Welcome Center Volunteer Coordination Intern

SCOPE OF WORK: The IRC in Phoenix is a community-based organization whose primary focus is the resettlement of refugees and newcomers to the Maricopa County community. Each year, the office serves approximately 1,200 refugees through a variety of services. In 2019, the IRC answered the call to serve asylum seekers being dropped off in Phoenix by developing a new program to provide emergency support services, as well as long term case management to asylum seekers who stay in Phoenix. In July 2019, the IRC in Phoenix opened the city’s first 24 hour emergency Welcome Center for asylum seekers, which currently serves approximately 250 people per month. In FY2019, the IRC in Phoenix served nearly 7,500 asylum seekers. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: This internship will help create and maintain a sustainable volunteer engagement system to meet the needs of a dynamic, 24 hour Welcome Center providing emergency support to newly-arrived asylum seekers and their families.  

Project roles and responsibilities include: 

• Conducting volunteer orientations 2-3x per week 
• Assisting with connecting volunteers to appropriate training and staff members
• Assisting with volunteer scheduling and record keeping
• Engaging in volunteer recruitment activities, both onsite and in community
• Greeting and engaging visitors, donors, and volunteers arriving at the Welcome Center
• Ensuring communication systems are maintained between community, volunteers, and staff
• Helping plan and host volunteer events to complete large projects
• Assisting with volunteer scheduling and record keeping
• Engaging in volunteer recruitment activities through targeted newsletters, social media, etc.
• Assisting in maintaining volunteer training records
• Ensuring communication systems are maintained between community, volunteers, and staff
• Helping plan and host volunteer events to complete large projects 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:  

• Develop experience working in a fast-paced, dynamic humanitarian aid environment 
• Gain exposure to a wide variety of administrative services that support large-scale non-profit and humanitarian work 
• Work alongside ASF Volunteer Specialist for mentoring and development 
• Develop marketable skills in volunteer recruitment, coordination, scheduling, and community engagement