SLS: NAMI Young Adult Student Leader for Community Outreach (2025-26 school year)

NAMI Multnomah works to improve the quality of life for people living with mental illness and their families through support, education, and advocacy.

This position is one of the options for Portland State's Student Leaders for Service program. Please apply to the Student Leaders for Service program to express interest in this opportunity. To access the application to apply for SLS for the the 2025-26 school year, please visit https://pdx.givepulse.com/event/590919

*****

NAMI Multnomah is the Multnomah County affiliate for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for people with mental health conditions and their families through support, education, and advocacy. We aim to provide a platform that allows persons living with mental health conditions to have a powerful voice in the local mental health community.

As a NAMI Young Adult Student Leader for Community Outreach, students can expect to work directly with NAMI staff to raise awareness about NAMI and the programs we offer through tabling, networking with other community organizations, planning NAMI events, and step up as a student leader to continue or launch a NAMI On Campus student organization at PSU.

By working with NAMI on outreach and planning, student leaders will promote NAMI's mission by sharing information about our programs with community members and improving participant involvement in NAMI support groups, classes, and presentations.

NAMI Multnomah values the development of leadership skills for our SLS members and our staff will work closely with students to provide structure while giving them the freedom to make choices that benefit the programs they're promoting.

Modality: This is a hybrid position with the majority of work completed independently and remotely, though presence on the PSU campus to support outreach will be beneficial. We schedule weekly team check ins and weekly 1:1 check ins to ensure everybody in the organization is on the same page, feels connected, and has the support they need to fulfill their roles.

Skills and Knowledge Required: We require that SLS members show empathy, kindness, and respect to all, especially those whose cultural backgrounds differ from their own. We also ask that SLS members respect each community member's right to privacy and confidentiality, offer and graciously accept feedback, and value the shared wisdom in others' lived experience. We require SLS members to practice cultural humility and self care as well.

Preferred Skills: We are a peer-led organization and require that students either have their own lived experience with mental illness or are a friend or family member of somebody who experiences mental illness.

Onboarding and Training: We require all volunteers, employees, and SLS members to complete a 30 minute orientation, complete onboarding paperwork, and pass a background check before working with NAMI. We offer any required training for the role as well as optional training for suicide prevention.

Benefits of these Positions:

• Hone your empathetic communication and outreach skills.

• Build on peer support skills through NAMI support groups and classes

• Network with other organizations: NAMI Multnomah is part of a wide network of local nonprofit organizations that seek to improve the lives of community members and students can expect plenty of opportunities to network with other organizations.

Supervision: The SLS member would work closely with our community program coordinators and report to our program director.

Location & Transportation: The location is mostly remote, with some presence needed on the PSU campus for outreach, along with other outreach events. However, we would like SLS members to complete onboarding and training at our office on SE 185th.

For training, The MAX Blue Line can take students directly from PSU to our office in Rockwood at 464 SE 185th Ave., Suite 315 Portland, OR 97233. The commute from PSU would take 56 minutes.

Schedule Available:  4-6 hours per week. The schedule for this position is flexible - we can work with your class and work schedules. Because much of the work can be done remotely, hours can be scheduled any day of the week in morning, afternoon, or evening.