HISTORY and MISSION
The mission of Promise Corps is to support high schools by setting achievable goals for students, serving as their role models, and fostering strong collaboration with school counselors, teachers, guardians, and the broader community.
Promise Corps is the first program in the nation to establish a partnership between two Promise Zones, working together to serve youth in high-poverty communities. These Zones are two of only three urban areas selected in the first round of the Promise Zone initiative. The program aligns with key goals of the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative, with a focus on ensuring that local students graduate from high school are prepared for college and career.
Supported by public and private partnerships, this AmeriCorps program trains and places College and Career Coaches (CCCs) in Promise Zone high schools, providing critical support to students in Philadelphia. Promise Corps currently operates at High School of the Future, Paul Robeson High School, Overbrook High School and Sayre High School, with plans for potential expansion in the upcoming school year.
OVERVIEW
The College and Career Coach will serve full time from August 2025 until June 2026 or August 2026, working closely with high school students and their families to ensure that they graduate with strong skill sets, and gain a clear understanding of different post-secondary options. This is an in-person position.
Promise Corps CCCs will work with students in grades 10-12 who have been identified as needing support by their counselors. Each member will be assigned to a host school and will work with guidance counselors, teachers and school staff to develop both short and long term plans leading to graduation and post-secondary entry. Services begin with a two week orientation for a baseline understanding of post-secondary options. From there, CCCs will conduct individual advising sessions with their students, throughout the school year, in order to develop a plan leading to post-secondary success.
BENEFITS
- $1026 (pre-tax) biweekly stipend
- An education award of up to $5,176.50 (full-time, serve 10 months through June 2026) to be used for college, trade school, or other educational expenses, including qualified federal loans. For more information, please visit www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps
- Eligible for student loan forbearance on federal student loans
- Free monthly SEPTA trailpass to travel in and around Philadelphia at any time
- Health care & childcare support
- Schools of National Service tuition discounts at select colleges and graduate schools
- Preferential hiring with Employers of National Service and AmeriCorps Alumni Network
- Access to AmeriCorps member emergency fund
- Monthly professional development trainings & connection to professional mentors
Responsibilities include:
Post-Secondary Planning and Support
- Support a caseload of 25 students to ensure each is working towards setting and completing goals towards their post-secondary exploration and planning
- Provide engaging 1:1 sessions and small group workshops to improve students’ knowledge of post-secondary options and requirements; topics included but not limited to: the college application process, the local workforce, financial aid, careers in STEM, introduction to an entrepreneurship lifestyle, positive work habits, etc.
- Maintain program information and records by entering outputs and outcomes in a database
- Support field trips and school events related to local work sites and employers, colleges in and out of state and other relevant post-secondary enrichment opportunities
Qualifications:
Education, Experience and Eligibility
- Be at least 18 years of age and possess US Citizenship or Permanent Resident status
- Some college experience and/or credit equivalence
- Clear a National Criminal History Check, Pennsylvania Criminal History Check, Criminal History Check in your current state of residence (if different than Pennsylvania), and National Sex Offender Registry check (paid for by the program once accepted)
- Served less than 4 terms of any length in another AmeriCorps State or National Program
- Commit to serving a consistent schedule in school a minimum of 35 hours per week ($942 pre-tax bi-weekly stipend)
Beginning September 2025 through June 2026 or August 2026. Deadline to apply is August 15th.
QUESTIONS? Email: addie.boccuzzi@phennd.org