JOB READINESS
Mission: BRC recognizes that the effort to end homelessness requires more than passion and experience, but also a sense of organizational responsibility and the strength to manage professionally. BRC is a place of opportunity for the people we serve, sustained and strengthened by their efforts and achievements. We see the potential in each person we meet and welcome them with an individualized plan that leads to personal results. We support our clients with an array of services and programs including street and transit outreach for the unsheltered homeless, substance abuse recovery, reentry from incarceration, health and mental health support, temporary housing and shelter, employment training, permanent housing, and senior support.
Website: http://www.brc.org/volunteer-information
Volunteer registration form: http://www.brc.org/volunteer-registration
Email: Rakin@BRC.org
Phone: Rick Akin 212-803-5720
What volunteers do:
help staff outreach team inform homeless individuals about services and connect them to services (weekly commitment for three months)
assist in food service at residential programs and drop-in centers (food prep and service, cleanup)
administrative assistance (take inventory, file, copy, shred documents, internet research, front-desk reception, data entry); commitment flexible
teach Tai Chi, light yoga, low-impact aerobics to clients
teach ballroom dance
photography/videography
create educational videos for vocational training
create marketing videos
lead creative writing/poetry workshop
English conversation partner with 1-3 seniors, using newspapers and magazines to practice speaking aloud and conversation
assist clients with computers for general use or for job hunting/resume writing
address vocational clients on job-related topics (changing careers in mid-life, challenges in keeping a job, what employers look for, how to resolve work conflicts, how to deal with a difficult boss)
FYI:
registration form and volunteer orientation required
outreach volunteers are Manhattan based and work either 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m to 9:30 p.m. in teams of three to five
for ballroom dance instructors, Mandarin, Cantonese or Fujan very helpful
computer assistants must understand desktop manipulation, creating and saving documents, cutting and pasting, the Internet and basic Microsoft Office products such as Word and Excel
Mission: BCS works in neighborhoods impacted by systemic poverty. We strengthen communities by fostering the educational success of children, the leadership development of youth, the employment and housing stability of adults, the advancement of individuals living with disabilities, and the empowerment of seniors and families.
Website: https://wearebcs.org/take-action/volunteer/
Volunteer form: https://a107257.socialsolutionsportal.com/apricot-intake/5fe86615-be67-49eb-91e4-e527f28931fa
Email: info@wearebcs.org
Phone: 718-310-5600
What volunteers do:
mentor and tutor youth
maintain community garden
staff events and workshops
provide resume help and financial literacy support
support the operation of mobile shower buses by distributing soap, shampoo, towels (warmer months) and PPE (year-round)
clean the shower bus between clients
Borough: Brooklyn
Mission: The Business Center for New Americans (BCNA) creates a pathway to self-sufficiency for immigrants, refugees, women, and others by providing small business loans, microloans, specialized training, technical assistance and personalized coaching. BCNA is fulfilling the American Dream of inclusion by building wealth through business development & expansion, savings and homeownership for low to moderate income immigrant and female entrepreneurs.
Website: http://www.nybcna.org/bcna/about/Volunteer/
Email: lostrovsky@nybcna.org
Phone: Leonid Ostrovsky at 212-898-4130
What volunteers do:
business professionals mentor business clients and conduct workshops
undergraduate and graduate students conduct research, analyze data reports, and assist with marketing and publicity
Mission: We promote the economic independence of low-income men by providing financial literacy training, a network of support, professional attire, career development tools, job-readiness and essential life-skills training that help men enter the workforce, stay employed and become role models and mentors to their families and communities.
Website: https://careergear.org/get-involved/donate-time/
Email: for mentoring, info@careergear.org; for all other volunteering: jourdan@careergear.org
Phone: N/A
What volunteers do:
mentor program participants
hold suit drives
plan fundraisers
lead professional-development workshops on topics like career advancement, health awareness, fatherhood skills
sort inventory
help clients select suits
FYI:
mentoring commitment is 6 months, one hour every other week
Mission: The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) is dedicated to providing immediate, effective and comprehensive employment services to men and women with recent criminal convictions. Our highly structured and tightly supervised programs help participants regain the skills and confidence needed for successful transitions to stable, productive lives.CEO’s vision is that anyone with a recent criminal history who wants to work has the preparation and support needed to find a job and to stay connected to the labor force. CEO’s Theory of Change posits that if the employment needs of persons with criminal convictions are addressed at their most vulnerable point—when they are first released from incarceration or soon after conviction—by providing life skills education, short-term paid transitional employment, full-time job placement and post-placement services, they will be less likely to become reincarcerated and more likely to build a foundation for a stable, productive life for themselves and their families.
