Community Organizer

Position Title : Family Advocate (Community Organizer)

Position Type : Full-Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt

Schedule : 35 hours / week, M-F 10-6pm, 1 Saturday / month, 2 evenings / month

Department / Program : Family Enrichment Center

Direct Supervisor : Director, Family Enrichment Center

Direct Reports (if any) : N / A

About Graham Windham :

In full partnership with families and communities, Graham Windham strives to make a life-altering difference with children, youth, and families who are overcoming some of life’s most difficult challenges and obstacles, by helping to build a strong foundation for life : a safe, loving, permanent family and the opportunity and preparation to thrive in school and in the world.

With over 500 full-time employees serving children and families in multiple programs throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn and Harlem, Graham Windham provides an exciting and enriching work experience.

Program Description :

The O.U.R. (Organizing to be United and Resilient) Place Family Enrichment Center (F.E.C.) is a warm and welcoming community-gathering place in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx.

It is a space where community members can come for support, information, and offerings. The F.E.C. is a home-like setting, which reflects the community and offers activities and resources that promote individual, family & community well-being and empowerment.

In partnership with F.E.C. staff, the Hunts Point Community drives the center's planning, development, and sustainable co-ownership.

Community members participating in the F.E.C. are encouraged to share their expertise by volunteering or through other meaningful opportunities to teach, engage with, and support neighbors and peers.

Principal Objective / Role Overview :

The Family Advocate is one of five full-time positions at the FEC. This individual is responsible for contributing to the day-to-day operation of the FEC, including co-designing and delivering offerings, providing concrete advocacy for community members, providing support to obtain resources, and following up on individual requests and concerns.

The Family Advocate welcomes community members, recruits community volunteers, and ensures their contributions are heard and valued.

The Family Advocate builds connections amongst FEC & Graham-wide staff, community partners, and community formal and informal stakeholders.

A vital part of the Family Advocate’s job is to convene, support, and collaborate through co-creation with various community partners and local leaders to deliver monthly offerings.

A successful FEC Family Advocate is :

• Capable of engaging a diverse community.
• Able to establish clear and respectful boundaries with community members and center staff by honoring privacy, inclusivity, self-determination, and valuing everyone involved with unique skills and contributions.
• Skilled at working in a fast-paced environment with multiple projects occurring simultaneously.
• Able to co-create offerings / activities / events with the O.U.R. Place Community.

Job Responsibilities :

Interacts regularly and frequently with the F.E.C. Community Members :

• Engages all who enter O.U.R. Place / F.E.C.
• Daily check-in via text, email, phone, or in-person builds a trusting connection.
• Regularly follow up on community concerns, issues, and requests.
• Co-create opportunities, activities, and offerings, and periodically identify resources.
• Provides in-person individual coaching to community members using an Appreciative Inquiry approach.
• Creates partnerships and follows up with community partners to ensure that the community is receiving appropriate services that address their needs.
• Connects community members to resources and support via soft-hand-off.

Interacts regularly with Hunts Point / Longwood Community Partners :

• Represents the FEC at community events and meetings.
• Builds relationships with community partners and follows up to ensure that families are receiving services that address their needs.
• Engage community partners to participate in or, where appropriate, lead O.U.R. Place offerings.
• Co-creates with the FEC Advisory Council to understand community interest in offerings, using the information to co-design future offerings.

Co-leads Offerings in response to community priorities :

• Leads Community Cafés using the (Be Strong Families model) Strengthening Families model.
• Co-leads regular offerings that are grounded in one or more of the seven protective factors, and serve to affirm & amplify community voice, and celebrate family and community successes.
• Provides regular documentation that reflects FEC planning with the community and the activities / offerings completed.
• Ensures that the supplies needed for activities and offerings are in place and available prior to each event, submits all follow-up documentation including petty cash reimbursement, purchase orders, and Vendor check requests.
• Regularly attends Graham activities & events including staff meetings, annual recognition events, Graham-wide graduations, training, and learning opportunities.

Position Qualifications :

• Associate’s degree in social work, public policy, education, public administration, or related field.
• Bilingual (Spanish / Creole / French / English).
• Lived and / or worked in the South Bronx.
• Strong interpersonal skills, be able to connect with and engage individuals, families, community members, and partner organizations.
• Technologically competent.
• Experience running community outreach events, developing community partnerships, and developing community resources.
• Experience in any of the following areas a plus : political campaigns, event planning, street outreach and / or developing community supports and services, community organizing.

Salary & Compensation :

• Base Salary or Hourly Rate : $50,000.00 / year ($27.48 / hour)
• FLSA Status : Non-exempt

Benefits Eligibility :

• This role is eligible to participate in our Performance Based Merit Award program at the end of each fiscal year.
• This role is for benefits including health insurance, retirement plans (pension and 403B thrift), career coaching via Bravely, and more!

EEO Statement :

The Equal Employment Opportunity Policy of Graham Windham (GW) is to provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all associates and job applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.

GW hires and promotes individuals solely based on their qualifications for the job to be filled.

Graham Windham believes that associates should be provided with a working environment which enables each associate to be productive and to work to the best of his or her ability.

We do not condone or tolerate an atmosphere of intimidation or harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.

We expect and require the cooperation of all associates in maintaining a discrimination and harassment-free atmosphere.

About Graham Windham :

About the CompanyIn full partnership with families & communities, Graham Windham strives to make a life-altering difference to children, youth and families affected by abuse, neglect and delinquency by providing each child we serve with a strong foundation for life : a safe, loving, permanent family and the opportunity and preparation to thrive in school and in the world.

With over 400 full-time, part-time and On-call employees serving children and families in multiple programs throughout Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Harlem, Graham Windham provides an exciting & enriching work experience.

Graham has pioneered programs for New York City’s children, families and communities for over 200 years. Today, Graham is one of New York City’s leading social services organizations, providing educational and social services to over 4,000 children, young people, and parents throughout NYC.