Apply to the MCA Americorp program!

Multicultural Communities in Action (MCA) is an AmeriCorps program based in St. Paul that serves schools and non-profit community-based organizations in St. Paul and Minneapolis. MCA volunteers are an essential part of CommonBond’s housing with services model, allowing the Advantage Service centers to offer more vital services aimed to empower resident youth.

MCA’s mission is to strengthen multicultural communities and families by empowering a diverse group of members to address community issues in education through service learning, civic participation, and skill development at a variety of neighborhood sites. The program aims to provide educational assistance to community residents at partner sites, develop the leadership capacities of members and connect them to the community through service learning, and increase the community’s connections and capacity to collaborate. Members serve in after school programs and St Paul public schools providing youth aged pre-k through twelfth grade with educational support through service activities such as one-on-one in class assistance, homework help, literacy programs, and enrichment activities.

Positions are full time and begin in September and end in August. Full time positions complete 1,700 hours of service. Members must be at least 17 years old, have a high school diploma or GED (or working toward a GED), and be a US citizen, a national, or lawful permanent resident.

Service placements sites are at CommonBond Communities Advantage Centers, Neighborhood House, and Jane Addams School for Democracy, Museum Magnate, Four Seasons, and Riverview elementary schools, Humboldt High School, and Guadalupe Alternative Program (GAP).

Statement of Need

The compelling needs to be addressed by MCA in our community include the following issues:

• Low school achievement due to large class sizes, low parent involvement, and other un-addressed barriers.
• Negative behaviors and gang involvement as a response to social disparities, cultural obstacles, and lack of positive programming.
• Barriers, such as lack of English fluency, lack of resource knowledge, and isolation, that keep adults from becoming fully involved in issues of interest and/or concern to them, their families, and their communities.

What is AmeriCorps?

AmeriCorps is a way for people to respond to needs in their community while learning new work skills and earning money for education. In exchange for one year of service, members receive valuable trainings, a living allowance, and (upon successful completion of service), an education award of $4,725 which can be used for existing or future education expenses. Check out the AmeriCorps website at www.americorps.org.

Apply Now!

You can apply on line or with a paper application. If you want to apply with a paper application, contact Program Director Jolene Anderson at 651-999-7528 or email andersonjo@commonbond.org, and she will mail or email you the application and reference form. If you want to apply online, here is what you need to do:

1. Go to the MyAmeriCorps website at https://my.americorps.gov/mp/login.do
2. If you do not have an account, you will have to create one by clicking on the link that says “Apply to Serve”. Click on "Apply to Serve" at the bottom of page and complete the requested profile information.
3. Once you receive your account information via email, log into the MyAmeriCorps portal site and use the navigation pane on the left to complete your application and reference information.
   When your application is complete, click "Search Listings".
4. Type "Multicultural Communities in Action" into the Program Name field (ignore all the other fields).
5. Click "Search".
6. Click the listing to view program information.
7. Read the program information and then click "Apply Now" at the bottom of the page.
8. We will get an email notifying us you have applied, and we will contact you. If you have not heard from us and you have applied online, please contact us.

Need more information?
For more information about joining MCA or if you have questions, contact Program Director Jolene Anderson at 651-999-7528 or email andersonjo@commonbond.org.

Multicultural Communities in Action seeks to provide equal access to its materials, program, and activities. Please call (651) 999-7526 to request accommodations or materials in an alternate format. CommonBond Communities is an equal opportunity employer.

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AmeriCorps Stories

How AmeriCorps and your donations give kids a great start!
“This is an incredible bargain, and an extremely efficient use of funds,” says Jolene Anderson, the CommonBond staff member who supervises the MCA program. “Our AmeriCorps members do a huge amount of work tirelessly."