Youth Coordinator, Community Initiatives

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation (formerly the Center for Court Innovation) is a non-profit organization that works with communities and justice systems to advance equity, increase safety, and help individuals and communities thrive. The Center's goal is to identify and resolve as early as possible the challenges that bring people into the criminal and civil legal systems. It does this in a number of ways—by developing and running programs that reduce the need for incarceration and enhance economic opportunity, conducting original research to identify what works, and sharing what we learn from our programming and research with those seeking to transform the justice system around the world.

The Center is a 900-employee, $100 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.

Operating Programs

The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Justice Center, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research

The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

Policy & Expert Assistance

The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area.

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Center’s RISE Project seeks to respond to the intersection of gun violence and intimate partner violence. RISE builds community capacity to prevent and respond to intimate partner violence, engages individuals who are causing harm to take accountability and change their behavior, and supports positive community norms around relationships. RISE’s approach is community-centered, survivor-informed, and holistic, rooted in principles of safety, accountability, and transformative change.

The RISE Project seeks a Youth Coordinator, Community Initiatives to support RISE community-based projects. Reporting to the Program Manager, Community Initiatives. The Youth Coordinator, Community Initiatives will manage program operations in the Bronx and Harlem and manage RISE youth initiatives city-wide.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Manage technical assistance and capacity building services provided to seven community-based violence prevention organizations;
• Co-develop and implement youth-centered community campaigns and events in all five boroughs to support violence prevention and engage individuals causing harm in their relationships;
• Develop and facilitate RISE youth initiatives including school-based programs, community-based programs, and RISE’s city-wide peer internship programs;
• Develop and maintain new partnerships with the Crisis Management System to support youth engagement and programming;
• Develop new youth initiatives to respond to developing youth needs and trends around violence prevention and healthy relationships;
• Manage program administration including but not limited to stipend logs, program records, data entry and monthly reports;
• Develop, implement and facilitate youth curriculum focused on healthy relationships and IPV prevention;
• Organize and facilitate youth-led events in New York City focused on healthy relationships and community healing;
• Engage and manage relationships with elected officials and stakeholders across the Bronx and Harlem;
• Educate and support staff at Crisis Management System sites on issues of IPV, their intersection with community gun violence, and strategies for promoting healthy relationships through training, information sharing, and collaboration;
• Facilitate regular trainings on IPV for staff and community at large;
• Facilitate group interventions with individuals causing harm in their intimate relationships;
• Meet regularly with the Mayor’s Office to Prevent Gun Violence to ensure effective collaboration and communication;
• Conduct regular community outreach and participate in community events to promote the program;
• Organize and facilitate community events focused on healthy relationships and community healing;
• Provide community-based crisis intervention and individual engagement to facilitate the removal of barriers to resources for identified individuals and their families;
• Establish and maintain strong relationships, networking and advocacy with public and private local stakeholders that provide services to those impacted by intimate partner violence;
• Assess identified needs pertaining to IPV for individuals and/or families to establish suitable referrals and effective interventions;
• Submit regular monthly reports to Deputy Director to capture pertinent program data;
• Drive community service van(s) safely following NYC DOT guidelines to designated sites as needed;
• Safely return van(s) to the parking location after work-related events or community service;
• Maintain van(s) cleanliness and report all incidents to the supervisor; and
• Additional relevant tasks, as necessary.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have:

• A Bachelor's degree in the human services field and 2-3 years of related experience in violence prevention or equivalent experience, a Master's degree is preferred;
• At least 2 or more years of experience in a position directly related to intimate partner violence, as well as experience in community organizing, community engagement, Project/Program management and group facilitation preferred;
• Driver’s license is required;
• This exciting position requires a creative self-starter who can accomplish tasks in a fast-paced environment;
• Candidates must be comfortable navigating interdisciplinary settings and must be willing to roll up their sleeves and be actively involved in day-to-day operations; and
• Experience with transformative justice frameworks, individual counseling, and community-based violence prevention preferred.

Position Type: Full-time, 10:00am - 6:00pm, occasionally working earlier and later with flexibility to work some Saturdays.

Position Location: Bronx, NY with expected travel within the five boroughs.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $62,400 - $74,000 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and as such, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our aim is to create a supportive and respectful environment where every individual, irrespective of their background or identity, feels valued and included.