Position Opening: 

Support Staff for YouthPowerMediaMN Leadership Institutes for Black Youth 

Position: Support Staff for YouthPowerMedia MN 2021 Leadership Institutes for Black Youth
Position Status: Temporary; potential for contract to full-time hire based on job performance during contract status.

Estimated Duration: Duration of the 2021 summer program year; June 7th – September 3rd, 2021
Hours: Hours vary depending on program needs. Estimated 15-20 hours per week (typical schedule will be Monday through Thursday from 8AM- 3PM). Occasional weekend and overnight hours may be required.
Reports to: Lead Staff for YouthPowerMediaMN
Salary range: $20-24 per hour, paid bi-weekly. Not benefits eligible.

Posting Date: May 19, 2021
Close date: Open until filled


JOB DESCRIPTION & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Support Staff for YouthPowerMediaMN is responsible for youth supervision, logistics, restorative practices, and creating the conditions for individual and collective youth well-being.

The YouthPowerMediaMN Summer Session runs from June-August 2021. Some program reporting and other requirements may need to be completed after the session, so the duration of the position may be extended through the end of the session.

YouthPowerMediaMN is a youth-led organizing and advocacy hub. Eligible participants for the Summer Session are Black Youth ages 13-18 who are current or previous participants in St. Paul Youth Services' Behavior Intervention and Pre-Charge Diversion programs. Eligible, interested youth complete an application and interview process. The application is focused on leadership, goals, skills, hopes, and dreams. Youth participants earn stipends for their full participation. 

A Lead Staff will co-lead the design and implementation of the Summer Session with experienced youth leaders from previous YouthPowerMediaMN sessions in a youth "train-the-trainer" model. The Support Staff assists the Lead Staff and youth co-facilitators in delivering on the curriculum, working under the Lead Staff’s direction, but primarily responsible for taking initiative to achieve the following:

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Support Staff constructively reinforces expectations and provides high support (aligned with the Code of Conduct) to Create the Conditions for Youth Success. These include responsibility for meeting program expectations, assessments, restorative practices, and more per the Code of Conduct.

The Support Staff is responsible for:

  • Ensuring youth consistently adhere to the Code of Conduct without discussion, negotiation, or reminders

  • Ensuring youth are fully participating in all activities

  • Partnering with youth to develop silent signals and prompts, and utilizing other approaches to reinforce expectations throughout the Fall session as youth are still adjusting to the Code of Conduct,

  • Promoting a strong, safer, supportive community and reinforcing youth in demonstrating individual and interpersonal behaviors to create it

  • Intervening with restorative practices immediately when youth do not follow the Code of Conduct and determining, communicating, and following through on next steps regarding consequences

  • Monitoring youth wellbeing and proactively and discreetly engaging youth who are demonstrating concerning behaviors (negative, disruptive, or worrisome)

  • Monitoring group dynamics, intervening constructively and immediately when negative individual or interpersonal behaviors occur, documenting concerns and sharing them with the Support Staff’s supervisor (and sharing them with the YouthPowerMediaMN team if/when appropriate)

  • Documenting any issues with Code of Conduct, concerns about youth, or behavioral issues and sharing concerns and any restorative practices or consequences in places with the Support Staff’s supervisor and with YouthPowerMediaMN team if/when appropriate

  • Serving as the liaison to families regarding youth participation in the program, regarding youth leadership, program activities, and the Code of Conduct and any consequences or restorative practices put into place if issues arise

  • Partnering with youth to ensure the YouthPowerMediaMN hub and common areas are clean and well-maintained

  • Serving as the individual for youth to notify of excused absences or tardiness

  • Serving as the individual youth engage after an unexcused absence to determine any needed restorative practices or consequences

  • Serving as the individual, youth engage to learn of and complete any catch-up work: e.g., completing a timesheet/assessment, independently completing an activity to be able to contribute to the group project, etc.

