Tips for Afterschool Enrichment Coordinators: What is an AEC and How Do I Apply?
- Alex Bregy
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Are you considering applying to be an Afterschool Enrichment Coordinator (AEC) at your local DREAM chapter? If so, this article is for you! Below, you’ll learn what an AEC is, what the expectations of an AEC are, and how to apply.
Overview of the Afterschool Enrichment Coordinator Role
An AEC is responsible for assisting with planning during DREAM's Afterschool programs. Like volunteer mentors, AECs are expected to attend weekly programming, as outlined by your chapter. But, on top of this, AECs are also expected to spend time planning outside of programming. The tasks of each AEC vary slightly, depending on the size of your chapter and the amount of AECs your chapter has.
Generally, AECs are responsible for planning weekly programming—including activities and snacks/meals, managing a weekly programming budget, and acting as a point-person on-site. Being the point person includes answering mentors’ and mentees’ questions, enacting DREAM rules, and leading transitions between activities.
What is AmeriCorps?
AECs are not employed directly through DREAM; instead, they serve as AmeriCorps members. AmeriCorps is an independent agency of the United States government that hosts a variety of volunteer opportunities. Each AmeriCorps member receives a bi-weekly living stipend and a Segal Education Award, which you can redeem at the end of your term and use for educational expenses, such as: tuition, room and board through your college, and textbooks. The living stipend and education award amounts differ depending on the total hours you serve, the length of your term, and what the standards are for that year. You can find up to date information on AmeriCorps benefits on the AmeriCorps website. To calculate the living stipend amount for your term, please connect with your chapter’s Director or Youth Service Manager. I also recommend asking your college’s financial aid office if they match Segal Education awards, as you will earn one by completing your term.
Please note, if you are an international student, you may not be eligible to serve as an AmeriCorps member, as the opportunity is only available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. F1, OPT, and CPT visas are not eligible. However, volunteer opportunities are open to everyone, regardless of residency status.
What are the weekly expectations of an Afterschool Enrichment Coordinator during programs?
The amount of hours AECs should expect to serve differs from region to region. In some regions, AECs serve 10-12 hours a week, while at other sites AECs serve 15-25 hours a week. I recommend checking DREAM’s hiring page for the AEC listing in your region, as it will state the expected weekly hours accurately. You can also ask your Director or Youth Service Manager about the expected weekly hours. For all AECs, these hours include both on-site programming and off-site planning time.
Some weekly tasks an AEC may have are:
Planning programming activities for your site, including crafts and games that support mentoring relationships
Planning the snack, or meal, for programming. This may also include shopping for ingredients and preparing food
Managing a programming budget, including pricing out activity supplies and food
Submitting receipts for programming purchases
Assisting with program documentation, such as attendance, incident/accident reports, and mentee/mentor matching
Leading programming, including supervising activities, assisting mentors, and leading smooth transitions between activities
What are the semester-long, or year-long, expectations of an Afterschool Enrichment Coordinator?
AECs are expected to complete certain tasks each week, but there are some additional tasks that are expected to be completed over the course of the semester, or school year, depending on the length of your AmeriCorps term.
Here are some examples of semester-long and year-long tasks:
Planning the culminating event for your chapter or site (more information below)
Planning the community dinner for your site (more information below)
Recruiting mentors, either for school-year or summer programming
Managing your chapter’s social media accounts and/or taking photos and videos of on-site programming
What are DREAM Chairs
Some DREAM chapters use chairs as a way to organize the responsibilities of multiple AECs. Each chair plans a specific area of programming for the whole semester or school year.
Let’s break down the common “chair” roles:
Programming Chair: This chair is responsible for planning weekly programming, including planning activities, snack, and transportation (if necessary). Some chapters have multiple Programming Chairs, often one per site.
Recruitment Chair: This chair is responsible for recruiting new mentors for their chapter. Common responsibilities include: attending on-campus recruitment events, hanging recruitment posters on-campus, and communicating with prospective mentors—often students from your college. This role may also include helping your Youth Service Manager or Director with summer recruitment.
Fundraising Chair: This chair is responsible for fundraising for your chapter. Some chapters have long-running fundraising campaigns that help support weekly programming. Other chapters only fundraise for specific events, such as culminating events, community dinners, and field trips.
Culminating Chair: This chair is responsible for planning the end-of-year culminating event(s) for your chapter. Sometimes this is an off-site field trip that requires outreach and consistent communication with the field trip site, communication with families, including managing permission slips, and arranging transportation. Other times, the culminating event occurs on-site, so the tasks include planning activities for the event, planning the snack/meal, and shopping for supplies.
Community Dinner Chair: This chair is responsible for planning the community dinner event(s) for your chapter. Some chapters have multiple Community Dinner Chairs, typically one for each programming site. Community Dinners are an opportunity for families to connect with DREAM mentors and staff and share a meal at the programming site. Tasks for this role may include: communicating with families to get an estimation for attendance, planning the meal, including calculating amounts of ingredients and arranging cooking, and budgeting for the event, including making a shopping plan and applying to local programs to supplement the cost, such as Stewarts’ Product Donation Program.
Communications Chair: This chair is responsible for managing communications for your chapter. Tasks may include: managing your chapter’s Instagram account, taking photos of programming, and collaborating with the Communications Team to share photos, videos, and stories from your chapter. This role is important, as it allows for your chapter to be represented in DREAM’s social media, newsletters, and website!
Why you Should Serve as an Afterschool Enrichment Coordinator and How to Apply
Serving as an AEC at DREAM is a highly rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of at-promise youth. All sorts of people make great AECs, as each one brings a unique and valuable skillset and background. If this role sounds like a good fit for you, please connect with your Youth Service Manager or Director to discuss next steps. They can help you learn more about how your chapter structures AECs and what roles are currently available. Some chapters also have specific requirements for AECs, such as year in school (e.g.. seniors only) and years you’ve served as a mentor. So, it is important to connect with your YSM or Director before applying. Following this discussion, you will be expected to fill out a short application, and you may need to attend an interview.
Interested in the AEC role?
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