Website: https://ceoworks.org/
Phone: 212-422-4430
Email: Info@ceoworks.org
What volunteers do:
help with resume prep (must be comfortable with Microsoft Word)
conduct mock interviews with young adults (sample questions and feedback guidance provided)
Mission: We foster the Queens tech ecosystem to increase economic opportunity and transform the world’s most diverse community into a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. Access Code is a 10-month software development program that trains talented adults from underserved populations to become industry ready programmers and helps get them tech jobs at leading companies.
Website: http://www.c4q.nyc/volunteer
Volunteer form for Access Code: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwfh1tcMlNiLVFPVAGIGtQ4yDj71J1k4i1Mq95QAj6MPSe7g/viewform
Email: hello@c4q.nyc
Phone: n/a
What volunteers do:
interview applicants for the next Access Code cohort
work one-on-one with Access Coders in class and/or office hours
teach a guest lecture or workshop
mentor to help Access Coders navigate the tech ecosystem
build curricula and help design the content of the iOS, Android, or Full Stack Web courses
serve on monthly committees (tech & design; marketing, social media & communications; tech events; education; or partnerships & fundraising)
Borough: Queens
Mission: Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. We primarily cater to clients who are employment ready and have an employment interview scheduled prior to suiting. The New York Program serves clients referred to us by our 200+ partner agencies, an expanding and diverse group of non-profits including homeless shelters, immigration services, job training programs, educational institutions and domestic violence shelters.
Website: https://newyork.dressforsuccess.org/get-involved/volunteer/
Phone: 212-532-1922
Email: Beverly Brown volunteer@dressforsuccess.org
What volunteers do:
sort inventory
assist clients in boutique
makeup artist
conduct mock interviews
mentor
motivational speaker
administrative support
grant writing
marketing, PR
legal help
organize special events
Borough: Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx.
Mission: Founded in 1967, The Fortune Society’s vision is to foster a world where all who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated will thrive as positive, contributing members of society. We do this through a holistic, one-stop model of service provision. Our continuum of care, informed and implemented by professionals with cultural backgrounds and life experiences similar to those of our clients, helps ensure their success. Fortune serves approximately 6,000 individuals annually.
Website: http://fortunesociety.org/
Volunteer signup: http://tinyurl.com/hhg5mnj
Phone: 212-691-7554
Email: n/a
What volunteers do:
conduct mock interviews
tutor
assist with resumes and online job applications
FYI:
generally 9-5 on weekdays in Long Island City
professionals in culinary arts, solar energy, construction, and community organizing particularly helpful for participants in transitional work program
Borough: Queens (also has Manhattan locations)
Mission: Grace Institute is one of only three workforce development programs in NYC focused solely on women, and is unique in its commitment to identifying and training for middle skill jobs.The Grace high touch approach combines the following: five months of computer and professional training; workshops with corporations and executives; a community of collaboration and confidence; one year of job placement services; one year of job retention support; lifetime access to post graduate workshops and community. All services are free of charge.
Website: http://graceinstitute.org/volunteer/
Phone: 212-832-7605
Email: Morgan Blackburn at mblackburn@graceinstitute.org
What volunteers do:
conduct mock interviews
host participants at your workplace
serve as guest speaker at Food for Thought luncheon
Mission: In our classrooms we create a learning environment to teach the skills needed in the modern workforce. We use the evidence-based practice of Motivational Interviewing, proven in clinical and criminal justice settings to drive positive behavior change through exploring ambivalence, goal-setting, and empowering students and graduates to transform their own lives. We cultivate an environment of respect in all aspects of our work and have an evidence-based and employer-driven approach to training, job placement and career advancement, to respond to the changing needs of our students, graduates and community. We set the same high expectations as our graduates' future workplaces, ensuring they have the skills and experience to succeed.
Website: http://www.thehopeprogram.org/takeaction
Phone: 718-852-9307
Email: n/a
What volunteers do:
assist with job search and readiness
Borough: Brooklyn
Mission: The Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center is a non-profit, multi-service organization focusing primarily on the needs of children and low-income families, out-of-school and out-of-work youth, and aging New Yorkers including the isolated and homebound elderly. Throughout our 50-year history, we have sought to develop programs of quality and distinction in response to the evolving needs of the community we serve.