  • Managing the group text in terms of monitoring and responding to general questions about schedule, transportation, and excused absences

  • Proactively engaging youth offline when issues arise on the group text that relate to a specific individual and immediately alerting the Support Staff’s supervisor (and alerting the YouthPowerMediaMN team if/when appropriate)

  • Monitoring the completion of weekly timesheets and initials all completed timesheets to attest to their accuracy

  • Monitoring the completion of weekly assessments, ensuring youth are completing them in a thoughtful way that meets the assessment goals

  • Completing detailed documentation of activities completed

  • Contributing to individualized youth plans by communicating with the Lead Staff in writing any observations, strengths, interests, concerns, or insights, restorative practices identified through interactions with youth and/or their families

  • Adhering to all protocol for youth safety and privacy

  • Recruiting youth volunteers for rotating positions including hub inspection, photography/videography, etc., providing support as needed to ensure high expectations can be met, ensuring those responsibilities are completed

  • Serving as the point person for youth transportation needs and questions

  • Serving as the point person for youth t-shirts (reinforcing expectations, handing out, renting when youth forget, tracking times t-shirt is forgotten)

  • Completing the head count on field trips and coordinating the logistics of the bus trips – getting youth on and off, time management, etc.

  • Leading snack and clean up times, for constructive team-building and to ensure youth are consistently meeting expectations, and efficiency

  • Serving as a trusted mentor to youth in the program

  • Consistent attendance

REQUIRED SKILLS

Ability to:

  • Communicate high expectations and hold youth accountable in ways that allow them to learn and grow.

  • Build community, create rituals, and set clear expectations – including maintaining a shared space, following a code of conduct, and participating.

  • Form and sustain positive 1-on-1 relationships with youth, foster teamwork among youth, and maintain healthy professional boundaries.

  • Follow through on commitments and communicate any changes to plans in a timely way.

  • Positively and efficiently move youth from one activity to the next.

  • Engage a diverse range of personalities and learning styles.

  • Positively engage and regularly communicate with families of participants.

  • Build trusting relationships with youth and actively listen for individual and interpersonal challenges youth are experiencing and identifying strategies to address constructively.

  • Document and share information about the program and youth and individual and group well-being with supervisor and colleagues.

  • Engage youth in program planning and leadership development roles.

  • Follow data collection and program analyst expectations.

  • Excellent judgement, constructive problem-solving skills, and ability to maintain confidentiality.

  • Excellent organizational skills, time management skills, and attention to detail.

  • Self-motivated and ability to work effectively as a member of a team.

  • Positive attitude, flexibility, and growth mindset

  • Asset-based, intersectional view of youth and commitment to centering youth voice

  • Ability to hold youth accountable in a constructive and compassionate way

  • Passion for St. Paul Youth Services’ mission and values

  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion, equity, and cultural responsiveness

  • High level of personal and professional integrity

  • Consistent attendance

PROFESSIONAL / EDUCATIONAL & RELATED REQUIREMENTS

  • 4 years of experience working directly with Black Youth in a classroom or community setting

  • Completion of St. Paul Youth Services’ YouthCentric training

  • Demonstration of ALL of St. Paul Youth Services’ values

  • Demonstrated expertise in areas such as youth development, mentoring, human relations, wellness, restorative justice, the arts, education, and/or recreation

  • Experience with online and social media platforms and programs including, but not limited to Zoom, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Canva, VSCO, etc. Along with knowledge of trends and innovation currently within the social media space.

  • Familiarity with public systems including education, health, housing, juvenile justice, employment, economic development, and how these systems intersect

  • Understanding of trauma-informed care, culturally-responsive healing, racism and other systems of power and oppression – relating specifically to Black Youth

  • High School Diploma or Equivalency

  • BA degree, or some college in a relevant field, is preferred but not required

  • CPR or First Aid training and certification is preferred

  • Must have current driver’s license, clean driving record, and proof of insurance

  • Must successfully complete the pre-employment process for the position, including a job-relevant criminal background check

  • Must have the flexibility to travel overnight

TO APPLY

Please apply using the following link - https://forms.gle/wJh2gxAMMG1hbrwA8

 

St. Paul Youth Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Candidates representing communities of color and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.