Summary:
This position will work with all our sites in Washington heights from our Beacons, Community School and SYEP/Career Ready, Cultural Center and other community stakeholders as a Community Youth Advocate supporting Catholic Charities Community Services’(the “Agency”) violence reduction agenda in Washington Heights. A Community Youth Advocate will provide support to participants who are impacted by violence, including but not limited to gun violence, or bullying in our community. This role is critical in helping to advance the goals, priority, and culture of the program and the Agency within the Alianza Division and the community and in interactions with partners, funders and the general public.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Represent program and agency at partnership meetings and other activities with partners, funders and the public on matters related to anti-violence initiatives.
- Participate in the Community Violence reduction committee being spearheaded by local elected officials.
- Plan and use community resources to promote violence reduction in our neighborhood.
- Visit other Violence reduction programs in other neighborhoods and maintain a neighborhood presence with youth and community residents to address concerns of neighborhood violence.
- Conduct outreach calls to participants’ guardians to keep participants involved in the program.
- Plan and implement individual and/or group socio-emotional support activities for participants.
- Consistently meet with local Precinct’s to build youth and community relations.
- Create a community Map of where the most incident of violence happens in our community.
- Work with Division Director and Community partners in planning for activities and formulating strategies to advance programmatic and agency goals and priorities.
- Conduct initial program assessment to assess participants’ needs.
- Facilitate daily program activities; maintain attendance logs for all our activities.
- Assist to maintain the monthly calendar of program activities and workshops available to participants.
- Attend inter-office meetings as well as outside agencies meetings as appropriate.
- Participate in staff meetings, case conferences and other meetings as assigned.
Position Type and Expected Hours of Work:
This is a full-time position. Ability to work flexible hours is a requirement.
Qualifications
Education and/or experience required:
- Working towards AA or BA
- Minimum three (3) years’ experience working with youth and working in an in-school setting.
- A strong commitment to anti-violence issues
Skills, Licenses, and/or competencies required:
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to motivate participants.
- Ability to work well in a team environment.
- Excellent network-building and outreach skills.
- Ability to effectively interact and work with individuals with diverse backgrounds.
- Must be organized and detail oriented and have the ability to work effectively under pressure in both team setting and individually.
- Excellent computer skills and experience (Internet, Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point).
Working conditions and physical demands required:
The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- When conducting home visits or field trips, individuals will use public transportation or traverse city
- streets, occasionally ascend/descend stairs, and be exposed to outside weather conditions.
- Remain in a stationary position while monitoring activities, providing instruction, or when at a workstation.
- Move for long periods, providing instruction.
- Use a computer at least 40% of the time.
- Ability and patience to work with young people, particularly in group settings.