Opportunities to Volunteer in Harlem - February 2021
Columbia Community Service (CCS) is an initiative supported by Columbia, Barnard College, and Teachers College that engages the University's communities to strengthen organizations that are serving the needs of individuals and families living in Harlem and Morningside Heights. Recently, CCS raised more than $250,000, which will be awarded to local organizations like the ones seeking volunteer support below. Fundraising through the CCS 74th Annual Appeal is ongoing.
CCS grantees have seen the demand for their services increase as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and many have an urgent need for volunteers to help meet that demand. Current volunteer opportunities in Harlem can be found below.
Volunteer Opportunities
Arts & Minds provides art programming for people with dementia and their care partners. Learn more at www.artsandminds.org. This is an excellent position for anyone interested in community organizing, public health, social work, medicine, arts in health and anyone interested in making the world a better place.
Role: Promoting the work of Arts & Minds
Responsibilities: Arts & Minds has recently increased the number of programs being offered. They are reaching out to expand their Harlem audience and need help researching Senior Centers, Churches and other houses of worship, and Housing development contacts across Harlem. The volunteer will promote the work of Arts & Minds to community leaders and potential participants. This work can be done remotely at least initially, and later, when it is safe, in person. Tasks may involve crafting effective emails, placing announcements in community outlets, developing social media networks, telephone outreach, etc. Creative ideas are welcome!
Days and Times: Flexible schedule
Special skills or requirements: The successful candidate should have a warm, friendly demeanor that comes across in person and via telephone and email. Excellent general communication skills and a passion for the well-being of older adults are required.
Contact: Email Carolyn Halpin-Healy or call 646-873-0712
The mission of the Bloomingdale School of Music is to provide open and continuous access to high-quality music education, regardless of economic status, ability level, ethnicity, or religious affiliation.
Role: Communications and Outreach for Bloomingdale School of Music Fall Semester
Responsibilities: Provide support with promoting a remote Fall semester (classes and lessons) to current and new audiences. Tasks will include press release writing, contacting media outlets and local businesses; research and outreach to potential partner organizations and audiences (i.e. local assisted living facilities, senior centers, youth organizations, etc.); distribution of flyers in the community. Additional tasks may include production of short videos on Fall activities, as needed.
Days and Times: Open days and hours during the first three weeks of September
Special skills or requirements: Good written and oral communication skills
Contact: Email Senami Atinkpahoun, Marketing and Communications Manager
Role: Translation of Bloomingdale School of Music Enrollment Materials
Responsibilities: Translation in Spanish and possibly Chinese of BSM Fall Enrollment materials, including course descriptions and enrollment forms.
Days and Times: Open schedule; work is needed ASAP.
Special skills or requirements: Facility with conversational translations
Contact: Email Lohengrin Velasquez, Director of Student Services
Role: On-site instrument cataloguing and storage clean-up for Bloomingdale School of Music
Responsibilities: Work with Events Manager to complete instrument cataloging of Violin and Guitar closets; rearrange the 3rd and 4th floor closets to free up space for increased cleaning/sanitation for reopening later in the calendar year.
Days and Times: To be coordinated with Events Manager; work will take place in mid-Fall.
Special skills or requirements: Good organizational skills.
Contact: Email Ling Lopez, Events Manager
Broadway Community gathers around an open table, believing that the feast of justice, dignity, health and wholeness is for all people, especially in Morningside Heights.
Role: Volunteer for Preparing the To-Go Soup Kitchen Meal
Responsibilities: Five (5) to Ten (10) volunteers are needed to help with basic culinary tasks and packing the to-go lunches that will be handed out, as well as clean up afterwards.
Days and Times: Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays from 10:00am until 2:00pm
Special skills or requirements: No special skills but volunteers must wear closed-toed shoes. Face masks are required.
Contact: Email Timothy Wotring, Volunteer Coordinator
Harlem Stage celebrates and perpetuates the unique and diverse artistic legacy of Harlem and the indelible impression it has made on American performing arts. They provide opportunity and support for artists of color, and make performances easily accessible to all audiences. They introduce children to the rich diversity, excitement and inspiration of the performing arts.
