Lifesongs is seeking volunteers for our next Story-Gathering adventure. Volunteers will support the intergenerational story-gathering process by working in small group settings of one adult volunteer, one elder and 2-3 students. This work is guided by two Lifesongs Facilitating Artists and is overseen by the Lifesongs Leadership team and brings together 5th grade students from the Santa Fe Waldorf School, elders from the Santa Fe Care Center, and Story-Gathering volunteers from the Santa Fe community, to collaborate on creating Lifesong-Stories. The project period is January 2016 through April 2016.

Story-Gathering Volunteers must be available to attend a short skills training and orientation to the work of The Academy for the Love of Learning in January 2016 and an orientation at the Santa Fe Waldorf School before the sessions commence in February. The sessions are scheduled every other week (with a few exceptions because of the school calendar) and will alternate between the Santa Fe Care Center and the Waldorf School. Volunteers will also be expected to attend team potlucks (schedule TBD) where questions and reflections related to the project can be addressed. The project will culminate in a presentation/performance of the Lifesong-Stories in mid-late April.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate a keen interest in the Lifesongs Program and resonance for the work we do. Volunteers will be expected to help create a safe and supportive learning environment and should be comfortable working with both elders and youth in an intergenerational setting. The following qualities are therefore important for Story-Gathering Volunteers: patience, flexibility, dependability, compassionate listening and willingness to receive feedback. Volunteers will be treated with dignity and respect, and are asked to treat everyone involved with respect and dignity too.

Volunteers will need to have their own reliable mode of transportation.

Start Date, Compensation, Hours

This is a volunteer position, with a minimum commitment of 2 hours/bi-weekly from 9 to 11 AM on Wednesdays from February through April, 6-8 hours in January for training sessions and orientation, and 6-9 hours in potluck reflection sessions to be scheduled (See known project dates below). The priority deadline for applications is November 13th.

Known Project Dates:

Volunteers are expected to attend all of the following sessions and the culminating event.

Note: Each of the sessions are 90 minutes long and will be followed by a 20-30 minute check-in led by the Lifesongs Facilitators.

1/06/16 5:30-8:30 p.m.           Volunteer Training
1/20/16 6 p.m.                         Orientation at SF Waldorf School
2/03/16 9 – 11 a.m.                 session at SF Care Center + check-in
2/24/16 9 – 11 a.m.                 session at Waldorf School + check-in
3/09/16 9 – 11 a.m.                 session at SF Care Center + check-in
3/23/16 9 – 11 a.m.                 session at Waldorf School + check-in
4/13/16 9 – 11 a.m.                 session at SF Care Center + check-in
4/20/16 (TBC)                          Culminating Event / Presentation
2-3 Story Gathering Potlucks TBC

Application Process

Please email a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for two references as .pdf attachments to Alysha Shaw (alysha@aloveoflearning.org).

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