OUR VOLUNTEERS

Meet the Awaken Pittsburgh Volunteers!

As a nonprofit organization, Awaken Pittsburgh relies on its valuable volunteers who invest their time, talent, and dedication to our mission. Their work behind the scenes ensures that we can continue to provide quality programs and services to our communities. To each and every volunteer… THANK YOU.

SHAWN ATKINS
Graphic Designer

Shawn is a freelance, multi-disciplinary graphic designer and cartoonist who has delivered creative and engaging solutions across brand identity, print, and digital media. He is a well-rounded and positive person who is dedicated and hard-working. Shawn has a good sense of humor and is an avid comics reader.

ELIZABETH BARGER
Database Manager

Beth is a managing partner of a women-owned consulting company in Northern Virginia. Beth is a Reiki practitioner and has been practicing mediation for almost ten years. As a passionate champion of meditation and mindfulness enhancing all facets of her life, Beth volunteers to maintain databases for Awaken Pittsburgh. By effectively collecting and organizing this information, Beth hopes to increase the participation of such life-altering programs.

YVONNE BENINATI (she/her/hers)
Proposal Writer

Yvonne has a JD from the University of Pittsburgh, an MPH from the University of Texas School of Public Health, and a BS in Sociology from the University of Houston. Yvonne practiced law for 10 years, both in private practice and as a clerk with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. She has also served as a professional fundraiser working for such diverse organizations as the University of Pittsburgh, the Senator John Heinz History Center, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International. Yvonne loves spending time with her four granddaughters, doing artwork (bead-woven jewelry, floral paintings, and mixed media pieces), and volunteering her time as a proposal writer with nonprofit organizations. Yvonne took a mindfulness-based stress reduction class and has been meditating and practicing mindfulness ever since. Yvonne is grateful for the opportunity to work with Awaken Pittsburgh and hopes to help broaden its reach to serve more communities.

SNEZANA DJORDJEVIC
Aministrative Support

Snezana has been working as an accountant, interpreter, and translation expert. She has a B.S Degree in Agriculture from the University of Belgrade and certification in the Environmental Health Risk Assessment Program from the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health. In her free time, she likes to walk, hike and travel. Besides that, she likes to read, socialize and take care of her house plants and outdoor plants. She enjoys learning new things and has a keen interest to gain knowledge about mindfulness and spirituality by being a part of Awaken Pittsburgh. She is glad to be able to help Awaken Pittsburgh’s mission and the opportunity to learn and broaden her knowledge in this field.

SHANNON DRUFFNER
Administrative Assistant

Shannon graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Public Health. She moved to Pittsburgh last summer for a temporary job at the food bank working with the child nutrition team. Now, Shannon works for Harvie Farms as an operations assistant. She has been practicing yoga and mediation since the start of the pandemic, and it has been a really positive change in her life. Shannon is very excited to be volunteering for this organization and helping make a difference in the community. Shannon also enjoys reading, doing puzzles, hanging out with friends, and spending time outdoors!

KAILI DOUD (she/her)
Copywriter

Kaili is a writer and content strategist from southwest Michigan. On a trip to Pittsburgh in 2014, she fell in love with the Cathedral of Learning and decided to set up shop in the 412 for good. Kaili has built her career writing for local and national brands, most in the healthcare and food and beverage industries. She’s excited to contribute her skills to Awaken Pittsburgh, expand her mindfulness repertoire, and continue to learn and grow with her chosen Pittsburgh community. Music, comedy, and spending time at the Great Lakes are a few of her favorite things.

LARISSA EVANS
Online Community Program Coordinator

Larissa has been practicing meditation and yoga for over 15 years. She completed her MS in Couple and Family Therapy at Virginia Tech where she developed a passion for experiential therapies such as Internal Family Systems and Emotionally Focused Therapy. She was a full time parent for five years and is now working in education. Having also lived in Las Vegas, Southern California, and Northern Virginia, Larissa is proud to call Pittsburgh home now.

JACQUELINE GONZALEZ
Research Assistant

Jacqueline is a recent Bachelor’s in accounting graduate from California State University Long Beach. Jacqueline hopes to begin her graduate degree in analytics the following school year. . She wanted to volunteer as a research assistant because she enjoyed working with statistics in her undergraduate thesis. She enjoys the area of analytics and hopes to learn more about analytics through this volunteer opportunity. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, going to museums, and traveling. She is excited to work for an organization that promotes mindfulness and diversity and inclusion across communities. In today’s world, it is important to prioritize meditation and mindfulness and Jacqueline is proud to be part of an organization that supports these values.

