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| Manuela Förderer with kids at New Day. Photo: Mark Wasser |
Home to a University of Pittsburgh campus and a center
for coal, iron and steel industries, Johnstown has
30,000 residents, with 250,000 people in the metropolitan
area. The city is settled in the Allegheny Plateau,
a deep valley where three rivers meet. Johnstown,
though urban, has a small-town environment because
of its somewhat isolated location. The community's
fight to survive also builds a sense of togetherness.
The area battles high unemployment. The Mennonite
churches in Johnstown work to serve the community's
needs through its community involvement, an effort
that included adding a Service Adventure unit in 1998.
The Johnstown unit is located in the racially mixed
neighborhood of Kernville near its main sponsor, First
Mennonite Church of Johnstown. Nine area Mennonite
congregations support the unit. Most of Johnstown's service assignments are intentionally
part-time in order to allow participants to experience
different job atmospheres in hopes it can help them
make future career choices.
Specialty Lifecare is located within walking distance of the unit. This position involves helping with activities and recreation as well as developing relations with the elderly at this personal care home. Position is part-time.
Bottle Works is a newly established community-based cultural arts center in the Cambria City section of Johnstown. This placement would be for a participant with a strong interest in the arts and could include event planning, placement of displays, taking art into schools, coordinating community art classes and concerts.
Easter Seals is a non-profit organization that works with hearing impaired persons. This would be a part-time position which could include administrative office duties, customer service, event planning and development.
Johnstown Christian School serves around 250 pre-K to 12th grade students. The participant in this position would work in the school office assisting the administrative staff, as well as in the cafeteria assisting kitchen staff, and also has the opportunity to interact and help the classroom teachers.
The Salvation Army Soup Kitchen serves between 50-80 people in the downtown area of Johnstown a 10-minute walk from the unit house. Responsibilities include preparing, serving and cleaning up after meals, as well as office work, laundry, cleaning, working in the emergency food pantry and other duties as needed by the Captain. This is a great opportunity in a Christian environment for interacting with people facing economic challenges.
Laurel View Village is a local retirement community. The maintenance/grounds worker assists other staff in maintaining the buildings and grounds by painting, mowing lawn, shoveling snow, etc. (full-time)
Head Start is designed to give at-risk preschool children
a head start in life. The teacher's aide works
with low-income families and their children ages 3-5. Responsibilities include helping to teach nutrition
and basic skills, playing with the children, lovingly
disciplining, helping with activity periods, and eating
with the children. Head Start works at having
high adult-student ratios in their classrooms. This is an excellent opportunity for someone to explore options in structured childcare, early childhood education,
or social work related fields. (part-time)
The Learning Lamp is looking for an assistant teacher in their literacy-based preschool and kindergarten extension
program. This inclusive environment provides quality early education
for children of all abilities and income levels. Terrific placement for
future teacher or social worker. School provides services for
approximately 45 children ages 2 to 5.
New Day is a community center located across the street from First Mennonite Church. New Day provides general support for the community by offering counseling services, after-school education, sports programs and parenting classes. Generally participants serve as tutors for the K-6 after-school program or as coaches for the 7-12 sports program. This is a wonderful opportunity for integrating faith and work, as well as being mentored by New Day staff.
Located down the street from the unit house in a renovated historical building, the YWCA of Greater Johnstown is working towards eliminating racism and empowering women. This position would be created around the gifts and skills of the participant, and could include life guarding, working with the elderly, administrative work, fundraising, event planning, cleaning and construction. The YWCA anticipates future growth and wider range of opportunity for participants.
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