We’re Hiring!
We are currently hiring for the following positions:
To apply, send your resume and cover letter to hiring@gaah.org. Applications for all positions will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.
The key characteristics that we look for in employees, volunteers, and board members are:
Eager to learn and unlearn: We are willing to lean into discomfort to better understand each other and those we serve.
Accountable to the team: We build trust and community by taking responsibility for our actions, even when good intentions have negative consequences.
Committed to the neighborhood: We cultivate a flourishing neighborhood by practicing reciprocity and listening well.
The critical actions that we expect all employees to participate in and be comfortable doing are:
Engaging with youth: We actively support and engage with the young people we serve.
Calling out injustice: We help make things work for our neighbors by challenging systems, cultural norms, and personal biases.
Sharing joy: We express and celebrate the things that bring joy, the good in others, and the good in situations.
Does this sound like you? Apply today!
GET INVOLVED
All of our programming, from hip-hop classes to algebra tutoring, is provided free of charge to our neighbors.
Doing this important work without financial barriers takes partnership and support from our entire community. Every donation supports thousands of visits to the Cook Library Center, hundreds of students taking classes at Cook Arts Center, and dozens of teens gaining leadership experience. Donate today to help GAAH offer services to even more of the community.
$50 = math and literacy materials and books for our library
$100 = art supplies for one week of classes
$250 = a guitar amp for Girls Rock! camp
$500 = transportation for a Teen Leaders college visit
$1,000 = a week of activities and specialized tutoring at the Cook Library Center
Looking to donate other items, like used instruments, books, or art supplies?
We love it when we can keep things out of landfills and put them in the hands of our curious and creative neighbors! While we accept most donations of gently used art and educational materials, we also are not able to accept them all!
If you have gently used items that you’d like to donate to GAAH, please keep in mind that we do not accept:
Clothing or other general household items
Broken instruments or technology that is not currently functioning
Outdated or ripped books*
Large volumes of books, encyclopedias, or entire book collections*
Large instruments (like pianos), looms or large equipment, machines, or furniture
*If you have books in great condition to donate, please send a list of the titles and/or photographs of the books to our Cook Library Administrator for review.
Want to donate books, supplies, or other materials but you’re not sure what is needed?
Join Us
Our employees work closely with many other community members and contract staff who are critical parts of our team. Contract staff members teach classes, tutor students, lead housekeeping, and more!
We also work with a variety of volunteers who help us shelve books, read with students, organize art supplies, and offer their talents to our students through mentoring and more.
Regardless of their role, each member of our team works to embody our key characteristics, and practices being eager to learn and unlearn, accountable to the team, and committed to the neighborhood. We also ask our team members to do their best each day to take one or all three of our critical actions: engage with youth, call out injustice, or share joy!
Does this sound like you? We are always looking for more passionate neighbors, artists, musicians, dancers, tutors, and activity leaders to join our contract staff team!
Fundraising
We invite our friends and neighbors to support our work in a variety of ways, including donating dollars directly. While we always accept donations, twice a year we gather and invite our supporters to meet our neighbors and support our work.
Each June, we hold our annual Día del Sol, or Day of the Sun, to celebrate the end of another year and ring in the summer months. Not only is it our biggest fundraiser of the year, but it is also a unique time where our board and staff, students and neighbors, donors and partners, all come together under one roof to share joy and celebrate the culture and vibrancy of our neighborhood. Together, we celebrate and support our vision of a flourishing neighborhood on Grand Rapids' southwest side.
We also invite friends and supporters to donate directly to our year-end fundraiser, which coincides with our annual Holiday Book “Gift” Away event in December.