MOLLY GREENO
Volunteer Qualitative Research Assistant

Molly is a pediatric psychometrist for the neuropsychology department of a medical center in Minnesota. She is passionate about Awaken Pittsburgh’s mission to help communities through mindfulness and is excited to have the opportunity to help with research projects that will help expand the current literature on mindfulness. In her free time, Molly enjoys baking, reading, getting out onto the trails, and volunteering as a crisis counselor.

YAEL GUTMAN
Research Assistant

Yael is a psychologist from Mexico, eager to volunteer as part of the research team at Awaken Pittsburgh. Ever since meditation and mindfulness practice served her as a coping method through the COVID-19 pandemic, Yael is convinced of its power to benefit people’s lives, and is glad to be helping this organization’s efforts in spreading it to its community. Other activities she enjoys are music, reading and spending time with friends and family, all of which bring great joy to her life.

ROMAINE KNOX-CHAPMAN
Grant Writer

Romaine is currently a Trust Administrator for a non-profit special needs trust agency and she takes great pleasure to assist her clientele with their quality of life. Romaine has an MBA from Chatham University and a BA from Duquesne University. Also, she has acquired a certificate in Grant Writing from Community College of Allegheny County. Romaine has worked for both non-profit and for-profit companies and will extend her expertise, whenever an opportunity presents itself. Volunteering is a way she can connect with the community. Not only does Romaine persevere professionally, but she also social dances and plays tennis for fun and to relieve stress. Romaine is a semi-social butterfly, but also enjoys her quiet time to stay focused. She is thrilled to volunteer with Awaken Pittsburgh and to help with the growth of the organization.

JAKE MACKENZIE
Research Assistant

Jake is currently working as an Underwriting Analyst at an Insurance company based out of the New York City area. He stumbled upon meditation about 2 years ago and it has now become a focal point of his life. After experiencing the benefits for himself, he is excited to support Awaken Pittsburg’s vision of systematically delivering mindfulness-based practices to various communities.

VICTORIA MAGIERA SHINER (she/her)
UX Designer & Specialist

Victoria is a recent graduate from DePaul University’s Master of Science program in Human-Computer Interaction where she found her niche in mobile, web, and graphic design. With 7+ years of experience in hospitality and communication, Victoria has a passion for providing others with the best experience possible. Victoria loves working with Awaken Pittsburgh because of the incredible mission and its huge impact on others. By working on the website, Victoria is able to ensure visitors always have access to the incredible resources that Awaken Pittsburgh provides to all.

RYAN MCCARTHY
Legal Advisor

Ryan is an attorney that provides legal assistance on various matters to the Executive Director of Awaken Pittsburgh. As a former soldier and Iraq veteran, Ryan has personally experienced the life-changing value of sustained mindfulness practice and connection with a community of practitioners. Ryan hopes to share his passion for mindfulness practice with others in need, especially first responders and other veterans.

 

CONNOR MURPHY
Digital Marketing Specialist

Connor works as a communications specialist for nonprofits supporting ministries through financial services and stewardship education. A versatile marketing professional, he is experienced in content writing, video editing, social media, photography, and videography. He first discovered mindfulness in 2018 while listening to a podcast. Since then, he has allowed mindful practice to enrich his life and become more patient and compassionate. Connor is also an enthusiastic film photographer, vocalist, and songwriter. He supports the digital marketing initiatives of Awaken Pittsburgh to help others discover the transformational power of mindfulness.

 

SHRADDHA RAO (she/her)
Webmaster

Shraddha began her career as a fashion designer with a vision of sustainability. She established an e-commerce fashion platform with a goal of a small business. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts from Coventry University. Down the line, her interest has also inclined towards establishing technical expertise. She learned programming and developing web applications over time and worked for a Health care web platform as a User Interface Engineer. Shraddha has a volunteering mindset and being a part of Awaken Pittsburgh has aspired her to help the community.

 

MELLOWEE SEVILLA
Volunteer Coordinator

Mellowee is a Civil Engineer and homemaker from the Philippines. This is Mellowee’s first volunteer work and she is extremely glad to help Awaken Pittsburgh as well as develop skills outside of her chosen field. Mellowee is grateful to be a part of Awaken Pittsburgh because of the organization’s aspiration to help youth, professionals, and communities through mindfulness education and action.

