Riverside Avondale Preservation’s Teen Leaders Program

Program Information

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) and the
Riverside Arts Market (RAM). Our inaugural class of Riverside Avondale Preservation’s Teen
Leaders will not only serve the community through regular volunteering at RAM and at signature
RAP events, such as Luminaria, but will also gain valuable experience and leadership skills
through an independent project. In this year-long program, teen applicants can expect to earn
over 100 community service hours. Please note that this volunteer program is unpaid.

Riverside Avondale Preservation began in 1974 and works to preserve Riverside Avondale’s
historic fabric and unique character, promote local businesses, arts, and culture, advocate with
and for the neighborhood, and celebrate community. RAP also produces the weekly Riverside
Arts Market, which features a variety of small businesses and attracts over 3,000 visitors each
Saturday. RAM is a diverse and inclusive event which aims to celebrate and advocate for arts
and culture as well as support vibrant, local independent businesses.

Application Process

Applications for the Teen Leaders Program will be available until April 28th followed by
interviews taking place in early May. All decisions will be made by May 15th, 2023. A limited
number of applicants will be selected for the inaugural class; RAP cannot guarantee space in
the program for all interested students.

The Teen Leaders Program is open to incoming freshmen through rising High School seniors.
Participants do not need to be residents of the Riverside Avondale neighborhood, but must be
able to routinely participate in volunteer activities in the neighborhood.

We are an equal opportunity organization and welcome applicants with diverse abilities. The
program will roughly align with the schedule of Duval County Public Schools. Transportation will
not be provided to the Riverside Avondale area.
Program Requirements & Time Commitment

Participants in the Teen Leaders Program can expect to earn over 100 community service hours
in this year-long program and will receive documentation of these hours. While the time
commitment can be flexible to accommodate schedules, school commitments, and other
extracurricular activities, the timeline for service is as follows:

● Summer 2023 (minimum 40 hours, additional opportunities available): Across 5

Saturdays, Teen Leaders will gain a strong understanding of the operations of the
Riverside Arts Market and rotate through a variety of job duties. Saturday service shifts
will generally follow an 8:00AM - 4:00PM schedule, with a break time for lunch included.
All volunteers serving a full day shift at RAM will receive a $5 RAM token to be used
towards lunch. Potential job duties that Teen Leaders will participate in are as follows:
○ Market set-up & Break-down
○ Market beautification (clean-up)
○ Staffing the RAM Welcome Table
○ Staffing the RAM Information Booth
○ Staffing RAM Kid’s Corner Activities
○ Booth Sitting for RAM vendors
○ Assisting the SNAP program
○ Assisting with Social Media & Communications
● Fall 2023 (minimum 40 hours, additional opportunities available): Teen Leaders will
select an area of interest based on their experience in the summer (Market Operations,
Community Engagement, or Children’s Programming) and volunteer at the Riverside
Arts Market a minimum of 1 Saturday a month in their chosen focus. Additionally, Teen
Leaders will assist with Luminaria in December.
● Spring 2024 (minimum 20 hours, additional opportunities available): Teen Leaders
can continue to volunteer at the Riverside Arts Market or can work with RAP staff to
develop a project related to their interests or future career ambitions.

Teen Leader Expectations

Riverside Avondale Preservation’s Teen Leaders will be expected to attend the minimum service
commitments, as outlined in Program Requirements above, to be able to fully benefit from the
program. Additionally, Teen Leaders should be open-minded and willing to learn. Finally, Teen
Leaders will be expected to abide by the RAM values:

● We are welcoming and inclusive.

● We communicate and act transparently and with accountability.
● We build relationships and promote healthy dialogue.
● We respect what came before us and anticipate what lies ahead.

Interested Students can apply through this form. Questions about the program can be directed
to Chloe Kuhn, Market Manager, at chloe@riversideavondale.org