Community Foundation seeks new youth impact coordinator
Contact
Paul Duster
Director of Community Initiatives
paul@dbqfoundation.org
563.588.2700
For immediate release
DUBUQUE, Iowa — The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque is looking to hire a new youth impact coordinator to oversee its Every Child Reads initiative and other efforts to ensure children are on a path to success.
In this part-time role, the coordinator will work with local organizations to identify needs and gaps in services, programs, or existing resources for youth and work. They also will work with parents and representatives from many fields — including education, government and nonprofits — to improve achievement outcomes through changes in policies, procedures and strategies.
“Building a region where all people can thrive begins with supporting our children,” says Rachel Williams, the Foundation’s current youth impact coordinator. “That means addressing the factors that lead to healthy child development and academic success, both inside and outside the classroom.”
Williams, who has served as youth impact coordinator since 2018, will leave her position at the end of July to take a teaching job in the fall.
The coordinator is responsible for leading Every Child Reads, the Community Foundation’s initiative focused on addressing a key predictor of long-term academic success: grade-level reading proficiency by third grade.
Launched in 2012, Every Child Reads is a collaborative effort among Dubuque parents, educators, nonprofits and civic leaders to ensure that all children succeed in school and graduate prepared for college, a career and active citizenship. It focuses on engaging families and the broader community to take an active interest in helping all children thrive, with goals of bolstering school readiness, enhancing summer learning, improving school attendance, and ensuring all children and families have access to books.
Every Child Reads is active in Dubuque as well as three surrounding rural areas: Dyersville, Jackson County and Jones County.
“Our work is informed by an understanding of how childhood adversity affects learning,” Williams says. “As we prepare all children in our community for school and life, we place an added emphasis on those who are most vulnerable, helping them and their families overcome barriers to achievement.”
In addition, the coordinator works as part of a community initiatives team on to address an array of issues that impact youth, such as college access and brain health services.
Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree and a passion for improving the well-being of children and adolescents.
For a full job description, visit dbqfoundation.org/careers. Please send applications and resumes to Paul Duster, director of community initiatives, at paul@dbqfoundation.org.
For more information about Every Child Reads, visit readdbq.org.
# # #
The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque envisions a vibrant and inclusive Dubuque region where everyone can thrive. Since 2002, we have inspired people to give back to their community, and we turn this generosity into lasting change across our region, increasing access to resources and opportunities that help all people succeed.
Visit dbqfoundation.org to learn about the many ways we are building a strong, thriving Greater Dubuque for all.