SUE SIEGERT
Space and Capital Planning

Sue has a professional background in education with 20 years teaching mainly in Early Childhood with a passion for ESL. Most recently, Sue has worked as an Immigration Paralegal and would like to gain experience in family immigration in the future. Sue is extremely excited for the opportunity to support the mission of Awaken Pittsburgh by assisting in the process of looking for a new property location. When she is not working, Sue enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews playing board games and participating in drum circles, ecstatic dance, hiking, and reading.

DINEKE TOLKAMP (she/her)
Qualitative Research Assistant

Dineke is a Registered Psychologist from Canada, who is presently living in Vancouver, Canada. She is part of the research team at Awaken Pittsburgh. Through her work as a psychologist, Dineke has seen the positive impact of teaching others mindfulness and emotion awareness skills. She is excited to be part of a team that demonstrates this through research and to be part of an organization that is making a difference in the community. Dineke enjoys trying new things, being outside, gardening, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

SARAH URBANIC
Online Community Coordinator

Sarah currently works full-time at a school for children with disabilities and is attending graduate school at Carlow University to one day become a professional counselor. She enjoys spending time with loved ones, outdoor activities, and taking care of her precious houseplants. Mindfulness has been an important aspect of Sarah’s life for over six years now and she’s so grateful to have the opportunity to volunteer for Awaken Pittsburgh.

BRIAN WALSH
Online Content Designer

Brian is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh where he studied Supply Chain Management. He was drawn to volunteering with Awaken Pittsburgh by his belief that practicing mindfulness is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves, and sharing it is one of the greatest gifts we can give others. He began volunteering in 2020 and is grateful to be able to work with an organization that offers life-changing tools to the Pittsburgh community.

 

CHRISTIE HUA
Facebook Ads Coordinator

 

DANIELLE MATTHEWS
Graphic Designer

 

BRIAN NEWES
Marketing and Social Media

 

YUHAO PENG
Research Assistant

 

PARKER SERVELLO
Data Analysis & Google Analytics

Volunteer With Us!

Want to get involved? Awaken Pittsburgh is looking to expand our team of volunteers and bring new talent on board.

See below for current volunteer opportunities:

  • Presentation Designer
    Awaken Pittsburgh is a growing, energetic organization that draws upon the wisdom of mindfulness and meditation to serve a broad public. Our mission is to foster well-being, empathy, and compassion for all by teaching and encouraging mindfulness and meditation practices. Awaken Pittsburgh uses evidence-based curricula and programming to serve individuals, organizations, and communities to seek clarity, focus, renewal, and improved productivity. We are expanding our programming and growing into new areas. We are therefore in need of a new Presentation Designer to join our marketing team. About the position: Our Presentation Designer will help our Marketing Team and Program Deliverers tell compelling stories using creative, innovative, and engaging presentation content and design. In this role, you will create persuasive and effective visual communication solutions for a range of needs from PowerPoint slides to customized presentation designs and storytelling solutions for our brand and partnership teams. Through sound design principles and innovative visual strategies, you will transform complex data points and text-heavy information into compelling and memorable visual presentations that create maximum impact. What can you expect to do in this role? (Essential Duties)
    • Maintain Awaken Pittsburgh's brand identity and ensure consistency across a variety of mediums to deliver presentations that help win business.
    • Manage Awaken Pittsburgh external presentations including pre-sales pitches, and Program Manager presentations.
    • Ability to create, edit, and annotate graphic designs, multimedia files, charts, and graphs into immersive storytelling formats.
    • Assist in performing quality assurance to ensure all materials are void of spelling and other grammatical errors.
    • Collaborate with the marketing team on all new business development pitch decks.
    • Handle scheduling of inbound design requests and assignments from stakeholders in various locations with different priorities
    About You: The qualifications listed below represent the credentials necessary to perform the essential functions of this position. To be successful in this position, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. A. Education and/or Experience
    • Bachelor’s degree in a design-related field and/or 3-5 years of professional experience in a graphics-related field or freelance capacity
    B. Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
    • PowerPoint/Google Slides/Keynote advanced knowledge
    • Adobe Creative Suite advanced knowledge
    • Ability to express ideas graphically
    • Quality-driven mindset with strong attention to detail
    • Ability to prioritize multiple stakeholders and projects in a fast-paced environment to ensure efficiency while adhering to strict deadlines
    • Collaborative mindset to solving challenges, willing to learn and share knowledge with peers
    Awaken Pittsburgh is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. What makes you, you? At Awaken Pittsburgh, we welcome all talents, skill sets, experiences, and backgrounds. We believe that each of us plays a part and can contribute to diversity, equity, inclusivity, and belonging. Our culture results from our behaviors, actions, commitments, and how we get things done by being as collaborative and inclusive as possible. In turn, our culture of belonging inspires us to speak, listen, learn from each other and bring forward the best ideas to strengthen and pursue our mission. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for this position without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, or any other diverse identity or protected classification. How to Apply See our website at www.awakenpittsburgh.org for more information. Interested individuals should submit a cover letter and resume to: volunteer-coordinator@awakenpittsburgh.org