Role: Programming Volunteer
Responsibilities: The Programming Volunteer is responsible for assisting the Director of Programming in all areas of programmatic activity at Harlem Stage. Conduct programmatic research for humanities events and community engagement initiatives;
serve as programmatic administrative support; create, receive and process materials and information for internal and external presentations; maintain programming files, department calendars, logs, and contact sheets; provide logistical support for performances and audience engagement activities; (e.g. artist’s talks, humanities events, pre/post discussions); assist with activities as needed and devised according to schedule and goals.
The Volunteer will also assist with correspondence and serve as administrative coordinator to schools and artists; maintain reservation log for The Frances Davis/Harlem Stage Arts Education Program; provide logistical support for Education Programs in-school and in the Gatehouse.
Days and Times: To be determined.
Special skills or requirements: Bachelor’s Degree desired and knowledge of the nonprofit performing arts sector; strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office and Database Management; excellent customer service, time management, research, organizational, and creative problem solving skills; interest in arts administration and events management; self-starter with the ability to work creatively and independently; have a passion for the performing arts and work created by artists of color; ability to work in a fast paced environment; solution oriented, imaginative and progressive.
Contact: Please send a cover letter and resume to Monique Martin, Director of Programming. No phone calls please.
LiLY is helping to change the tide for frail elders, many living alone, who often face dire challenges when families aren’t available.
Role: Virtual Friendly Visitor
Responsibilities: Help is needed to call home-bound seniors.
Days and Times: Flexible schedule
Special skills or requirements: Technology skills are helpful as many seniors are struggling to use a smartphone, Zoom, Face Time, etc. Seniors can benefit from technical support over the phone. Spanish speaking is also helpful as some seniors are monolingual.
Contact: Email Paula Seefeldt, Program Director or call 646-734-0182
NYC Kidsfest is a performing arts festival that is free to the public. Its mission is to enhance the lives of Morningside Heights and Harlem school children by exposing them to an eclectic line up of performing artists from The Studio Museum and Classical Theater of Harlem, among others.
Role: Producer’s Assistant
Responsibilities: The volunteer will have a variety of diverse tasks which will include:
- Research sponsors and funder
- Manage Social Media
- Liaise with local community boards and schools
- Extend virtual community
- Event Production
Days and Times: Days and hours are flexible. Director will coordinate with volunteer via zoom.
Special skills or requirements: Volunteers should enjoy working with people and have good communication and writing skills.
Contact: Email Jessica Chornesky
Purple Circle is an early childhood program that provides a quality educational experience within a nurturing environment that links families and educators in a community of natural learning and care.
Role: Grant Writer
Responsibilities: Volunteer needed as soon as possible to prepare grant proposals and support director in letter of inquiry.
Days and Times: Flexible schedule
Special skills or requirements: Experience with writing grant applications and proposals for not-for profits.
Contact: Email Elaine Karas, Executive Director or Laurie Kalinowski, Business Manager
Role: Language Lab Volunteer
Responsibilities: Language Lab Volunteers are conversation partners for the ESL students. They help facilitate conversations with English Language learners in small, informal groups. This helps students gain confidence and fluency as they learn English. The conversation topics are about every day topics.
Days and Times: Labs take place Monday through Friday for one and half hours.
Special skills or requirements: No special skills are needed. However, all volunteers must attend an orientation session.
Contact: Email Lynda Metmer
SoHarlem's mission is to support racial equity and the economic development of the Harlem community. They do this by creating economic opportunities through the Designer’s Studio, which supports community designers by providing workspace and services.
Role: Cost Efficiency Expert
Responsibilities: The individual is needed to design systems, train people how to use them, and provide the necessary analysis and solutions. Analyze SoHarlem's operating systems such as payroll, time keeping, funder and donor data base. Design better accountability systems that are easy to use, and provide the applicable data.
Days and Times: Hours vary between 7-14 per week, depending on the availability of the volunteer. Flexible schedule.
Special skills or requirements: An aptitude for training others on technology; ability to interpret how information and work is captured; and, an ability to design or recommend software or app to enter, maintain and report on data.
Contact: Email Janet Rodriguez
The mission of SNACK* (Special Needs Activity Center for Kids and *Adults) is to fill a void for those affected with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and similar disabilities, ages 3-21, by providing unique after- school and weekend programs designed and staffed to address their needs.
