Folks in our wider circle may be interested--or may know of someone who would be. Bruce Robison <<Dear Friends and Colleagues, Some of you I may not have been in touch with in a while. I am taking this opportunity to send you greetings and to say I hope you are doing well. The immediate reason for this note is to enlist you in helping us find 11 new staff to run a Katrina disaster relief and rebuilding project on the Gulf coast. YouthBuild USA recently received a one year grant from the Corporation for National & Community Service to fund a project to help build or rebuild up to 300 homes in the small community of North Gulfport, on the Mississippi coast, that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The YouthBuild Katrina Rebuilding Project is comprised of two parts, a permanent residential corps of YouthBuild graduates who reside in North Gulfport for 12 months (the “Graduate Corps”), beginning June 2006, and 350 current YouthBuild AmeriCorps members who rotate in for two-four week shifts in groups of 35-45 (the “National Teams”). There will a construction program during the weekdays, and a residential education and living program in the evenings and on weekends. Full time staff for both parts of the program begin in June, 2006, and continue for 12 months. Participants, traveling staff, and several permanent staff will be located in Gulfport, Mississippi at the Gulfport Naval Construction Battalion Center. We will be hiring 11 new staff to run the Katrina Rebuilding Project in Gulfport, MI. Time is of the essence. We need your assistance in recruiting and recommending quality and skilled staff for this important project, to be in place in Gulfport by June 1! Please think on friends and contacts you have who might jump at the chance to play a leadership role in this project. This is an ambitious and challenging project. The staff who manage it have to abilities to work in demanding conditions, while caring for the well-being and development of the young adult participants, while providing disaster relief through construction. It will test the leadership and character of all involved. It is also an amazing opportunity to serve. I would like you to recommend the most qualified people you know. Thanks. We greatly appreciate your help. This project is an exciting, challenging, and serious way to make a real contribution to the lives of real people hit by Katrina. Here are brief descriptions of the positions. The full job descriptions are attached below. Katrina Project Director. Manages the project on the ground in Gulfport, MS. Oversees both the construction side and the residential living side of the project, and interfaces with community and government officials. Construction Manager. Manages the entire construction operation, supervises five construction site supervisors, finds and coordinates the subcontractors, coordinates the flow of work and materials, cooperates with local housing partners. Construction Site Supervisor (5). Acts as construction foreman on job sites, supervising the work of the YouthBuild building crews of young adults, with the aim of building or rebuilding 300 homes. Hiring five. Program Manager. Responsible for for creating, organizing and implementing a safe, educational, and enjoyable residential program for 70-80 young adults during non-construction hours; supervises two Program Coordinators. Program Coordinator (2). Provides counseling, educational, recreational, and enrichment services for the residential program for 70-80 young adults during non-construction hours. Hiring two. Adminstration Coordinator. Provides administration support to the project and is responsible for record keeping for project and the grant. YouthBuild USA will begin formal consideration of applications on May 12. The project begins in North Gulfport on June 1! My best, and thanks again for any superb potential staff you can send our way. - John John Bell Vice President, Leadership Development & the Academy for Transformation YouthBuild USA 58 Day Street Somerville, MA 02144 617.741.1217 jbell@youthbuild.org >>