tax revenue due to unemployment.
Of adults with the lowest literacy levels, 43% live in poverty, and 70% of adult welfare recipients have low literacy levels. There is a clear correlation between more education and higher earnings, and between higher educational scores and higher earnings.
Children of parents with low literacy skills have a 72% chance of being at the lowest reading levels themselves. These children are more likely to get poor grades, display behavioral problems, have high absentee rates, repeat school years, or drop out.
Removing Barriers to Learning
At Literacy Achieves, we understand the difficulty many non-native English speakers have in finding the time, transportation, technology, childcare or money they need in order to attend English language classes. Our programs are effective because we remove these barriers by providing:
- Convenient Scheduling Located in Neighborhoods of Highest Need
- Access to Quality Early Childhood Programs
- Classes Free of Charge, yet Accountability Driven
- A Structured Program Approach with Multiple Levels Offered Through Daily Classes
- Online Classes Offered
Effective Use of More Than 200 Weekly Volunteer Teachers – Compassionate and committed volunteer teachers give students much needed support and encouragement, while developing mutual respect and understanding for one another through a common purpose of learning English.
Results
In 2023-2024 Literacy Achieves, served 1,180 adults and 278 children
- 89% increased their confidence in life/community skills and 48 students received GED assistance
- 357 students received student services and 490 one-on-one consultations, and 374 referrals were made
- 96 students gained employment
- 165 improved by one level or more
- 70% attended 12 or more hours of class
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