JOB TITLE: Assistant Director, Host Home and Collective housing

Avenues for Homeless Youth Community-Based housing provides emergency shelter, short-term housing, rapid re-housing and supportive services for youth and young families experiencing housing instability and homelessness. We strive to do that in a safe and nurturing environment through a social justice lens. Through such service, Avenues seeks to partner with youth and young families while they define their experiences, life dreams and future. Our work takes into account historical trauma, systems of oppression and intersectionality while being grounded in the power of resiliency, healing and community.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Assistant Program Director is responsible for the general operations, services and outcomes of the community-based programs. The position provides leadership and support to the community-based programs by helping teach program to cultivate programming that is reflective of cultural awareness, youth determination and social justice advocacy and change.

REPORTS TO: Director of Programs

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

· Provide Program Managers with leadership and support, both in professional development as well as program development.

· Assist Program Managers with community engagement, locally, nationally and globally.

· Ensure that program values and expectations are clearly understood and followed by youth and staff

· Train and support staff in practicing principles-based work, including the following principles: trauma-informed, harm reduction, trusting relationships, strengths-based, journey-oriented, collaborative, non-judgmental, PYD, and holistic.

· Support staff in utilizing a social justice model that supports liberation and self-determination.

· Work with Director of Programs to help establish a research, evaluation and education institute. This includes creating an internal education institute to identify, train and support staff as needed, agency-wide and program specific.

· Work with Program Managers to create and sustain culturally appropriate models that re-enforce and move Avenues towards its mission, vision and values.

· Support outreach and community awareness to help sustain funding for each program.

· Work in partnership with Program Managers to create a program strategic plan that sustains program growth and viability.

· Assist Program Manager(s) with recruiting and strengthening how we recruit, screen, train and support hosts with an emphasis on hosts that are reflective of the communities served.

· Assist Program Manager(s) with engaging and strengthening how we connect with, screen, train and support Ubuntu with an emphasis on community members that are reflective of the communities served.

· Work in partnership with Program Managers to support Youth Advocate and Engagement Specialist, volunteers, interns and youth.

· Provide direct supervision of program evaluation and outcomes.

· Ensure the accurate and timely data entry into HMIS or other client data management system, if different.

QUALIFICATIONS:

BA, BS or a Master’s degree in the field of human or social services, or other appropriate degree, plus 3 years of experience managing a program that supports youth who experience multiple systemic barriers. Experience with and commitment to principles-based youth work and restorative justice required. Understanding of power, privilege and systems of oppression required. Lived experiences and cross-transferable skills are welcomed and will be considered.

Avenues’ Assistant Director, will enjoy leading with a strong team approach, have excellent verbal and written communications skills, strong problem-solving and team-building abilities, a keen focus on the interests of the youth we support, computer proficiency, attention to detail, willingness to do paperwork and ensure all team members complete paperwork, and the desire and ability to take initiative and follow-through.

OTHER INFORMATION:

· Employment Status: Part-Time, Salaried, Exempt

· Hours: 24 hours per week, including some evening and weekend hours

· Location: Office will be at both the Brooklyn Park, North Minneapolis, and Camden location, but local travel will be required to other sites

· Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Persons of color are encouraged to apply.

Avenues for Youth is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

TO APPLY: Send cover letter, resume, references and salary requirements to Zayed Ahmed, Director of Programs at zahmed@avenuesforyouth.org. No phone calls please.

Position: Senior Communications Strategist Description: full time, start date ASAP Location: Wherever you live, as long as it’s in the Twin Cities Education: Whatever you got Salary: Salary will be set commensurate with experience and will include a full package of benefits including health and dental insurance, matching retirement, investment in personal development, and an expansive time off policy. Range: $58,000-$69,000  OVERVIEW: Black Visions is seeking a Senior Communications Strategist to support the day-to-day implementation of our strategic communications work. The Senior Communications Strategist will work closely with the Co-Director and Digital Strategist to develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive communications strategy for the organization. Black Visions is a leading organization on the ground in Minnesota advancing the narratives of abolition and the strategies to get us there while also expanding upon the conversations and impacts of state violence on Black people across this country. This person will join the communications team and lead with bold, visionary values to develop and disseminate communications materials and training, to track and analyze media for narrative intervention, and maintain relationships with local and and national media, and more. The ideal candidate has 3-5 years of experience in developing and implementing communications strategy and campaigns with an analysis of race, class,  gender and ability. They are self-organized, detail-oriented, flexible, and accountable to deadlines. They are able to work creatively, independently and collaboratively. They know how to authentically engage Black people and other key audiences and are willing to be innovative and strategic. They have previous management experience and are comfortable juggling multiple tasks and timelines. Most critical, this candidate must be excited, able, and willing to work within the nuances of a new and emerging Black organization in Minnesota. ABOUT BLACK VISIONS: Since 2017, Black Visions has been putting into practice the lessons learned from organizations before us, as well as our direct experience in building within the Movement for Black Lives, in order to shape a political home for Black people across Minnesota. Throughout our intentional growth process, we aim to center our work in healing and transformative justice principles, sustainability, and developing Minnesota’s emerging Black leadership to lead powerful campaigns. By building movements from the ground up with an integrated model, we are creating the conditions for long term success and transformation. Mission: Black Visions is a Black-led, Queer and Trans centering organization whose mission is to organize powerful, connected Black communities and dismantle systems of violence. Vision:  Black Visions believes in a future where all Black people have autonomy, safety is community-led, and we are in right relationship within our ecosystems. Black Visions Collective is currently in a period of growth, accountability, and development. All prospective applicants must be willing to grow with the organization as we move into our next iteration. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and disseminate communications collateral like press releases, web copy, training materials, email and print newsletters, membership outreach materials, communications-related reports, etc.
• Assist in developing and implementing communications campaigns and initiatives
• Develop and maintain cohesive collateral materials for organization
• Work with Co-Director to adjust editorial and messaging strategy to support engagement
• Track and analyze both national media trends and organizational-specific media
• Build, coordinate, and maintain media list and relationships with key local and national media
• Developing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive communications rapid response plan
• Developing and massaging relationships with reporters and outlets and driving them to ecosystem members who are shaping our collective narrative
• Providing management, thought partnership, strategic guidance, and professional development to the Digital Strategist on an as-needed basis
• Providing thought partnership, strategic guidance, and professional development to the Communications Working Group on an as-needed basis
• Developing, implementing, and evaluating training modules for communications-related tools for organizational staff and membership
• Help with special events
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 3-5 years of experience developing and implementing communications strategy and content
• Ability to support multiple staff/volunteers/interns in the role of manager
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills
• Ability to multitask and prioritize competing tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, and MSWord
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Common sense, flexibility, and teamwork skills with the ability to exercise independent judgment.
• Proclivity toward curiosity
• Steadfast commitment to collective liberation and ability to speak and unite those behind Black Vision’s mission and vision
• Time and project management skills; ability to pivot to meet current events and organizational needs

TO APPLY: Black Visions recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, national origin, documentation status, disability, veteran status, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. Applications will only be accepted electronically. Please email a resume, cover letter, and two diverse work samples to  jobs@blackvisionsmn.org with the subject line “Senior Communications Strategist Application, Your Full Name.” Please include a daytime phone number where we can contact you. Please also share contact information for two references.  We are seeking to fill this position as soon as possible, and are accepting applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.   In your cover letter, please address the following (one page):

1. Do you seek to be/do you identify as a communicator in service to all Black lives? Why or why not?
2. What part of communications work is meaningful to you?
3. What else qualifies you for this role?