Few people have the opportunity to make as profound an impact on the world as PAX Community Coordinators. These independent contractors help host families and high schools throughout the U.S. "Share their America" with exchange students from more than 70 countries.
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Generate interest among potential host families in the local community
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Arrange homestays and high school enrollment for exchange students
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Hold orientations for both host families and exchange students
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Guide young, international visitors through personal and cultural adjustment
While successful Community Coordinators vary in age and walks of life, they all have a few things in common. They’re optimistic, motivated, flexible self-starters who are interested in other cultures and enjoy both working with young people and making new connections in their community.
To ensure their town shows its best side, Community Coordinators get the word out to find and match students with great host families. Based on families' interests, Coordinators are able to suggest students who would be a good fit. They also work to vet host families according to U.S. Department of State regulations. Finally, with the help of PAX staff, Coordinators help everyone get their bearings, holding orientations for students and host families alike.
Throughout the year, PAX students will naturally have many questions. The Community Coordinator is someone they can always turn to—particularly with cultural questions. PAX Coordinators working FLEX and YES students go a step further, organizing "enhancement activities." Enhancement activities are planned group events for students that are both fun and educational. Themes include: diversity, entrepreneurship, free market economy, democracy, U.S. Government, and leadership.
School officials see that PAX students provide learning opportunities for the entire community—and that they can count on their PAX Community Coordinator to ensure students are enrolled according to school policy. Coordinators make an impact elsewhere in the community as well. After all, PAX students volunteer and get involved in all sorts of extracurriculars. This gives PAX Coordinators the opportunity to get involved with local non-profits, cheer on the team, and much more!
Educational tours allow Coordinators to soak up a partner country’s culture, expand their understanding of participants’ home lives, and thereby feel more confident in supporting students, families, and schools! Over the last four years, PAX Community Coordinators have had the opportunity for one-week trips in Belgium, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Spain, Thailand, and Ukraine.
PAX teaches Community Coordinators about U.S. Department of State regulations and internal policies. Coordinators also receive training on selecting families, working with schools, and supporting participants.
The all-expenses paid annual meeting is a great opportunity to learn from PAX staff and other Coordinators, share best practices, meet representatives from overseas, and participate in engaging and informative workshops. The locations aren’t bad either. In the last handful of years, we've invited Coordinators to Charleston, Santa Fe, Orlando, Austin, Puerto Rico, New Orleans, Phoenix, and New York.
PAX's mission declares "Opening doors, embracing cultures, and becoming family." Thanks so much for considering joining the PAX family—we are always interested in adding great folks around the country. If the Coordinator role sounds like it might be a good fit for you, please take a moment to learn more about joining the team.
“I became a Coordinator, because I enjoyed hosting my first exchange student so much.”
—Sabrina Hickey, Community Coordinator (IN)
“I’ve met so many wonderful people as a Coordinator who have become good friends.”
—Kristy McAuliffe, Community Coordinator (TX)
“I love that when you know you need help, there’s a dedicated support and supervision team.”
—Rebekah Hubley, Community Coordinator (IN)
“There are so many things to learn about this world, and I’m just really happy that PAX students are willing to share that with me."
—Marcus Farr, Community Coordinator (IN)
“I love the opportunity to bring such diversity to my community, which has very little."
—Laurel Paul, Community Coordinator (UT)
“I love the work, the students, and the impact I have on the community."
—Roxanne Lau, Community Coordinator (GA)
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