Youth Employment Mentor-Aces Jobs

CASES keeps people out of jail and prison by engaging them in effective services that help them achieve success in the community. We specialize in serving youth and young adults in criminal justice and neighborhood-based programs. CASES seeks a Youth Employment Mentor to support participants in a paid work experience for a new and innovative South Bronx and East Harlem neighborhood-based program for young people who need support to overcome threatening environments and system-involvement to find the path to education achievement, vocational training and employment.

CASES seeks a progressive and engaging team member who is committed to advancing programming and career development for these youth and young adults. The Youth Employment Mentor serves as a liaison with the community – NYC – to supervise community-based projects for participants to engage in. Participants who are assigned to our work crews, will have the opportunity to be paid for their project time. The Mentor will work with the Employment Team to ensure projects are developed, supplies are procured, and we have the skills to complete the project. Additionally, the Mentor will facilitate readiness workshops for youth joining work crew as well as workshops to promote success on the work crews. The Mentor will work closely with other team members to ensure that young people are meeting their goals. The teams meet the young people where they are (literally, through engagement in the community)—and gradually engage participants to open new opportunities. We are looking for skilled team members who can envision a model based on the theory that young people regardless of roadblocks—violence, trauma, racism, gangs, incarceration, truancy and unemployment—can engage in positive relationships to change behaviors and acquire life, education and employment skills. Our approach is focused on youth otherwise likely to “fail” to stay engaged throughout this normal developmental process, with a program that is assertive, agile and effective in promoting youth success.

Requirements: Must have valid Driver’s License in good standing, must be willing and able to drive a 15-passenger van

Travel: Travel is expected between our Bronx and Harlem work sites via CASES vehicle and/or public transportation

Reports to: Team Leader

Essential Duties:

• Co-facilitate weekly Employment Readiness workshops on topics ranging from Verbal Communication to Financial Literacy, etc
• Promote the program’s no-drop policy (this program adopts the philosophy that participants are never considered to have "dropped out" of the program)
• Work collaboratively with youth workers and other team members to assess and identify participants needs and strengths;
• Establish transformational relationships with program participants by pacing engagement strategies based on participant stage of readiness
• Be a primary component in the execution of community benefit projects with participants from East Harlem & South Bronx. This entails:
• Conduct morning check-in with active participants including completing timesheets, warm-up activity and safety check
• Supervise and work alongside participants to complete daily tasks that include lifting/packing pantry boxes, light custodial/maintenance, outdoor garbage pick-up, light landscaping, etc.
• Act as the main point of contact with representatives from worksites to stay informed of schedule changes, closings due to inclement weather, modifications to work assignments, etc.
• Participate as a member of an interdisciplinary team to increase services to participants and provide the appropriate individualized program plans for each young person;
• Support participants in understanding timesheets and submitting process
• Develop rapport with participants to support their skill and personal development
• Facilitate peace circles with participants when they have “fallen off” of crew
• Morning pickup of work van and safe transport of participants to and from worksites
• Commit to cohesive team functioning to enable the highest-level of performance needed to achieve program goals;
• Order and pick-up lunch orders for participants on a daily basis
• Adapt communication style to connect with the diverse experiences of participants.

Secondary Duties:

• Manage the stress related to the intensity of the work by adopting self-care strategies, effectively utilizing supervision and team meetings, and participating in team-building and team stress reduction activities
• Provide culturally competent services in accordance with CASES policies and practices;
• Participate in interdisciplinary team activities/events to increase participant engagement
• Perform other duties as required by the Team Leader and Director
• Support team members addressing complex and risk management situations and assist with response to safety and crisis situations
• Engage in ongoing personal and professional development to increase capacity, skill and enjoyment serving high-risk young people

Qualifications:

• Strong communication skills, both written and oral
• A belief and interest in working collaboratively with Harlem and South Bronx communities, youth and families
• Knowledge of youth development and/or criminal justice field
• Knowledge of Harlem and South Bronx neighborhoods
• Unwavering commitment to quality programs
• HS Diploma and commensurate experience in Youth and/or Workforce Development
• Ability to engage in sustained physical labor on a daily basis
• Proficiency with office productivity and data entry software

Application Details

• Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.
• Please submit a cover letter and resume

Pay & Benefits

• As a full-time employee of CASES, you will receive our comprehensive list of benefit programs, which you can review on our website’s career page.
• This is a full-time non-exempt role; annual salary-$50,000

CASES is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with CASES is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position, without regard to race, color, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or marital, military, or citizenship status. We also actively recruit individuals with prior involvement in the criminal justice system.