Opportunities to Volunteer in Harlem – October 2020
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 awarded over $200,000 in funding to local organizations and continues to fundraise and provide funding through the CCS Food Relief Project, a part of the Columbia Neighbors Food Relief Fund. CCS grantees have seen increased demand for services fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic and have an urgent need for volunteers to help meet the demand.
Volunteer Opportunities
Advancing the Community of Tomorrow (ACT), formerly known as Adults and Children in Trust, provides a safe haven for children (toddlers to teens) from many faiths, cultures and economic backgrounds to gather, learn, play and grow.
Role: Reorganizing ACT Supply Center
Responsibilities: Help is needed to reorganize and categorize camp, office and program supplies.
Days and Times: Fridays or Saturdays between 10am-3pm
Special skills or requirements: Volunteers must be able to move small and large items, work in a team, and be organized.
Contact: Marie Del Tejo, Executive Director at 917-310-4498 or [email protected]
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.
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 Carolyn Halpin-Healy, 646-873-0712, [email protected].
Role: Program Volunteer; Communications & Social Media Volunteer; Development Volunteer; Volunteer to the Founder/Executive Director
Responsibilities: Behind the Book seeks a Program Volunteer to assist with the design, implementation and administration of our school programs. The Program intern will work closely with the Director of Programming and the Program Coordinators to support all aspects of our school programs.
Days and Times: Any time on Monday through Friday, between 10:00am – 6:00pm
Special skills or requirements: Strong communication skills; excellent writing skills; attention to detail; love of literacy; available to work in the office occasionally. (Office staff must wear masks, socially distance, and use hand sanitizer.)
Contact: behindthebook.org, Tara DeWorsop by phone at 732-966-6747(cell) 212-222-3627 (office) or by email at [email protected].
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: Senami Atinkpahoun at [email protected]
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: Lohengrin Velasquez, Director of Student Services at [email protected]
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: Ling Lopez, Events Manager at [email protected]
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: Soup Kitchen Volunteer
Responsibilites: Help needed to prepare and serve lunch; prepare to-go bagged lunches that are handed out to guests.
Days and Times: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30am - 2:00pm (can be partial hours or full hours).
Special skills or requirements: No special skills but volunteers must wear closed-toed shoes. Face masks are required.
Contact: Timothy Wotring, Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected]
Courtney’s Stars of Tomorrow is an arts conduit committed to promoting and presenting classical musicians of the highest caliber, and is a vehicle to feature them in concert, recital, and opera.
Role: Social Media Content Poster
Responsibilities: View and assess approved social media content; organize content and strategically post content across social media platforms; create a social media posting calendar that includes all of the content for both Courtney’s Stars of Tomorrow and The Whole Review.
Days and Times: Social media posts are required three times per week. Volunteer schedule is flexible. Content has already been created for social sharing but additional ideas are welcomed.
Special skills or requirements: Experience with posting to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Strong organizational skills; Basic knowledge of classical music & opera (a plus)
Contact: Courtney Carey, Artistic Director at [email protected].
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: The Programming Intern
Job Description: The Programming Intern 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 Intern 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 [email protected] with Programming Intern in the subject line. 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 homebound seniors.
Days and Times: Flexible schedule
Special skills or requirements: Technology skills are helpful as many seniors are struggling to use a smartphone, Zoom, FaceTime, etc. Seniors can benefit from technical support over the phone. Spanish speaking is also helpful as some seniors are monolingual.
Contact: Paula Seefeldt, Program Director at [email protected] or 646-734-0182
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: Elaine Karas, Executive Director at [email protected] or Laurie Kalinowski, Business Manager at [email protected]
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: Lynda Metmer at [email protected]
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: Gray Delmar, Program Director at 212-439-9996 or [email protected]
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: Gray Delmar, Program Director at 212-439-9996 or [email protected]
The Harlem Wellness Center provides health programming in communities that are consequently most vulnerable to adult onset diseases (diabetes, obesity, hypertension, heart disease) that are preventable by lifestyle choices.
Role: Volunteer Coordinator
Responsibilities: Co-create strategic plan with Harlem Wellness Center Executive Director; manage projects, schedules and deadlines (track volunteer work); recruit and vet volunteers using various pathways; assign volunteers to roles with consideration for optimal skills utilization; collect, organize and file information on qualifications and skills; onboard volunteers; communicate with volunteers and E.D.; build healthy work culture; evaluate volunteers work; give constructive feedback; provide recommendation letter content to E.D.
Days and Times: Volunteer can create schedule but must commit up to five hours per month
Special skills or requirements: Previous volunteer experience is preferred
Contact: Vivian Williams-Kurutz, Director at [email protected]
The Meeting House envisions an innovative approach to Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for children that offers a rich program mix of activities, guided by professionals and peer mentors.
Role: Peer Role Model
Responsibilities: Volunteers ages 16 and up needed to be peer role models at weekly outdoor Central Park program.
Days and Times: Mondays from 3:00-7:00pm and Thursdays from 3:00-6:00pm
Special skills or requirements: Proof of a negative COVID test required. Experience working with 7-12-year-old-children a plus. Looking for highly responsible volunteers who love working with kids, display good social skills and bring positive energy to a group dynamic.
Contact: Paula Resnick, Founder/Executive Director; Call (212) 355-1908 or (646) 248-0957
The Reading Team is dedicated to enabling young children who are at high risk of reading failure to become strong and enthusiastic readers, writers, listeners, and speakers, and to develop the skills, habits, and behaviors that will support their success in school and in life.
Role: Reading Team Classroom Prep
Responsibilities: The Reading Team helps children PreK through Fifth grade in Harlem become strong readers and writers. Because of social-distancing guidelines, classroom space on West 125th Street needs to be reconfigured to de-densify classrooms for the fall. 2-3 volunteers are needed to work on site with 1-2 Reading Team employees to move tables, chairs, rolling partitions and other classroom supplies and to help sort and move bookshelves to adjust classroom space. Work is done in an open-plan space and air-conditioned. Face masks are required at all times.
Days and Times: Select three hours in the morning of September 7, 8, or 9.
Special skills or requirements: Ability to do hands-on, physical work that involves lifting approximately 40lbs repeatedly.
Contact: Dana Points at [email protected] to volunteer for this project. Please share availability by using this Doodle poll