    Apply

  • Graphic Designer (Volunteer)
    Awaken Pittsburgh is a growing, energetic organization that draws upon the wisdom of mindfulness and meditation to serve a broad public. Our mission is to foster well-being, empathy, and compassion for all by teaching and encouraging mindfulness and meditation practices. Awaken Pittsburgh uses evidence-based curricula and programming to serve individuals, organizations, and communities to seek clarity, focus, renewal, and improved productivity. We are expanding our programming and growing into new areas. We are therefore in need of a new Graphic Designer to join our marketing team. About the position: You will be designing a wide variety of outward-facing projects across digital and print media. To be successful in this position, you’ll be a self-starter, capable of delivering brilliant creative ideas, and show amazing attention to detail. This position is virtual; therefore, we are open to candidates from anywhere within the continental US as long as you have a good internet connection to collaborate. What can you expect to do in this role? (Essential Duties)
    • Plan concepts by studying relevant information and materials.
    • Illustrate concepts by designing examples of art arrangement, size, type size and style and submitting them for approval.
    • Prepare finished art by operating necessary equipment and software.
    • Coordinate with/supporting our team of social media, web design, marketing, fundraising, and board volunteers as necessary.
    • Collaborate with the Marketing Coordinator and Executive Director to make sure the brand voice comes through our graphics/visuals.
    • Create a wide range of graphics and layouts for product illustrations, brochures, mailings, social media, email, PowerPoint, websites, etc.
    • A minimum of 4-6 hours per week of dedicated time for Awaken Pittsburgh.
    About You:
    • Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or related field/Equivalent experience.
    • Experience as a graphic designer or in a related field.
    • Demonstrable graphic design skills with a strong portfolio.
    • Proficiency with and access to required desktop publishing tools, including Photoshop, InDesign Quark, and Illustrator/ computer-aided design.
    • A strong eye for visual composition.
    • Effective time management skills and the ability to meet deadlines.
    • Able to give and receive constructive criticism.
    • Understanding of marketing, production, website design, corporate identity, product packaging, advertisements, and multimedia design.
    • Ability to edit video is a plus.
    Awaken Pittsburgh is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. What makes you, you? At Awaken Pittsburgh, we welcome all talents, skill sets, experiences, and backgrounds. We believe that each of us plays a part and can contribute to diversity, equity, inclusivity, and belonging. Our culture results from our behaviors, actions, commitments, and how we get things done by being as collaborative and inclusive as possible. In turn, our culture of belonging inspires us to speak, listen, learn from each other and bring forward the best ideas to strengthen and pursue our mission. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for this position without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, or any other diverse identity or protected classification. How to Apply See our website at www.awakenpittsburgh.org for more information. Interested individuals should submit a cover letter and resume to: volunteer-coordinator@awakenpittsburgh.org

