BNO is Hiring!

BNO is hiring two AmeriCorps VISTA Tenant Organizers for the 2023-24 Service Year!

VISTA Project Overview

The Bryant Neighborhood Organization (BNO) has more than a thirty-year history of directly serving the Bryant neighborhood and other areas in South Minneapolis. Its primary mission aims to contribute toward community development through an anti-racist lens. The organization approaches its work collaboratively with residents, businesses, elected leaders, and other community-based organizations. 

In connection with this opportunity, BNO is partnering with the Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization (CANDO), Bancroft Neighborhood Association (BNA), and the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association (PPNA). Each of these organizations are committed to supporting the vibrancy and diversity within each of their communities, while advocating for resources and systems change absent structural racism. 

Each of the Vista Tenant Organizers that partner with BNO and its partners will contribute to initiatives that support holistic community well-being. Additionally, each organizer will have a variety of opportunities to engage with a broad spectrum of community members that reflect the diverse make-up of communities in South Minneapolis. This work will contribute immensely to building capacity within each of the four-neighborhood organizations as it relates to their community outreach, organizing, and follow-up capabilities.

In service of supporting organizational capacity among the previously mentioned neighborhood organizations, each VISTA will help to outline and establish a suite of procedures that can aid each organization’s organizing efforts in consideration of near- and long-term capacity. These procedures will be informed by organization staff, along with secondary and primary research. Additionally, each VISTA will help with select outreach and follow-up activities that primarily center tenants within their respective assigned neighborhoods. This aspect of their work will generally support the organization’s efforts to cultivate an anti-racist community by connecting and (or) involving folks in various community-based initiatives that offer alternative approaches to fostering community well-being. These approaches should be different from the prevailing systems and structures marred by the nature of racism, as reflected through imbalances in power, access, and privilege based on race and culture. 

AmeriCorps Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be at least 18 years old.

  • Must have a high school diploma or GED. Some college may be helpful but is not required.

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National or have status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.

  • AmeriCorps members must not engage in prohibited activities during their service year. Please review information on prohibited activities at:https://www.mcnvista.org/vista-policies 

Finalists are required to provide two professional references and complete the online AmeriCorps application, as well as an FBI criminal background check. A criminal record does NOT necessarily disqualify you from a VISTA position.

Required Qualifications

  • Ability to compile and analyze input from people, reports, articles, etc.

  • Ability to follow a work plan while monitoring and summarizing progress.

  • Comfortable meeting, connecting, and partnering with folks from a variety of backgrounds.

  • Experience advancing work autonomously and with others inside and external to an organization.

  • At least one year experience supporting some form of grassroots organizing and (or) local campaign.

  • At least three years’ experience using Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and other software professionally.

  • Dedication to participating in a year of national service

  • Commitment to systems change and power-building with renters

Preferred Qualifications

  • Grassroots organizing experience

  • Openness to engaging in door-to-door outreach

  • Enthusiasm for developing personal and professional leadership qualities in self and tenant leaders

  • Bilingual language skills in Spanish, Somali, and/or Hmong

Additional Information

  • Service year runs from 8/28/2023—8/27/2024

  • Weekly Schedule: Monday – Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm, with flexibility allowed to complete project goals. Occasional evenings and weekends and travel into the Minneapolis area will be required.

  • Hybrid position: some work can be performed remotely; some work must be performed in-person in

  • Access to reliable transportation required.

  • VISTA Members serve in a full-time capacity of 40 hours per week during their year-long term of service.

  • Per AmeriCorps, VISTA Members may NOT be in school full-time or have another full-time position.

Benefits of Service

  • Modest Living Allowance ($877.66 pre-tax, biweekly)

  • $1000 monthly housing stipend (paid directly to landlord or mortgage provider)

  • Education award of $6,495 annually for each year of service, or an alternative cash stipend of $1,800 upon completion of service year

  • VISTA Healthcare allowance of $7,900

  • For VISTAs relocating more than 50 miles: $750 settling-in allowance in addition to mileage reimbursement

  • Child care assistance

  • Mileage reimbursement

  • Those receiving public assistance (such as Social Security, SNAP/EBT, or housing subsidy) will not have eligibility or level of assistance affected. The stipend is excluded income in HUD subsidized rental housing.

  • Federal student loan forbearance or credit toward the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program during the service year

  • 10 vacation/personal days and 10 sick days plus holidays

  • Professional development budget and ongoing support and training

  • Training in tenant/landlord laws, subsidized housing rules, and community organizing strategies

  • Training from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs’ Neighborhoods Now! community organizing program

  • VISTAs are allowed to have a part-time job or take part-time courses with supervisor approval

This program is available to all, without regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, public assistance status, marital or parental status, and physical appearance. Reasonable accommodations provided upon request for interviews and service activities.

TO APPLY: Please send a cover letter and resume to Mickella at mickella@welovebryant.org. This position is open until filled.