Volunteer Program Types
Advisory Boards & Committees
Mesa residents participate in the local
government process by serving on a citizen advisory board or
committee that makes recommendations to the City Council. The
more than 20 boards and committees review a variety of issues
ranging from parks and libraries to human relations and crime
prevention. Members are recommended by the Mayor and approved by
the City Council.
Contact: Kathy Macdonald at (480) 644-3002 or send an e-mail to
kathy.macdonald@mesaaz.gov
Arizona
Museum for Youth
Volunteers are needed to work with our visitors in the exhibit
galleries, lead tours, help out with classes and other programs,
and assist with special events. The Museum is especially seeking
volunteers with experience working with children and/or customer
service, and teen volunteers are welcome as well. Contact:
Ana Bentancur at
ana.bentancur@mesaaz.gov or 480-644-4783.
Arizona Museum of Natural History
Volunteers are needed to lead tours, help in
the Museum gift store, interpret hands-on artifact carts, assist
in collections, help with exhibits and special events,
participate in archaeological and paleontological digs, catalog
artifacts, guide children in learning activities and perform
many other jobs essential to the Museum's operations.
Participants in the Museum's teen volunteer program must be
entering 9th grade or above. Interested individuals should call
for a schedule of orientation and docent training sessions.
Contact: Yvonne Petersen, 480.644.2760,
yvonne.petersen@Mesaaz.gov
City Council Intern
The City Council Internship Program exposes undergraduate and
graduate students to career opportunities in local government
while allowing them to develop and strengthen professional
skills in a work environment conducive to their education.
Interns will gain valuable experience in a professional city
government environment as they fulfill essential duties to
maintain the City’s level of services to residents.
Students will assist with projects consisting of writing, media
relations, planning, research, and community outreach.
Whenever possible, internship projects will be tailored to meet
the specific interest of a district. The intern schedule is
flexible with a 10 – 20 hour work week.
Students must be able to work independently and communicate
effectively on a variety of issues that require considerable
discretion, judgment, and tact. Must possess good writing
skills, and have a basic computer background in Microsoft Office
programs.
To apply email your resume and cover letter to City Council
Assistant Charlotte McDermott,
charlotte.mcdermott@mesaaz.gov. For additional information
please call Charlotte McDermott at (480) 644-5294.
Energy Resources
Volunteers serve as administrative helpers in all areas of the
Utilities Department. The duties vary upon department needs and
may require some driving. Contact: Debbie McKillip,
480.644.2749, debbie.mckillip@mesaaz.gov
Fire
Department
Amateur Radio Emergency Response Volunteers:
If you are a licensed FCC Amateur Radio Operator, and have the
desire to help your community, you may consider volunteering
with the City of Mesa Volunteer Emergency Response Team.
Bilingual Assistance Team (BAT):
Volunteers provide assistance with oral and written
translations, bilingual presentations, community events and
general office assistance in English and Spanish. Volunteers
must be over 18 years of age, possess a high school diploma or
GED, submit a copy of a valid Arizona Driver's License before
hire date with an acceptable driving record and valid motor
vehicle insurance, consent to fingerprinting, volunteer for a
minimum of six hours per month, and be proficient in Spanish and
English at an intermediate level. Volunteers will undergo an
interview process as well as attend mandatory training.
Contact: Marrisa Ramirez-Ramos, 480.644.5620,
marrisa.ramirez-ramos@Mesaaz.gov
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT):
CERT is a citizen emergency-preparedness program that teaches
leadership skills and response techniques for a disaster, large
or small. The program is a 21-hour, seven-week program and is
held one night a week for three hours. As the program grows,
CERT participants will have the opportunity to be a part of a
volunteer response team that will assist families and their
communities in times of need. Occasionally the call out is
national (i.e. five citizens were sent to Florida to assist in
hurricane response needs in 2004).
Contact: Captain Gabe Sezate, 480.644.2780,
gabe.sezate@Mesaaz.gov
Community Response Team: Volunteers assist
family members after a death (non-crime) by providing emotional
support, assistance in contacting mortuaries and other services.
Hours are 7 to 1 a.m. seven days a week. Day and night shifts
are available. Volunteers work in teams on an on-call basis and
must be able to respond within 30 minutes. Volunteers must be 21
years of age or older, provide their own transportation to
calls, use a pager and cell phone, have the ability to read maps
and drive around the city, pass a background check and interview
process, as well as attend all training.
