Current Volunteer Needs

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Business Consultant
Seeking business consultants in a variety of areas: Accounting, Law, Business Start-Up/Expansion, Graphic Arts, Insurance and more. If you want to share your professional talents as a volunteer with our agency, contact us.

Required Qualifications: Experience, education, licensing (if necessary) in the professional area in which you wish to volunteer. Cultural sensitivity and flexibility are essential.

Professional Money Management Teachers
The Economic Development Department’s IDA program provides an opportunity for its clients to save money and have their money matched through grants for large assets such as a business or a home!! Before any client can spend their savings on their assets they must take four basic classes. These classes are banking, credit, consumer skills and budgeting. In addition to the four basic classes, the department also offers three Home Buying courses. We offer a curriculum for each of the courses but always welcome creative input and knowledge. All of the courses are taught at the Institute.

The Economic Development Department seeks professional volunteers with a background in:

Banking
Credit
Consumer Skills
Budgeting, and/or
Home Buying

Each volunteer should have an understanding of the International Institute’s mission and agree to uphold that mission while providing services to our clients. Volunteers do not need teaching degrees/certificates, but must express a desire to provide that service.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Front Desk Assistant
Reliable volunteers needed to assist the receptionist/registrar at the front desk. Responsibilities include answering phones; transferring calls; and assisting clients and students with registration, inquiries, and purchases of school supplies. Positions are available one or more days per week, Monday through Wednesday from 5-7:30pm. Program runs year-round.

Required Qualifications: Receptionist experience a plus; dependable and punctual; professional demeanor; ability to handle phones and in-person inquiries; desire to interact with and assist clients with limited English proficiency; cultural sensitivity essential. All applicants will complete an interview and background check.

ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Literacy Tutor
Patient, motivated volunteers needed to tutor adult students in our ESOL Literacy Tutorial Program. Volunteers will work with one to three students on basic English literacy skills, using structured lessons prepared by the Education staff. Positions are available one or more days per week, Monday through Thursday from 1-3:30pm. Classes run year-round.

Required Qualifications: Tutoring or teaching experience a plus; native speaker proficiency in English; ability to work well with others; desire to work with other cultures and to assist clients with limited English proficiency; dependable and punctual; cultural sensitivity and flexibility essential. All applicants will complete an interview and background check.

Citizenship Literacy Tutor
Passionate and patient volunteers needed to tutor adult students in our Citizenship Literacy Tutorial program. Volunteers will work with one to three students on English literacy and citizenship skills needed to pass the naturalization interview, using pre-prepared lessons designed by Education staff. Positions are available one or more days per week, Monday through Thursday from 1-3:30pm and Monday through Wednesday, from 6-7:30pm. Classes run year-round.

Required Qualifications: Tutoring or teaching experience a plus; native speaker proficiency in English; ability to work well with others; desire to work with other cultures and to assist students with limited English proficiency; dependable and punctual; cultural sensitivity and flexibility essential. All applicants will complete an interview and background check.

Citizenship Telephone Conversation Partner
Trustworthy volunteers are needed to assist adult refugees and immigrants in preparing for their citizenship interview, a half an hour, once a week by telephone. Scheduling is based on matching volunteer and student availability. All orientation, training, and curriculum will be provided by Education staff.

Required Qualifications: Tutoring or teaching experience a plus; native speaker proficiency in English; desire to work with other cultures. Patience, reliability, and flexibility a must. All applicants will complete an interview and background check.

Teacher's Aide - ESOL Classes
Dependable volunteers needed to assist classroom instructors of adult ESOL. Responsibilities include helping with preparation and implementation of lessons, and assisting individual students or groups with English practice under the guidance of the instructor. Positions are available one or more days per week, Monday through Friday from 9am to 12pm; Monday through Thursday from 1-3:30pm; Monday through Wednesday from 6-8:30pm. Classes run year-round.

Required Qualifications: Tutoring or teaching experience a plus; ability to work well with others and independently; ability to speak English well; desire to work with other cultures; reliable and punctual; cultural sensitivity and flexibility essential. Must be comfortable speaking in front of and working with large groups of students. All applications will complete and interview and background check.

Teacher's Aide - Computer Classes
Motivated volunteers needed to assist the instructor of adult ESOL computer class. Responsibilities include giving training and responding to student questions on basic computer knowledge, ESL software and websites and helping with record keeping and student retention. Positions are available one or more days per week, Monday through Thursday from 4-5:30pm; Friday from 12:30-3pm. Classes run year-round.

Required Qualifications: Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office and internet use, and ability to troubleshoot basic software and hardware issues. Tutoring or teaching experience a plus. Ability to work well with others and independently; desire to work with other cultures; ability to speak English well; dependable and punctual; cultural sensitivity and flexibility essential. Must be comfortable speaking in front of and working with large groups of students. All applicants will complete an interview and background check.

ELDER LINKS
Workshop Interpreter/Assistant
Provide interpretation and assistance during citizenship preparation workshops to help elderly clients (60 years +) obtain US citizenship. Volunteers will help clients better understand workshop materials in small groups. Program runs every other Friday from 1:30-2:30pm.

Required Qualifications: Fluency in English and at least one other language. Languages: Russian/Turkish, Albanian, Dari/Farsi, Somali, Arabic, Spanish, Liberian/Krahn, Vietnamese, Kunama, and Nepali. Willingness to work with elderly populations with limited English proficiency.

EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT
Job Readiness Class Assistant
Assist clients one-on-one or in small groups completeing job readiness and financial literacy activities. Activities could include preparing and distributing class materials, checking attendance, assist instructor as needed and working in small groups with the students. 2 hours per week: Fridays, 1:30-3:30pm.

Required Qualifications: Good communication and interpersonal skills; Spanish speakers a plus!

SOCIAL SERVICES
Home Visitor
The Social Services Department is seeking responsible volunteers to visit the homes of our clients to observe the general welfare of the family. The volunteer will determine the safety of the clients’ home by observing and demonstrating. Training will be provided and the first home visit will be conducted in conjunction with the family’s caseworker.

Time Commitment: Generally, a minimum of two visits per week lasting between one hour and one and a half hours. Visits will last for a total of four to six weeks. Visits must be made between the hours of 9am and 6pm.

Required Qualifications: Adult, 21 years of age or older; completion of criminal background check; driver’s license and access to reliable transportation; cultural sensitivity and flexibility essential; desire to work with and assist new American families; understanding of and commitment to the mission of the agency.

SPECIAL EVENTS Thanksgiving 2007

Festival of Nations - August 28-29, 2010
The International Institute’s Festival of Nations unites the world’s many cultures for a two-day event. Musical performances, dance troupes & drum circles keep festival-goers feet tapping while the international cuisine offerings delight the senses. Craft demonstrations, children’s activities & gift booths line the walkways of Tower Grove Park. Volunteers can join in many of the activities & be right in the middle of the action. Selling drinks, acting as a stage assistant, helping with children’s activities, greeting visitors & assisting with sports demonstrations are all volunteer possibilities.

Requirements: Volunteers should complete a Festival of Nations volunteer application. Some volunteer activities require the participant to be 21 years of age or older.