Website: http://www.isaacscenter.org/lend-a-hand
Email: info@isaacscenter.org
Phone: 212-360-7620
What volunteers do:
start a game club for seniors
serve lunch or deliver meals on wheels to seniors
lead class in health and fitness for seniors
teach seniors technology
teach enrichment activities (visual and creative arts, drama, dance and music) at youth center
lead health and nutrition workshops for youth
help with homework
tutor
sponsor a book drive
mentor in workforce program
lead life skills workshop in workforce program
develop outdoor garden
plan and host holiday celebrations
serve Sunday suppers
Borough: Manhattan
Mission: For every 100 low-income students, fewer than eight will graduate college and secure jobs. This is a crisis, and it is leading to unrealized potential for an entire generation of talented, motivated young people. Our work to address this crisis is rooted in these core beliefs about the career readiness gap. Strong education-to-career connection leads to better student engagement, lower drop-out rates and higher college persistence rates. College and career readiness can no longer operate in separate, parallel dimensions. Career development cannot be an implied goal of—or tacked onto—college access and success programs. Career development must be an explicit goal and interventions must be early, consistent and sustained. Workplace learning opportunities during high school and college lead to stronger academic performance and full-time jobs upon college graduation.
Website: https://opportunitynetwork.org/support-us/volunteer-engagement/
Volunteer sign-up form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcdTwCvrWI3u6Zc5qaZ3wun2UVsu2VY6LdGyjqVeLwsAUgXA/viewform?formkey=dEgwR2d5VndoSFlWR2t4ZEVGb09TVVE6MQ#gid=0)
Email: https://opportunitynetwork.org/contact/
Phone: 646-237-4090
What volunteers do:
participate in speed networking events wherestudents practice their personal elevator pitches, exchange business cards and network
help edit student resumes for summer internships and post-collegiate job searches
conduct simulated job interviews
participate in writing workshops
sit on industry-specific career panels on workday evenings
FYI:
speed networking events last 90 minutes, typically 6:00-7:30 on a weeknight, or 60 minutes for high-school freshmen, 6:00-7:00 on a weeknight
over the course of the year, career panels typically include: arts; business, finance, and professional services; social change; communications, marketing and outreach; health professions; international careers; legal careers; public service; and writing and media
Mission: Osborne has an 85-year history working with currently and formerly incarcerated men, women, and children and families affected by incarceration. The Osborne Association offers opportunities for individuals who have been in conflict with the law to transform their lives through innovative, effective, and replicable programs that serve the community by reducing crime and its human and economic costs. We offer opportunities for reform and rehabilitation through public education, advocacy, and alternatives to incarceration that respect the dignity of people and honor their capacity to change. Osborne offers a wide range of direct services to justice system-involved people and their children and families.
Website: http://www.osborneny.org/about/volunteer/
Volunteer signup form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJ48yVGX4yzPjCt24aCWGI8luM0wlY7WotO8hO5FClIpzoPQ/viewform
Email: mpowell@osborneny.org
Phone: 718-707-2600
What volunteers do:
children's education and field trips
young adult education and college prep
adult education
socialize with older adults/seniors
job readiness and career prep
health education and outreach
advocacy
event planning
fundraising
FAQ:
application and reference required
in-person or online volunteer orientation required
commitment can be one-time, full day, full weekend, weekly, or monthly
Desired skills include:
arts/crafts
cooking/culinary arts
computers/technology/social media
construction/carpentry
education/tutoring/teaching
finance/fundraising
performing arts/theater
photography/video/film
writing
Borough: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan (and in correctional facilities)
Mission: STRIVE was founded through a collaboration between Sam Hartwell and Tom Rodman, two Manhattan-based bankers who were troubled by the chronic unemployment problem facing the residents of East Harlem and other American inner-cities in the 1980s, and Rob Carmona, an East Harlem native who had overcome multiple incarcerations and substance abuse to earn a Master of Social Work from Columbia University. STRIVE’s innovative model, which ran counter to much of the conventional wisdom in employment and training at the time, combined a short, intense period of training in attitude, self-presentation and job search techniques with rapid placement and long-term follow-up.More than two decades later, the STRIVE model has moved to over 20 cities nationwide and overseas, administered by a wide network of community-based organizations who have helped nearly 50,000 individuals across America enter the workforce. Though still headquartered in East Harlem, STRIVE today is an international leader in helping individuals with significant barriers to employment receive the training and support they need to obtain meaningful work and achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Website: http://striveinternational.org/volunteer/
Phone: 212-360-1100
Email: info@striveinternational.org
What volunteers do:
mentor participants in the employment, fatherhood, or youth programs one-on-one to help them develop life skills and perspective
professionals in all fields invited to run or participate in workshops on mock interviews, resume preparation, career mapping, professional communications, social media, civic responsibility, and financial literacy
Borough: Manhattan
Mission: Nearly 130 years ago, University Settlement launched an innovative movement that changed New York City and the country. With University Settlement leading, settlement houses established the idea that immigrants and low-income families deserve basic services like quality education, decent housing, access to open space for exercise and health, and support for the aging. They proved that with a little help, these families could get a foothold on the American dream. Providing social services that give families a helping hand has become part of our national fabric. University Settlement has continued to set the standard and invent best practices for others to follow in America. University Settlement has remained true to its first principle: to strengthen a community, you must strengthen families. And to strengthen a family, you must provide a range of services and support. Not just childcare. Not just after-school programs. Not just education for adults or meals for seniors.
