Mentor Solicitation

As our upcoming year of RISE is knee-deep in preparation, we are seeking ambitious, independent, confident, and experienced mentors who possess positive blindness philosophy to serve as core mentors for the 2021-22 academic year! Below, you will find a program description, as well as expectations and responsibilities.

Program Description

Project RISE, (Resilience, Independence, Self-Advocacy, Employment) is a transition program, focusing on providing blind and low vision students with the skills necessary to become competitively employed. These skills will be useful whether the students attend an institution of higher education, a vocational school, or enter the job market directly after high school. Project RISE will combine the knowledge of successful blind professionals, the positive philosophy of the NFB, and a strong curriculum to give blind students, between the ages of 14-21, the skills and confidence they need to be successful. This program changes the future of blind students and you can be essential in this transformation! Some topics we explore during RISE include: travel and transportation, independent daily living skills, communication and interview techniques, and dressing appropriately for job settings. Throughout Project RISE, students will have access to successful blind mentors. Finally, students will have the option to explore work experiences during the summer months. Note: Given the current public health conditions, in-person programming is still being discussed and decided upon. Additional information will be provided as public guidance is firmed up. Tentative dates for mentor training is as follows:

• Thursday, September 9th from 6-7pm eastern
• Saturday or Sunday, September 11th/12th from 530-7pm eastern
• Monday, September 13th from 6-8pm eastern

Approximate time commitment: 10 hours per month.

Mentors will be responsible for:

• Serving on a fun, creative, and collaborative team of coordinators, mentors, and volunteers
• Serving as point of contact for a small group of students (3-5 students)
• Attending monthly sessions throughout the academic year from September to May. These sessions will include a blend of virtual, in-person, and weekend-long programming. The in-person Saturday sessions are only for Northern Virginia mentors, so please don’t allow that to deter you from applying if you are outside the Northern Virginia area.
• Submitting monthly individual student reports to track progress, measure improvement, and present recommendations for student success
• Following up with assigned students in between events and assist in giving feedback to students on their progress, areas of improvement, and skills
• Participating in relevant professional development training to optimize student impact
• Directly reporting to the program coordinator, including concerns, challenges, staffing issues, and other relevant information
• Completing any other duties as assigned by program coordinator

Note: Beneficial, but not at all required, skills include - bilingual, experience with multiple disabilities, sign language interpretation

Requirements for Personnel Contractors

All those contracted to provide services are required to go through a background check, performed by the state of Virginia. If awarded a contract, individuals will be providing services subject to the terms outlined in the independent contract. The compensation will be provided in a monthly stipend and excludes additional benefits of any kind.

Next Steps

If interested, send a resume and statement of interest to rise@nfbv.org by August 15, 2021. Please include a professional reference, including phone number and email address. Interviews will be coordinated dependent on qualifications.