The Flex Jesuit Volunteer Experience
Commit to a meaningful and transformative year of service in an urban or rural locale in either Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Washington, or Oregon as a Flex Jesuit Volunteer AmeriCorps Member (Flex JV). Through the year, you’ll make an impact in the organization you serve as well as gain valuable skills, experience, and benefits (see below!) that come with being an AmeriCorps member.
As a Flex JV you’ll also be tapped into our larger community of volunteers and spend time engaging in our organizational values of community, simple living, social and ecological justice, spirituality and reflection.
You have your choice of hours to make it work for your life and your schedule! You can choose between serving full-time (1700 hours), three quarter time, (1200 hours), and half-time (900 hours), from September 2024 and July 2025.
Flex JVs are self-started who are willing to take ownership of the ways they choose to grow in the four core values.
Commit to a meaningful and transformative year of service in an urban or rural locale in either Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Washington, or Oregon as a Flex Jesuit Volunteer AmeriCorps Member (Flex JV). Through the year, you’ll make an impact in the organization you serve as well as gain valuable skills, experience, and benefits (see below!) that come with being an AmeriCorps member.
As a Flex JV you’ll also be tapped into our larger community of volunteers and spend time engaging in our organizational values of community, simple living, social and ecological justice, and spirituality/ reflection.
You have your choice of hours to make it work for your life and your schedule! You can choose between serving full-time (1700 hours), three-quarter time, (1200 hours), and half-time (900 hours), from September 2025 to July 2026.
Flex JVs are self-starters who are willing to take ownership of the ways they choose to grow in the four core values.
Flex positions for the ’25-26 program year will be posted closer to the beginning of service. Check back in the spring of 2025.
Who is eligible?
Requirements to be a Flex JV:
- U.S. citizen, U.S. National, or Lawful Permanent Resident
- At least 18 years old by start of the service term
- Pass criminal background checks
The Flex JV program may be for you if:
- You are married or partnered
- You have dependents
- You are a full-time or part time student
- If a full-time student, you can only participate in a half or three-quarter time service position.
- You plan to retain employment outside of AmeriCorps service
- As long as the site permits this and it doesn’t interfere with service; you can only participate in a half or three-quarter time service position.
JVC Northwest is a Jesuit, Catholic organization and volunteers across our movement represent a variety of religious traditions (or are not religious at all), express their gender and sexuality in a variety of ways, have a variety of abilities, and are diverse across other identities as well. We strive to be an organization where you can bring your full self, with all your identities, to your service and formation.
JVC Northwest is an AmeriCorps program, meaning that we are part of a network of over 75,000 volunteers serving across the country. Our AmeriCorps partnership comes with great benefits for our Flex JVs, including an Education Award based on how much you serve.
JVC Northwest is an AmeriCorps program, meaning that we are part of a network of over 75,000 volunteers serving across the country. Our AmeriCorps partnership comes with great benefits for our Flex JVs, including an Education Award based on how much you serve.
JVC Northwest is an AmeriCorps program, meaning that we are part of a network of over 75,000 volunteers serving across the country. Our AmeriCorps partnership comes with great benefits for our Flex JVs, including an Education Award based on how much you serve.
How can I apply?
You choose which position you apply to! It’s ok if you are not sure yet. Check out our roles or confirm the agency and title here.
The application process has two major steps:
- Fill out the online application. To complete the application, you will need a resume, and three references. You may address the questions online in writing, or if the process if more accessible to you another way, during a phone interview. You won’t have an advantage or disadvantage based on what you choose. Choose to respond in the way that will help you put your best self forward. Written responses will be able to move through the process with more efficiency.
- Interview with the appropriate partner agency.
A Year Guided by Core Values
Life as a Flex Jesuit Volunteer AmeriCorps member is rooted in our four core values of community, simple living, social and ecological justice, and spirituality/reflection. While everyone’s Flex JV year can vary greatly depending on their unique perspectives and life experiences, here are some general guidelines to what immersion in the four core values may look like:
Community
In community, we learn that our lives are interdependent, we have a responsibility to others, and we come together to support one another. We recognize that Flex JVs are likely active members of their own communities or have the desire to engage further. Serving as a Flex JV is a call to grow deeper in intentional relationship with those they are already in community with and to explore new connections through service and the JVC Northwest program. Flex JVs will thoughtfully reflect on their communities, explore the core values, and share their experiences in peer Flex JV groups.
Social & Ecological Justice
Flex JVs work for peace and justice by being aware of how attitudes and behavior affect others. Being aware urges us to change the attitudes and structures which create poverty, perpetuate oppression, and destroy ecological systems. Solidarity demands that we create change by working alongside people who suffer the effects of social and ecological injustice. We affirm the interconnectedness of life by making efforts to reduce our impact on the Earth. Flex JVs live out this value each day, many through their service placement involvement, and through practices like limiting the use of resources, being intentional about how money is spent, transportation choices, choosing to compost, staying educated, and more.
Spirituality/ Reflection
Flex JVs have a rich diversity of spiritual backgrounds and belief systems. This diversity challenges Flex JVs to practice reflective listening and conversation in order to deepen and broaden their wonder and appreciation of the myriad ways spirituality can connect us to each other and to the Earth. Flex JVs live out their spiritual values by diving deeper into reflective practices, engaging with fellow Flex JVs in spiritual activities and discussions, pursuing spiritual direction resources and by participating in two virtual retreats, with the opportunity to attend additional retreats throughout the year. The cornerstone of the JVC Northwest year is having the on-going time and space to reflect on one’s transformative service experience.
Simple Living
Simple living is an invitation to live more intentionally and to choose presence and mindfulness over the noise and clutter of a mainstream, capitalist lifestyle. Simple living allows Flex JVs to more fully connect with the communities they serve alongside and to more intently focus on relationships over objects. For some, this is a new concept that can be challenging and rewarding. Though many forms of technology have evolved in recent years from luxury to necessity, many Flex JVs choose to take a critical look at their relationship and habits with technology, and challenge themselves to be more intentional about their interactions with it.
AmeriCorps is a federal program that provides grants to organizations like JVC Northwest to help support volunteer service. 