Applications for the 2024-2024 Service Year are open! Visit our Be A Fellow page for more information.
Being a Fellow is a rewarding experience. Emerging leaders gain valuable experience, grow their professional skills and networks, and give back to their communities through meaningful service.
But one doesn’t pour from an empty cup! Over the course of your service, there are numerous benefits and supports that you will receive in exchange for your time and service.
Benefits & Resources
Living & Finances
- Living Stipend: Stipend of $27,000 (before taxes) distributed via check or direct deposit twice a month. Fellows must complete the full 10.5 month term to be eligible for full stipend.
- Segal Education Award: Fellows (as AmeriCorps Members) are eligible to receive a taxable educational award of $7,395 upon the successful completion of 1,700 service hours. The Education Award can be used on past or future educational expenses. Read more here.
- Student Loan Forbearance: Most federally backed student loans are eligible for forbearance, allowing Fellows to postpone payments during service. Upon successful completion of service, AmeriCorps will pay the accrued interest on qualified student loans.
- Travel Reimbursement: Reimbursement offered for train, bus, or personal car travel to and from mandatory in-person Monthly Meetings at Northeastern University and Fellow Retreats, if traveling greater than 15 miles.
- State & Federal Benefits: MPF Staff will support Fellows in accessing Federal & State benefits that they are eligible for during service (SNAP, Fuel Assistance, discounted MBTA Pass, etc.).
- Fellow Solidarity Fund: We understand that sometimes life happens, and Fellows might find themselves with unexpected expenses during their year of service that they cannot afford. Fellows can apply for emergency assistance for one-time unexpected costs during the year.
- Housing Assistance: MPF provides a housing resource document and connects new Fellow hires with the cohort on Basecamp, our virtual portal, to support each other in the housing search/identify roommates.
- Consultations: 30-minute sessions of life coaching and financial or legal assistance available through AmeriCorps Member Assistance Program.
Health & Insurance
- Dental: Up to 70% of premium coverage.
- Healthcare: Full coverage offered through Corps Network OR offered a reimbursement on a state exchange plan.
- Vision: Exams covered in full through Corps Network with $100 reimbursement on glasses and contacts.
- Mental Health: AmeriCorps Member Assistance Program gives Fellows 6 free therapy sessions and 24/7 confidential free access to a mental health professional call line through All One Health. The program also includes legal and financial consultations for members.
Further Your Education
MPF’s partnership with the College of Professional Studies (CPS) at Northeastern University provides our Fellows with the opportunity to pursue free courses during and discounted courses after their year of service.
- CPS offers courses that allow Fellows to work towards an undergraduate or graduate degree, or towards a professional certification. Classes are often asynchronous or offered in the evenings, allowing Fellows to balance service/work and their educational goals.
- Fellows can take FREE CPS courses during the service year, up to 9 credits. Fellows who take advantage of this benefit typically take 1-2 courses at a time.
- Fellows are eligible for a 25% discount on CPS courses for up to 7 years following their successful completion of MPF.
- On average, 40% of Fellows will begin a graduate certificate, bachelor’s completion program or master’s program during their year of service.
Time Off
Fellows serve full-time (average 40hrs per week) at their host sites, with the ultimate goal of reaching 1,700 service hours in the 11 month period. This allows Fellows to take time off throughout the year to rest and recharge:
- Birthday: Fellows with birthdays that occur during the service year receive their birthday off.
- Federal Holidays: Fellows are not expected to serve during 9 federal holidays.
- Flexible Time Off: Fellows work with their Host Site placements to schedule time off — there is no limit for vacation/sick days as long as Fellows stay on track to complete 1,700 hours of service within the program period.
Host Site Benefits
Some Host Sites are able to offer additional benefits to their Fellows. These are typically listed on the second page of each Host Site’s service position description.
Examples include:
- Free MBTA Pass
- Unique Professional Development Opportunities
- Professional Development Funds
- Meals/Grocery Gift Cards
- Work From Home Days
The MPF Community
Cohort Model
While Fellows serve at host sites across the state, MPF uses a cohort model to ensure that Fellows have the training to be an impactful youth worker and a sense of connection with others who serve. In addition to ongoing communication and support, you can expect regular opportunities for professional development and connection with your Fellow cohort:
- Welcome Sessions & Pre-Service: Welcome sessions give you an inside look at your benefits, stipend, institutional knowledge, support structures and necessary information to be successful for your year of service. These are also opportunities to meet other Fellows who may be entering their first or second year of service.
- Fellow Orientation Week: Fellow Orientation is an intensive week-long immersion that will provide you with the foundations, skills, and mindsets needed to be an effective youth worker. This week occurs during the first week of service in mid-August, before you start service at your host site placement. At this time, you will be joined by the entire cohort to engage in approximately 40 hours of learning and building connections with other Mass Promise Fellows.
- Fellow Monthly Meetings: In addition, the MPF leadership team will continue to supplement your learning and development by offering monthly professional development sessions for the entire Fellow cohort from September to June. Training topics will include: positive youth development, adultism, curriculum building, classism, racism, and more. Meetings are led by MPF leadership staff, alumni, and external hosts across our network. These sessions enhance community development, grow Fellow practices that can be infused into day-to-day work, and build professional competencies.
- Fellow Fall & Spring Retreats: Twice during the year Fellows and MPF staff will participate in 2-3 day (overnight) retreats to build community within the cohort, create space for Fellows to relax and recharge, as well as provide additional training relevant to Fellow service or life after AmeriCorps.
- Advising Groups: Lead by second-year Fellows, these small peer groups allow Fellows to have an additional support network throughout the year.
Diversity & Inclusion
MPF is proud to recruit a diverse group of Fellows each year that reflect the communities they serve. MPF is committed to creating an inclusive environment for Fellows and build community through reflection, dialogue, training, and fun.
Each year, an average of five Fellows participated in a youth program led by another Fellow when they were in high school. These Fellows were inspired to give back to their communities by the Fellows that served them!
2022-2023 Cohort Demographics:
- 76% of Fellows identify as BIPOC
- 53% of Fellows are serving in their hometown
- 47% of Fellows grew up in a low-income community
- 35% of Fellows are first-generation college students
- 6 Fellows are serving with programs they attended as teens
Alumni Network
The Massachusetts Promise Fellowship has been around since 1999. In the fall of 2023 we welcomed our 25th cohort of Fellows to serve the young people of the Commonwealth. Our Alumni report a great sense of connectedness with their cohorts and a desire to support Fellows who come after them. Current Fellows get plugged into the alumni network from the start of their service year at Orientation.
- Alumni Panels: During Orientation and Fellow Monthly meetings, alumni are invited to join and share their wisdom and advice.
- Fellow Alumni Mentoring (FAM): Fellows can elect to have an alumni mentor. Matches are based on Fellow interests, needs, and future career plans.
- Alumni Network: Upon completion of the program Fellows are added to MPF alumni listservs and social media groups. Alumni are invited to stay engaged with MPF through joining the Advisory Board, serving as Fellow mentors, serving on alumni panels, providing Fellow trainings, sharing updates and opportunities, attending MPF sponsored events, and more!
- AmeriCorps Network: Beyond MPF, you will also be joining a community of over one million members that make up the AmeriCorps alumni network and have the opportunity to connect to resources and support for life.
Northeastern University, Office of Community Service & Civic Engagement
420 Huntington Ave, Stearns Center 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02115
CLICK HERE to sign up for the MPF Newsletter!
info@masspromisefellows.org | 617 – 373 – 5312