Harmony Learning Center
Partner Agency: Harmony Learning Center
Location(s): 1961 County Rd C E, Maplewood, MN 55109
Site Supervisor: Carly Voshell, IT Career Pathways Coordinator/Lead Teacher
CTEP Program Description:
The AmeriCorps Community Technology Empowerment Project (CTEP) bridges the “digital divide” for new immigrants and low-income communities in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area. Join AmeriCorps CTEP and help make the information age accessible to all. CTEP is a project of Saint Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN).
Site History and Mission:
Harmony Learning Center serves residents of Maplewood and surrounding communities with English language, GED and basic skills classes. Harmony’s Information Technology (IT) Career Pathway program focuses on skills aligned to the Northstar Digital Literacy curriculum and Microsoft Office Specialist certification exam. Technology skills have become essential to students as they navigate school, work and other areas in an increasingly online world. For that reason, digital literacy is integrated into all education levels at Harmony and the CTEP position has the opportunity to work with a wide range of learners.
Preferred Site Schedule for Member:
Work hours generally occur between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.
In addition, members attend professional development days with their fellow CTEP members to enhance service-readiness skills, personal attributes at the service site, and citizenship skills. These Corps days take place twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Fridays from 9 AM to 4 PM, and these trainings are mandatory. Members also attend statewide AmeriCorps events, such as the Martin Luther King Day celebration, and/or serve on the statewide InterCorps Council.
Specific Site Responsibilities:
The role of the CTEP member will be to support the learning and development of participants along their digital literacy journey from the foundational skills of computer and internet basics to Microsoft Office productivity skills. Duties include virtual and in-person instruction that varies from working one on one, in small group or large groups. The CTEP member will proctor assessments, track student progress, and develop their own skills to better support students.
CTEP activities may also include development of marketing materials, orientation and technical assistance for students, student services and support, curriculum development and delivery and program evaluation. The CTEP member will also provide capacity building assistance to Harmony staff to enhance overall programming and further integrate digital literacy into all education levels and enhance job seeking and volunteer services.
Site Environment:
Harmony Learning Center is a large school with around 700 students per year, in person and remote students combined. There are eight shared classroom spaces, and a mobile computer lab with student laptops. The CTEP will have a desk in a classroom, but will also visit other rooms to hold computer class.
Harmony Learning Center is a school that has new students starting class each week. Individuals who will be most successful in the CTEP role will need to be open to collaboration, adaptable, enjoy working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and have a willingness to learn about evolve during their year of service.
How to Apply:
Apply online at my.americorps.gov and click on “Apply to Serve” (be sure to search for the “Community Technology Empowerment Project” or “CTEP” when asked to indicate what program you would like to send your application to). Contact: Tess Hackbarth, hackbarth@spnn.org, 651.298.8910
Literacy Minnesota fosters an organizational culture that is welcoming and inclusive to all. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, indigenous peoples, immigrants and refugees, LGBTQ+ individuals and people with disabilities.
Reasonable accommodations will be made upon request. Alternative formats of this document are also available.