Role: Marketing Volunteer
Responsibilities:
- Develop survey questions by creating specific/strategic answer choices for effective analysis; compile and analyze responses; create overview of results; offer recommendations from survey feedback
- Blogs: Write blogs (guidance provided); post on website and social media platforms
- Virtual Classes: Create marketing ads to promote virtual classes that can be shared when doing outreach to schools, families and supporters.
Days and Times: Flexible schedule based upon availability
Special skills and requirements: Marketing experience a plus
Contact: Email Gray Delmar, Program Director or call 212-439-9996
Role: Virtual Peer Mentor for Young Adults with Special Needs
Responsibilities: Young adults are needed to help facilitate social interactions and build friendships with our population of teens and adults with developmental delays. Must participate as a positive peer role model in virtual art, music, yoga, dance, and exercise classes.
Days and Times: Classes are currently held each hour on weekdays from 10:00 am-3:00 pm, and run for approximately 45 minutes each. Applicants must be available to participate in at least 2 classes per week.
Special skills or requirements: Basic knowledge of Zoom video conferencing and access to a computer, phone, or tablet is required.
Contact: Email Gray Delmar, Program Director or call 212-439-9996
The Reading Team helps young children at high risk of reading failure to become strong and enthusiastic readers, writers, listeners, and speakers and to develop the skills, habits, and enjoyment of reading that will support their success in school and in life. Since opening its doors in 2001, they have helped more than 13,000 children achieve substantial and lasting academic progress.
Role: Fundraising Researcher
Responsibilities: The Reading Team seeks a volunteer with an interest in nonprofit fundraising and strategy to prepare brief research reports on potential foundation funders, as well as to undertake research on individuals who may be interested in supporting our work as donors and/or board members.
Days/times: This work can be done remotely and according to the volunteer's schedule.
Special skills: This would be a suitable volunteer role for someone with previous experience doing research online. We seek a volunteer with clear and accurate writing who knows how to work in a spreadsheet such as Excel or Google Sheets.
Contact: Email Dana Points, Executive Director
The Red Balloon Early Childhood Learning Center is a West Harlem preschool for children ages 2–5 years. They are a small, play-based daycare that values creating an environment of love and curiosity. The school is located near Columbia’s Morningside campus and is part of a Columbia University residential building.
Role: Early Childhood Education Volunteer
Responsibilities: The Center is seeking volunteers who are willing to dance, play, and engage with the children on art projects and with the new garden. They also need volunteers who have administrative experience to help out in the office. All activities with children will be supervised by teachers.
Due to COVID-19, all adults working in the building are required to comply with the school’s COVID-19 safety protocols, including wearing PPE at all times (Red Balloon will provide) and undergoing daily temperature checks. The children are in two separate pods and do not wear masks.
Days and Times: The Center is open from 9am–5pm, Monday through Friday. Volunteers will work with the Director to create a schedule within those hours.
Special skills or requirements: Preference will be given to those with an interest in in Early Childhood Education.
Contact: Email Director, Linda Herman
Triple F Empowerment’s mission is to inspire, empower and encourage the young people of Harlem to pursue education and careers in the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) fields.
Role: Remote Instruction Support Volunteer(s)
Responsibilities: The individual(s) will provide support during remote instruction sessions by joining video conferences and participating in the science activity.
Days and Times: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and/or Saturday afternoons from 2:30-5:00pm. One person can commit to all four days or multiple volunteers can work together to fill the position.
Special skills or requirements: Volunteer (s) must be fluent in remote learning tools; Zoom and Google Meet. This position is ideal for someone interested in learning how youth programs are operated during this time of social distancing.
Contact: Email Stephanie E. Farmer
The Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation (WHGF) has provided gymnastics programs for youth ages 3-17 for more than 17,000 children through community gymnastics classes, summer camp, competitive teams and sports clinics.
Role: Archive Specialist
Responsibilities: Specialist will build and manage an archival repository of WHGF hard copy and digital records; provide administrative archive support; oversee records management; contribute to the development, implementation, update, and documentation of policies and workflows related to digital archives and preservation.
Days and Times: Monday through Friday from 10:00am until 6:00pm
Special skills or requirements: Proficiency in Google Suite, Mac, Microsoft
Contact: Email Demarttice Tunstall or call 212-316-0315