    Apply

  • Non-profit Board Member Revenue Strategy (Volunteer)
    Awaken Pittsburgh is a growing, energetic organization that draws upon the wisdom of mindfulness and meditation to serve a broad public. Our mission is to foster well-being, empathy, and compassion for all by teaching and encouraging mindfulness and meditation practices. Awaken Pittsburgh uses evidence-based curricula and programming to serve individuals, organizations, and communities to seek clarity, focus, renewal, and improved productivity. Working closely with Awaken Pittsburgh’s Executive Director and Board, the new Board Member, as a member of our fundraising committee will help guide our fundraising strategies and implementation to promote future growth and help fulfill the institution’s mission, vision, and create long-term sustainability. THIS POSITION REQUIRES RESIDENCY IN THE PITTSBURGH METRO AREA. See our website at www.awakenpittsburgh.org for more. Duties & Responsibilities This position requires candidates to be able to perform duties that can include but are not limited to the following:
    • Prepare for and attend quarterly board meetings and monthly committee meetings (approximately 2 hours each)
    • Work between meetings (~8 hours/month) to:
    • Develop, market, execute, and participate in fundraising activities and/or special events
    • Strategize fundraising plans and activities that assist the organization in meeting its goals and delivering upon its mission
    • Collaborate to coordinate delivery of materials, campaigns and collateral
    • Provide guidance and assist in the management of donor and earned revenue development
    • Research and/or contact potential donors, both institutional and individual.
    About You:
    • You can think and act strategically with an eye on the "big picture" of a dynamic, future-focused non-profit organization
    • You are comfortable being a public face of Awaken Pittsburgh, i.e., at community events or with donors
    • You are ideally experienced in fundraising and can solicit and successfully steward donors.
    • You are collaborative by nature, focusing on shared objectives and goals
    • You are a person of high integrity who shows accessibility and accountability through your actions.
    • You are current with your mindfulness or contemplative practice
    • You have 10 hours a month to dedicate to this position.
    Education and Experience:
    • At least 5 years of relevant work experience or educational background
    • Ideally, equipped with the previous board and/or non-profit management skills
    How to Apply Interested individuals should submit a cover letter and resume to beth@awakenpittsburgh.org Other Information This is a volunteer position. There will be no financial compensation. Our organization is 100% volunteer-run. We welcome volunteers located anywhere in the world, as long as they can connect reliably to the internet.

    Apply

  • Events Coordinator (Volunteer)
    Awaken Pittsburgh, a non-profit 501(c)(3) formed in 2016, is seeking a volunteer to support our planning and hosting new fundraising and awareness-raising events. Awaken Pittsburgh is a growing, energetic secular organization that draws upon the wisdom of mindfulness and meditation to serve a broad public. Its evidence-based curricula and programming serve students, educators, those in high stress, social services and mental health professionals, corporations, and any other individual or organization seeking to gain clarity, focus, renewal, and improved productivity. Duties & Responsibilities This position requires candidates to be able to perform duties that can include but are not limited to the following:
    • Plan and coordinate the details of fundraising and awareness events for our organization;
    • Work with the Executive, Director and Board of Directors, marketing and fundraising committees to gain an understanding of the events’ purpose, goals and details for implementation;
    • Work with social media/marketing team to publicize event and increase participation/attendance;
    • Outline the scope of the event, including time, date, location, and budget;
    • Scout and inspect event venues;
    • Work with vendors to get bids and determine best fits for the budget and goals of the event;
    • Recruit other volunteers/Board Members to table at and/or participate in events;
    • Assist in the development of media, marketing materials, announcements, photo opportunities and social media marketing;
    • Coordinate event logistics and services, including technology and equipment needed to run the event, food, drinks, transportation, etc.
    • Manage the budget and ensure event stays within guidelines.
    Skills Needed
    • Communication skills: Excellent listening, speaking, and writing skills will facilitate your ability to communicate with vendors, event attendees, and staff as well as promote the event.
    • Attention to detail: An ability to notice and orchestrate the details of an event, from the typeface on the invitations to the kind of food that will be served at the event, is essential.
    • Coordination: You must be able to work alongside other people and adjust your actions to theirs in order to fulfill the overall goals.
    • Problem-solving: You have to be adept at not only solving problems but maintaining your composure when doing so.
    • Interpersonal skills: The ability to establish and maintain relationships is essential.
    Other Information This is a volunteer position. There will be no financial compensation. Our organization is 100% volunteer-run. We welcome volunteers located anywhere in the world, as long as they can connect reliably to the internet.

    Apply

  • Social Media Coordinator (Volunteer)
    Role Overview Awaken Pittsburgh is looking for an experienced and creative Social Media Coordinator to join our marketing team as a volunteer. As a Social Media Coordinator, you will be responsible for developing and implementing our Social Media strategy in order to increase our online presence and improve our marketing and sales efforts. The Social Media Coordinator will help market our programming, manage our social media accounts, and work with our marketing team to actualize our marketing plans and strategies. Responsibilities Include:
    • Set specific marketing goals with the team
    • Implement marketing strategies aligned with business targets
    • Develop, design, implement and monitor digital campaigns to increase web traffic, program sign ups, and brand awareness
    • Forecast market trends
    • Research market to identify new clients and opportunities
    • Generate innovative ideas to promote our brand and our products
    • Address advertising needs
    • Work with branding professional to ensure brand consistency through all marketing channels
    • Establish a strong, long-term social media presence
    Skills Required:
    • Expertise in marketing through Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and other platforms
    • Understanding SEO and traffic metrics
    • Good understanding of social media KPIs
    • Team Player
    • Ability to manage and schedule posts - familiarity with Later a plus
    Other Information This is a volunteer position. There will be no financial compensation. Our organization is 100% volunteer-run. We welcome volunteers located anywhere in the world, as long as they can connect reliably to the internet. We expect this position to require 5-8 hours per week.

