Imani Village Summer/Fall Temporary Position (22-Week Program) $18/hr

Trinity United Church of Christ, Imani Village, Imani Works!, The Nature Conservancy, Advocate Health Care, the University of Illinois at Chicago, The Morton Arboretum, and the U.S. Forest Service (collectively called “Collaborators”) have established a program that prepares emerging professionals for careers in urban conservation and community health with a special focus on the skills needed to transform neighborhoods into healthy places to live by addressing social and ecological determinants of health.

We are seeking one individual – an Associate Program Leader/Mentor – to help guide a team of eight Imani Village “Green Health Advocates” (IGHA) who will be responsible for promoting the health of people and nature on Chicago’s South Side. These eight “advocates” will range in age from 18 to 25 and will hold one of two positions: conservation health advocate, or community health advocate. The Associate Program Leader/Mentor will work in partnership and under the supervision of the IGHA Program Leader.

This career development program will be 22 weeks in duration for Advocates, beginning on June 5 and ending on November 3. The Associate Program Leader/Mentor will start on or around May 30 and end on November 3. The Associate Program Leader/Mentor is expected to be available for the entirety of the program.

Application Deadline: May 15, 2023

Basic Functions: Assist the Program Leader in their responsibilities, including the development of the 2023 IGHA program; recruitment of the advocate team. In addition, the Associate Program Leader/Mentor has a specific responsibility to provide support, guidance, team-building, and coaching to the entire team of 8 advocates particularly career development and networking opportunities; support conservation health field activities.

Responsibilities:

• Work with the Collaborators and Program Manager on programming for the 2023 advocates, based on lessons from the 2018 -2022 seasons;
• Establish community connections leading up to the program start for the purposes of recruiting and collaboration during the program;
• Assist in the recruitment process for the 8 advocate positions;
• Provide support and mentorship to a team of eight young emerging professionals (“advocates”) who will form the Imani Green Health Advocate Team, particularly in helping address potential challenges to program involvement;
• Cultivate advocates’ understanding of the linkage between nature and human health, focusing on social/ecological determinants of health;
• Support the vision, implementation and management of Team’s “culminating project”;
• In coordination with Collaborators, Program Leader and partners, assist as needed in field supervision of conservation health advocates in conservation field work;
• In coordination with Collaborators, Program Leader and partners, ensure field supervision of community health workers which includes day to day operations in a community health setting and development of partnerships for community health field experiences (e.g. community gardens); Provide day-to-day job preparedness support and mentorship to all advocates;
• Expand and coordinate opportunities for networking and career development for all Advocates, with special emphasis on community health;
• Resolve routine issues independently, consulting with Program Leader and Collaborator staff to develop plans for resolution of complex and unusual problems;
• Cultivate and develop creative ideas to improve conservation, community health outreach, and faith/spirit outreach strategies;
• Coordinate and lead activities for team building, especially between the conservation and community health cohorts;
• Provide coaching and mentorship for the Advocates;
• Coordinate and provide leadership in career connection opportunities for the Advocates;
• Make independent decisions based on experience and judgments, with minimal off-site supervision.

Requirements: The successful candidate will be a college graduate, living in or near the South Side. They will have experience working with young people.

Basic Qualifications:

1. Some college or some technical schooling experience and 2 years of experience working with high school or college-aged youth OR youth aged 18-25 (preferably in an urban or outdoor setting)

2. Experience in supervising staff, students, or volunteers (i.e., leadership role and not peer group membership)

3. Positive attitude and commitment to promoting good morale among mentees/within the team, and ability to lead by example, including in conducting fieldwork.

4. Comfort working in both isolated settings, and public spaces

5. Experience and willingness to perform physical outdoor work, preferably biological monitoring, natural area stewardship, or tree-related work (at times under adverse conditions or in inclement weather) and/or public health outreach

6. Experience with community outreach among diverse populations in an urban setting

7. Experience in working in an interdisciplinary/team environment

8. Possession of a private vehicle and/or ability and willingness to travel by public transportation

9. Demonstration of strong communication and organizational skills

Additional preferred qualifications:

1. Bachelors of Science and/or pursuing a graduate degree in environmental studies biology, ecology, natural resources management, population/public health, nutrition, or related field

2. Knowledge of current trends and practices in conservation, land management, natural resource preservation, population/public health, nutrition or related field

3. Experience working with or knowledge of natural systems, and/or urban community dynamics

4. Enthusiasm for living and working in an urban environment

Additionally, the successful candidate must possess the ability to relate and develop mutual respect for both the people and natural resources served, and must possess the ability to get along with diverse personalities, demonstrate tact, and maturity.

Work Schedule: The Green Health Advocate Associate Program Leader/Mentor shall generally work forty (40) hours each week in accordance with the schedule jointly arranged by the Associate Program Leader/Mentor, the Program Leader and the Collaborators. There may be occasional work hours in early evenings or during weekends.

Working Conditions: The successful candidate will be primarily based at Imani Village, located at the intersection of 95th and Cottage Grove Streets in Chicago’s South Side.

Work responsibilities may require the successful candidate to travel to off-site locations in the neighborhoods surrounding Imani Village.

Transportation to and from Imani Village will not be provided, except for special field trips to remote locations, for which transportation may be provided.

The Associate Program Leader/Mentor must be prepared to work outdoors regularly, potentially in adverse weather conditions such as heat and light rain. The Associate Program Leader/Mentor will also be required to do conservation work such as tree-planting. They may also be required to visit and conduct work tasks in a hospital setting, thus, proper attire and decorum are expected. Applicants will be required to successfully complete a government-mandated background check prior to starting health work.

Job Description Disclaimer: The statements in this job description are intended to describe the essential/non-essential nature and level of work performed by Trinity UCC Imani Village Imani Works! staff assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities, as other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

Confidentiality: Confidentiality is a condition of employment. Discretion is a condition of employment. At all times, staff members are to respect the privacy of information about others. Violation of the Code of Confidentiality can result in immediate termination of employment.