Contact: Anita Mapes, 480.644.3882,
anita.mapes@Mesaaz.gov
Connector Program: Volunteers work
a five- or eight-hour shift providing assistance to citizens in
non-emergency situations. Volunteers also assist crews on
emergency situations by providing customers with transportation,
linking fire victims to the Red Cross and other services. Hours
are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Volunteers must be 18
years old, pass a background check and interview process, and
attend all training. This program partners with Mesa Community
College where students can receive up to three credits for
service learning. Contact: Warren Sprecher,
480.644.4692,
warren.sprecher@Mesaaz.gov
Home Safety Inspection Program: Prevention
and risk assessment initiating safer environments. Volunteers
perform home safety checks aiming to promote health and safety,
reduce the risks of fires and falls, and to provide community
resources. All training is provided. Contact: Carrie
Miller, 480.644.2508, carrie.miller@Mesaaz.gov
Library
Numerous volunteer opportunities are available within various
areas of the Library to assist staff with daily operations.
Positions in the book sale areas, shelving and homebound
services are just a few of the jobs available at all four
Library locations. Youth volunteers over the age of 12 are
welcome to help review books, assist with the Summer Reading
Program, shelve materials and much more.
Contact: Kathee Herbstreit, 480.644.4638,
kathee.herbstreit@Mesaaz.gov
Mayor's Youth Committee
Citizens may serve as advisors to this committee, which is made
up of Mesa high school students with outstanding academic
achievements. The committee provides leadership training and
community involvement opportunities for its high school members.
Contact: Kathy Macdonald 480.644.3002,
kathy.macdonald@mesaaz.gov
Mesa Arts Center
Volunteer (16+) are present throughout the campus of the Mesa
Arts Center in the theaters, the art studios, the Mesa
Contemporary Arts, assisting in the administrative offices,
assisting with festivals and special events and providing
facility tours. Some assignments require volunteers to be
18 years of age or older.
Contact: Shawn Lawson, 480.644.6627,
shawn.lawson@mesaartscenter.com
Mesa Municipal Court
Volunteer in the City's judicial system assisting with check-in
functions at the customer service counter, mailing various
notices to defendants, answering phones, filing, performing
data-entry or working on special events. Contact: Volunteer
Coordinator at
court.info@mesaaz.gov
Neighborhood Outreach
Volunteers support the Neighborhood Outreach’s mission of
empowering, enriching, and energizing Mesa's diverse
neighborhoods. Volunteer opportunities include working with
citizen groups, non-profit agencies, and other city departments
to serve our community. List
of current opportunities. Contact: Michelle Alvis,
480.644.3705,
michelle.alvis@mesaaz.gov
Parks and Recreation
There are numerous volunteer opportunities for all ages within
the Parks and Recreation Department. Some of the areas
include: Adaptive Recreation, Open Gym Program, Parks
Maintenance Services, Summer Aquatics Program and Youth Sports
and Special Events.
Contact: beverlee.nielsen@mesaaz.gov
Police Department
Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) augment
public safety resources in many ways, including helping to
process DUI suspects, disabled parking enforcement, disaster
response, crisis intervention, administrative/clerical/data
entry and public speaking. Police also has opportunities for
Victim Assistance and Center Against Family Violence Assistant.
All volunteers must be at least age 18 (21 for some areas) and
must successfully complete an extensive background
investigation.
Contact: Linda Bailey, 480.644.2073,
linda.bailey@Mesaaz.gov
Prosecutor's Office
Volunteers assist in preparing case files for prosecution,
including filing reports, updating information on computers,
answering phones, and contacting victims and witnesses. The work
requires a high school diploma or equivalent, good penmanship,
typing and computer experience, ability to work with people and
successful completion of a background check. Contact: Dani
Sherwood, 480.644.5760,
dani.sherwood@Mesaaz.gov
Transportation Department Accounting Intern
A Transportation Department Accounting Intern is an unpaid
position that performs a variety of clerical, accounting and
physical activities of varying complexity. Duties include a wide
range of tasks, such as filing, organizing, QuickBooks database
entry, preparation of financial reports, clerical and public
communication via the telephone.
In the Financial area, a volunteer intern learns the basics of
accounts payable and other clerical skills.
Contact: Elisa Gin, 480.644.3824,
elisa.gin@mesaaz.gov
Victim Advocate
Victim advocate volunteers are needed to provide support and
assistance to crime victims and witnesses. Work entails updating
case status information and tracking of services provided to
victims and witnesses, routing victim/witness requests for
services to appropriate staff and providing referrals to other
agencies for assistance and/or compensation. Volunteers also
help escort victims and witnesses to various court hearings as
requested, and conduct computer input and preparation of victim
notices for mailing. Volunteers need to be reassuring,
empathetic and have good listening skills.
Contact: Dani Sherwood, 480.644.5760,
dani.sherwood@mesaaz.gov
Water Resources
Volunteers ages 18+ are welcome in varying capacities
depending on operational need in the Water Resources Department.
Opportunities vary from administrative assistance to staff,
clerical work, and data entry to greeting and directing lobby
visitors. Opportunities for friendly customer-driven volunteers
are available at several locations. Contact: Dale
Furnas, 480.644.2649,
Dale.furnas@mesaaz.gov