Summary of Position
Reporting to the Safe Passage Director, the Community Safety Ambassador works as part of a coordinated Care Team alongside the Resource Navigation Team to support individuals most at risk of gun violence and retaliation. Community Safety Ambassadors build trusting relationships with participants, conduct consistent outreach, and help connect participants to positive opportunities and community-based resources. This role also supports broader violence prevention efforts including conflict mediation, hotspot outreach, and truce negotiations in coordination with the Community Support Team.
Essential Responsibilities
The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodation will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship. The Employer retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.
Participant Support
Build ongoing relationships and trust with participants ages 12–30 who meet multiple violence risk factors or are referred through partner networks.
Maintain a caseload of up to five participants and support their progress toward safer and more positive opportunities.
Work alongside Resource Navigators to connect participants to services and community resources.
Support transportation or coordination for participant appointments, meetings, and events when necessary.
Use compassionate, trauma-informed engagement strategies with participants experiencing trauma, substance use, or behavioral health challenges.
Advocate for participants in court or other formal systems when appropriate.
Maintain accurate and timely participant documentation and case notes.
Ongoing Participant Communication
- Confirm receipt of referral within one business day.
- Reach out to potential participants within three business days of referral.
- Support completion of strength and needs assessments and safety planning within five business days of first contact (process led by Resource Navigator).
- Assist participants in developing individualized service plans based on their needs and strengths.
- Maintain consistent participant contact through in-person meetings, calls, and texts according to program engagement phases.
Community Engagement and Outreach
- Leverage community credibility and relationships to help disrupt cycles of violence.
- Participate in outreach, engagement activities, and community events in coordination with the Street Team Manager.
- Support pop-up outreach events, Safe Passages programming, community BBQs, and pro-social activities.
- Assist in mediation efforts to prevent violence or retaliation between individuals or groups.
- Build relationships with businesses, residents, young people, and community stakeholders.
- Identify environmental conditions contributing to violence and work with leadership to identify solutions.
- Participate in neighborhood cleanups, graffiti removal, and community improvement efforts when appropriate.
- Proactively identify youth at risk of gun violence and connect them to community-based supports.
- Support vigils and funerals by helping de-escalate tensions and provide visible community safety support.
- Participate in meetings and trainings as assigned by supervisors.
- Maintain confidentiality in accordance with organizational guidelines.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Requirements
A clear criminal background check is required for all positions within our school district or working directly with youth/minors.
While on the job in the community providing services, you will be in uniform (shirts, hoodies, badges, walkie-talkies, etc.)
While on duty, you will be on call for potential incidences of violence including hospital support, vigils, funerals, and community events, including on evenings and weekends.
Ability to walk long distances at a time with up to 30lbs of equipment.
Reliable Transportation
Preferred Experience or Skills
Experience with de-escalation, mediation, and harm-reduction efforts is required.
Experience and/or expertise in the area of violence prevention and intervention, or trauma-informed support services among high-risk populations is required.
Lived experience of the impact of gun violence
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Ability to safeguard and maintain individual records to keep participant files complete, confidential, and in order.
Basic knowledge for Microsoft 365
Preferred competencies
Maintain a restorative justice orientation in relationship to staff, partners and participants
Value the intrinsic worth of young people and their unlimited potential
Commit to understand deeply and seek to dismantle the systems of oppression impacting communities of color
Ability to build rapid/lasting rapport with high-risk youth, young adults, family members, elders, faith partners, and community workers.
Be a self-aware (know your strengths and weaknesses), engaged and adaptable team player
Take ownership of projects, be self-motivated, and practice independent problem solving
Be flexible about changing priorities and manage competing deadlines
Ability to prioritize workload and daily activities and complete tasks in a timely manner.
Ability to set boundaries, resolve conflicts, and de-escalate issues.
Ability to work under pressure, receptive to change, willing to learn, and with a cooperative approach to problem-solving.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, participants, and outside contacts.
Observe the highest level of discretion in protecting confidential information and preserving database security
Practice excellent oral and written communication, especially proactive communication
Exercise a willingness and ability to execute routine administrative procedures and tasks
Benefits
- Aetna Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Flexible Spending Account