Company Profile
Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) Northwest
Company Overview
Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) Northwest engages adults in a transforming experience of volunteer service. Jesuit Volunteers and Jesuit Volunteer EnCorps members serve for a year or more in solidarity with persons living on the margins of society and with vulnerable places in the Pacific Northwest in social service agencies, schools, community health centers, and environmental organizations. Rooted for over sixty years in the Jesuit Catholic tradition emphasizing spiritual openness and depth, volunteers explore the causes of social and ecological injustice throughout their communities and commit to actively working to promote equality and preserve human dignity.
Company History
Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) Northwest began in 1956 with a few committed volunteers who helped build and teach in the new Copper Valley School in Copper Valley, Alaska, a school for Native Alaskan and European-descent Alaskan students. The first volunteers were recruited and supported by the Jesuits of the Oregon Province and the Sisters of St. Ann.
The Jesuit Volunteer program expanded out of Alaska in the 1960s working with Native American communities throughout the Northwest, as well as serving in urban placements in Washington, Oregon, and other states and countries. JVC Northwest has been the catalyst for hundreds of other faith-based volunteer organizations, including other JVC programs, and served as a model for national service programs like the U.S. Peace Corps, VISTA and AmeriCorps. In JVC Northwest’s 60+ year history, over 7,000 people have served in our program.
Today JVC Northwest recruits, places and supports volunteers working with people on the margins of society and with vulnerable places in two programs: Jesuit Volunteers and Jesuit Volunteer EnCorps. Currently 125 Jesuit Volunteers (JVs) in the Northwest are committed to serving full time for at least one year in over 100 schools, health, and social and ecological service organizations in urban, rural, and Native American and Native Alaskan communities providing essential skills, willing hands and great idealism for a better world. They serve throughout Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Washington and Oregon.
Jesuit Volunteer EnCorps (JVE) members are aged 50 and older and engage in part-time, meaningful service positions in Portland and Bend, Oregon, and Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, and Vancouver, Washington, where they have a direct impact on people living on the margins. JV EnCorps was created to match the skills of the growing number of people moving into retirement with needs in our communities.
Since August, 2010 JVC Northwest has been a National Direct AmeriCorps program under the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), enabling most of our Jesuit Volunteers to also be AmeriCorps members. This grant has made it possible for JVC Northwest to go where the need is greatest and to enable our partner agencies to extend their services at a greatly reduced cost. The Jesuit Volunteers/AmeriCorps members reside for the service year in 24 intentional communities of four to eight people and commit to living out the values of community, simple living, social and ecological justice, and spirituality/reflection. Living expenses, a modest monthly stipend, health insurance and travel home at the end of their service year is provided to the JVs/AmeriCorps members, as well as an extensive orientation and three annual retreats.
JVC Northwest is separately incorporated as a 501 (c) (3) organization.
Benefits
12 paid holidays, 15 days of vacation, and retreat time.