Website: http://www.universitysettlement.org/us/support/volunteer/
Phone: 212-453-0257
Email: info@universitysettlement.org
What volunteers do:
tutor
mentor
lead workshops on college and/or job readiness
work with pre-schoolers
tutor after-school
teach a specialized workshop
help at special events
advocate on housing issues
Borough: Manhattan
Mission: Immigrants want to rebuild their careers. Employers are looking for experienced global talent. Upwardly Global brings them together. Today there are more than 1.8 million immigrants in the U.S. who are college-educated but are unemployed or significantly underemployed. In their home countries they were engineers, doctors, scientists, accountants, and nonprofit professionals. In the U.S. they become cashiers, nannies, and cab drivers, if employed at all. To solve this problem Upwardly Global creates employer partnerships that benefit from access to this talent pool. We also provide customized training and support for these new Americans to give them an equal opportunity to find and secure skill appropriate opportunities and achieve their full economic potential in the U.S. We aim to eliminate employment barriers for skilled immigrants and refugees and integrate this population into the professional U.S. workforce. We envision a United States where skilled immigrants are seamlessly integrated into the professional workforce and the fabric of American life, and are recognized for the value they add to both.
Website: https://www.upwardlyglobal.org/professional-volunteer-opportunities
Volunteer form: https://www.upwardlyglobal.org/professional-volunteer-opportunities/volunteer-opportunities/volunteer-chicago-nyc-sf
Email: volunteers_ny@upwardlyglobal.org or Alecia McMahon aleciam@upwardlyglobal.org
Phone: 212-219-8828
What volunteers do:
mentor job seekers one-on-one to help them prepare for the job market (practice interview skills, clarify professional objectives and focus, gain confidence in presentation and networking, edit cover letters and business communications, introduce mentees to industry contacts); commitment of monthly meetings with additional phone and email contact
mock interviewers take part in 3-hour workshop; after brief training, conduct practice interviews for two job seekers
take part in 2-hour workshop that simulates a typical networking environment
share industry/profession-specific expertise and experience
resume reviewers review 1-2 client resumes per month and provide industry-specific feedback
Industry experts provide resources for staff
lead or coordinate networking roundtable in your industry
conduct interviews, over the phone or in-person, and help job seekers understand the intricacies of pursuing a career within a given industry sector or company in the U.S.
set up small events for potential supporters to hear about Upwardly Global’s work and meet job seekers and alumni
plan special events
FYI:
3 years of professional experience required
excellent English communications and writing skills required
templates, specific strategies, cultural tips and a structured but fun approach provided
Upwardly Global staff and experienced volunteers available to provide assistance
mentors receive 45-minute orientation session
mock interview sessions take place monthly on a Saturday morning or weekday night
Borough: Manhattan
Mission: Year Up envisions a future in which every urban young adult will have access to the education, experiences, and guidance required to realize his or her true potential. Our mission is to close the Opportunity Divide by providing urban young adults with the skills, experience, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education. We achieve this mission through a high support, high expectation model that combines marketable job skills, stipends, internships and college credits. Our program combines hands-on skills development, courses eligible for college credit, and corporate internships to prepare students for success in professional careers and higher education. Our holistic approach focuses on students’ professional and personal development to place these young adults on a viable path to economic self-sufficiency.
Website: http://www.yearup.org/get-involved/ways-to-help/?location=new-york/
Email: n/a
Phone: 855-932-7871
What volunteers do:
mentor (email or call mentee weekly; meet face-to-face monthly for 8 months; help mentee build professional network; review resume and college forms; encourage continuous learning and problem-solving; attend Year Up graduation and recognize your student)
tutor academic subjects
speak to a class about careers
Borough: Manhattan