Imani Village Summer/ Fall Temporary Position (22 Week Program)

This is a paid ($16.50/hr) 22-week career development program that will start on June 5, 2023, and end on November 3rd, 2023.

We are seeking a total of eight individuals to form a team of Imani Village “Green Health Advocates” (IGHA) who will be responsible for promoting the health of people and nature in Chicago’s South Side.

We are seeking 4 individuals to be “conservation health advocates” who will be trained to do the following:

1) Monitor and assess the health of parkway and private trees and green spaces;

2) Connect community members to free trees and tree services;

3) Engage with the community on the importance of trees and green spaces.

4) Engage with communities of color near Imani Village to develop strategies to improve the community and environmental health with a racial equity focus.

We are seeking 4 individuals to be “community health advocates” who will be trained to do the following:

1) Conduct patient assessments through interviews and other means;

2) Promote the health services of Advocate’s Trinity Hospital and Advocate Medical Group at Imani Village;

3) Conduct a community health assessment, and responsive strategy, addressing the social needs for Chicago’s South Side that impact health outcomes.

4) Engage with communities of color near Imani Village to develop strategies to improve the community and environmental health with a racial equity focus.

Background: Trinity United Church of Christ, Imani Village, Imani Works!, The Nature Conservancy, Advocate Health Care, The Morton Arboretum, and the U.S. Forest Service have established a program that prepares emerging professionals for a career in urban conservation or community health, with a special focus on the skills needed to transform communities into healthier places to live.

Requirements: This position is intended for people 18 to 25 years of age, who possess a high school diploma or equivalent and live in or near the South Side of Chicago.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Basic proficiency with computer programs such as Microsoft Word.
• Ability to work independently and in teams and occasionally work on weekends and evenings.
• Willingness to speak in front of small groups of people, in a teaching setting.
• Interest in interdisciplinary strategies to promote positive change in the community.
• Interest in being exposed/introduced to careers in community health and or environmental justice advocacy.

Work Schedule: The Green Health Advocate shall generally work thirty- five hours (35) hours each week following the schedule arranged by the IGHA program managers. The program will last for 22 weeks. Advocates will be expected to participate in the full program.

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

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 and off-site work locations will not be provided. Appropriate precautions in accordance with the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago’s COVID-19 guidelines will be kept at all times.

Community health advocates will be required to successfully complete a government-mandated background check prior to starting health work.

Conservation health advocates must be prepared to work outdoors weekly, potentially in adverse weather conditions such as heat and light rain. They will also be required to do conservation work such as tree planting.

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.