Volunteer for "ARTZ in the Making" and "ARTZ Philly Side-by-Side" Programs

Mission: ARTZ Philadelphia is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and well-being of people living with dementia and their care partners through joyful interactions around arts and culture. Our evidence-based programs connect people with dementia and those they love with artists, cultural organizations, and each other. We help to build caring, supportive communities that restore and preserve the self-esteem and dignity of our constituents, regardless of their color, culture, where they live, or their economic resources.

Position Description: 

We are looking for passionate, dedicated volunteers with availability Mon-Sat mornings and/or afternoons to support two of our most rapidly-growing in-person programs: "ARTZ in the Making" (https://www.artzphilly.org/artz-in-the-making/) and "ARTZ Philly Side-by-Side" (https://www.artzphilly.org/side-by-side/). Applicants will be asked to schedule a brief 1:1 meeting with our volunteer coordinator to get acquainted and then learn about next steps if the fit seems to both parties to be a good one. Next steps will include the completion of our online volunteer training.

Responsibilities for this volunteer position Include (but are not limited to):

- Supporting program artist/facilitators from pre-program set-up through post-program clean-up. 

- Engaging respectfully, joyfully, creatively, and empathetically with program participants living with dementia and/or care partners.

- Playing an active listening role and an active "echoing" role to ensure that all participants are fully heard and can hear others fully.

Essential attributes or skills:

• Most essential of all: Passion for working with people living with dementia and those who love them.
• Mission-driven
• Strong listening skills.
• Sense of humor.
• Patience.
• Ability and desire to connect with people empathetically and respectfully.
• Creativity.
• Dependability.
• Attention to -- and satisfaction in -- getting the details right.
• Flexibility in a fast paced, constantly evolving environment.
• Sense of humor (yes, again!)
• Willingness to go the extra mile, take the extra time.
• Commitment to and satisfaction from being an integral part of artist/facilitators' team in enhancing program participants' quality of life. 

Qualifications:

• Minimum 1 year of experience working and/or volunteering with older adults.

Preferred:

• Experience working with people living with dementia.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English and/or Korean and English.

ARTZ Philadelphia is committed to equal opportunity employment practices and to a policy of nondiscrimination, recruiting the best qualified persons available regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political affiliation or any other characteristics protected by law. 

Expected hours: minimum 2-3 programs a month (4-6 hours)

Work Location(s): in person at various cultural centers (including libraries), senior centers, day centers, and residential care communities throughout Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties.

- Car strongly recommended

Questions about this opportunity? Please reach out to volunteer@artzphilly.org.