Volunteer opportunities with Write Around Portland
Volunteers play an incredibly important role at Write Around Portland, supporting every aspect of our work including delivering our healing creative writing programs firsthand. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and ages (including youth under 16 with guardian support) who want to support our programming and are aligned with our values.
For the safety of our community, we ask all in-person volunteers to agree to Write Around Portland’s COVID-19 policy.
Get Started!
- Fill out the Volunteer Application
- Attend an Info Session (we’ll be in touch to schedule after we receive your application)
- Watch for emails from our Volunteer Coordinator to sign up for volunteer opportunities!
Volunteer Roles
Writing Group & Writing Circle Facilitator
Shifts vary but are offered on weekdays, evenings, and weekends.
Writing Group facilitators deliver our programming across the Portland Metro area, working with participants to help them discover and explore the healing effects of creative writing across 6-10 week programs in spring and fall seasons.
Writing Circle facilitators deliver our Resonate programming. Resonate occurs virtually and in-person across the year in single sessions.
Scribe
Shifts: Typically weekday afternoons or evenings during spring and fall seasons.
Scribes support writers who have trouble holding a pen. Background check required (see below for information on background checks).
Playtime Guide
Shifts: Typically weekday afternoons or evenings during spring and fall seasons.
Playtime Guides provide a safe, fun, enriching environment for the children of our participants. Oftentimes, childcare can be a barrier to participation in our programs, so we provide Guided Playtime when possible. Background check required (see below for information on background checks).
Book Production Volunteer
Shifts: Weekdays and weekday evenings, typically in April and November
These volunteers type, select, lightly edit, and order pieces submitted for our anthologies.
Event Volunteer
Shifts: Weekends and weekday evenings
Volunteers help set up, clean up, and operate our fundraisers, tabling events, and readings.
office Volunteer
Shifts: Weekdays and weekday evenings throughout the year
Office volunteers help us with a variety of administrative tasks, including data entry, mailings, materials preparation, and more. Individual daytime shifts and group evening shifts available.
Board Member
Meetings are the third Wednesday of each month from 5:30-7:00 PM
Like other nonprofits, Write Around Portland is governed by a group of passionate volunteers called our Board of Directors.
Get Started
Benefits & Accessibility Information
Transportation
We offer remote and in-person volunteer opportunities. Our office is located on public transit lines, easily accessible via MAX. Upon request, we can offer complimentary transit tickets to volunteers for their return trip home and for their next shift.
For those who bike, our office building offers indoor, locked bike storage and a shower facility that volunteers can use.
Accessibility
Our office building has an elevator and all areas in the building and our suite are wheelchair accessible.
Restrooms
Our office building offers single gender restrooms.
Questions?
A Note About Background Checks
We run criminal background checks on all volunteers who directly interface with program participants. This process is intended to protect participants and the children of participants from abuse, violence, mistreatment, harassment, or any other person-to-person harm. Often, our agency partners require background checks as well.
We will notify you of the need for a background check if you are taking on a new role where you would interface with program participants. All information we collect and learn during the process is strictly confidential; we will share with you which staff member is running the background check and which staff have access to the information shared. Typically, we need your legal name, any previous names, and your date of birth. We invite and encourage you to share any concerns you have. You will have the choice of how you want to divulge your information, whether via email, in-person, or over the phone.
If anything comes up on a background check other than a moving violation, the staff member running the background check will consult with another staff member about whether the violation is severe enough to warrant further conversation with you. We will have a conversation with you about what came up on the background check (other than a moving violation) and will make every attempt to make decisions collaboratively.
Our Commitment to Volunteers
- We recognize that volunteers are integral to our program, providing 40% of the labor it takes to do our work. Our relationships with volunteers are intentional and meaningful. We fold them into the fabric of our Write Around Portland community while respecting boundaries.
- We trust that volunteers share our same sense of respect, writing, and community. We acknowledge and respect their time and energy.
- We prepare for volunteers to arrive. We train and support them during their experience.
- We offer opportunities and find volunteer jobs for everyone who is interested, respecting abilities and capacities to volunteer.
- We set volunteers up for a successful and satisfying experience. We match volunteers with the jobs that are right for them, and we make needed accommodations wherever possible. We help them understand where they fit in and let them know they are appreciated.
- We give them context for the work we ask them to do, especially for simple or tedious tasks.
- We make an effort to reach out to volunteers, new and returning. We continually engage new volunteers while balancing this with our regular and frequent volunteers. We continually seek a volunteer pool that reflects the diversity of our larger community.
- We provide volunteers with opportunities to read, write, and engage with words.
- We value and encourage volunteer retention and long-term relationship building. We provide volunteers with opportunities to learn skills, have interesting experiences, and develop their leadership skills. We provide them with opportunities to meet and engage with other people and to feel a part of our team.
- We thank volunteers verbally and in written notes; we recognize them publicly when appropriate. We send them birthday cards and acknowledge other milestones. We don’t take them for granted.