    Apply

  • Social Media Video Editor (Volunteer)
    Awaken Pittsburgh, a non-profit 501(c)(3) formed in 2016, is looking for an experienced and creative Volunteer Social Media Video Editor to join our global creative team. A hands-on, inspiring creative who's passionate about storytelling, craft, motion design, film and music who can help develop our brand aesthetic for motion across our growing digital platforms. Thinking digitally first, you'll be integral to crafting the stories of our brand history, testimonies, and services. Working with our Marketing and Communications Manager, Graphic Designers, and Copy Writers you'll edit video assets for campaigns, social media, internal concepts, and e-comm. Responsibilities Include:
    • You'll help us grow our video and motion presence by developing reusable templates, textures and editing styles to ensure we show up with freshness and relevance
    • Develop compelling video content with a focus on digital marketing channels with our Marketing and Communications Manager, Graphic Designer, and Copy Writers to develop video treatments that meet our brand goals, values, and tone
    • Have your finger on the pulse of social trends, meme culture and video practices that resonate with our target market
    • Maintain an organized library of content and assets with a high level of detail
    Skills Required:
    • Two (2) years of experience as an editor
    • You are just as comfortable extracting a story from a week of raw footage as you are editing a visual montage to utilize in a concept or a :15 social asset
    • You have a great understanding of how the right balance of sound, motion and music
    • Experienced with implementing motion effects and can transform design files into animated titles and graphics
    • Experience in color grading, sound mixing and preparing files for delivery
    • Understanding of how motion can work harder across our different social platforms
    • Fluency in a variety of editing software
    • Knowledge all stages of production, and how those stages impact post-production
    • Capable of picking up a camera/iPhone/Bolex and independently shooting footage for small quick turnaround projects
    • Understanding of design, typography, and layout
    • Passion for music and have connections to producers and beat makers Contribute storytelling ideas, bring references to the team, be a creative partner
    Other Information This is a volunteer position. There will be no financial compensation. Our organization is 100% volunteer-run. We welcome volunteers located anywhere in the world, as long as they can connect reliably to the internet. Time Commitment: We expect this position to require 5-8 hours per week.

    Apply

  • Video Editor (Volunteer)
    Do you want to be a part of building an organization that offers mindfulness practices in order to improve the mental health and well-being of educators, helping professionals, and families? Awaken Pittsburgh is a young 501(c)(3) working to bring mindfulness-based social and emotional regulation skills to a variety of audiences. We are looking to get the word out about the good work that we do. We need support shooting, producing, and editing impactful video content relating to our mindfulness programs and organizational mission and vision. We are looking for a volunteer to offer a few hours a week to support this work. We have no equipment or software to offer, so the perfect volunteer for us will also be able to offer use of their own equipment. This could be video editing only (in which case it could be fully remote) or it could be someone local who could take video and/or photographs and help us build that content as well! Tasks that you may perform include:
    • Assembling raw footage and transferring or uploading to shared drive
    • Inputting sound to enhance footage
    • Inputting graphics to enhance footage
    • Digitally splicing video and synchronizing them into one file
    • Improving and correcting lighting, coloring, sound quality, etc. as needed
    • Inserting captions for increased accessibility
    • Managing our YouTube Channel
    Skills you will need also include:
    • A strong understanding of what makes a powerful narrative and how to communicate that narrative across multiple platforms.
    • Training and experience in how to tell a story using words, images, or audio and an understanding of how to create content that draws an audience.
    • Ability to demonstrate the personal and emotional impact of our work.
    • Nimble, can-do attitude. Ability to manage multiple projects at the same time in order to complete them accurately and on schedule.
    • Willingness to embrace change and adapt to strategy on the fly.
    • Willingness to listen to feedback from others and find the best ways to incorporate that feedback.
    • Flexibility to deal with unanticipated projects.
    Other Information This is a volunteer position. There will be no financial compensation. Our organization is 100% volunteer-run. We welcome volunteers located anywhere in the world, as long as they can connect reliably to the internet.

    Apply