Youth program coordinator

HANA Center (HANA) is a Chicago-area non-profit organization working to meet the critical needs of Korean, Asian American, and multiethnic immigrant communities and build power toward systemic change. HANA Center has offices in Chicago and Prospect Heights, Illinois.

HANA’s Youth Empowerment Programs provide a safe and empowering space for multiethnic high school and college-aged youth from predominantly low-income Chicago and suburban immigrant communities to grow together as critically engaged leaders taking collective action toward social change. Programs include Arts for Justice, Empowerment Economics, Suburban Youth Council (SYC), Women That Fight (WTF) gender justice space for women-identifying youth of color, and Fighting Youth Shouting out for Humanity (FYSH) youth organizing and leadership council.

Position Summary:

As a member of the Youth Empowerment + Organizing team, the Youth Program Coordinator works with the Suburban Youth Council (SYC), HANA’s suburban high school youth leadership group from predominantly Asian American immigrant communities of color, to create safe and brave spaces for interpersonal growth, community education, and collective action. The Youth Program Coordinator develops and facilitates projects and initiatives centering youth leadership. Past examples of SYC’s work include organizing to get the Teaching Asian American Community History (TEAACH) Act passed to require all Illinois K-12 public schools to teach a unit of Asian American studies. This past year, SYC’s main work was to ensure the TEAACH Act is being implemented by working closely with the suburban school districts. The Youth Program Coordinator also works to support HANA’s youth program in Chicago. Additionally, the Youth Program Coordinator engages youth in HANA’s membership activities and campaigns and works to support HANA’s youth program in the City of Chicago.

Major Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain trusting relationships with individual youth and youth as a group to nurture a sense of belonging, self-expression, critical thinking, and other ways to build an empowered and active youth community
• Develop youth leadership through community education on topics including support needs at schools, climate justice, racial justice, gender justice, immigrant rights, and other issues that affect immigrant communities and communities of color
• Facilitate youth to gain concrete leadership skills through training and practice in areas such as meeting facilitation, research, public speaking, art-making, storytelling, civic participation, and community organizing & advocacy
• Support youth in planning, implementing, and assessing youth-led projects including civic engagement and organizing campaigns
• Conduct regular evaluation (verbal and/or written) to garner feedback from youth to gauge the effectiveness of projects and make necessary changes toward greater impact
• Build and maintain a strong base of youth by working closely with youth leaders to outreach and recruit new high school and college-aged youth
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with targeted high school and college administrators and faculty for on-going outreach and collaboration
• Build and maintain relationships with other community-based organizations and facilitate HANA youth participation and leadership in collaborative projects
• Maintain youth intake, assessment, and individual development plan documents
• Assist with grant writing and reporting
• Assist with HANA’s organization-wide annual events including fundraising, immigrant storytelling, and advocacy trips
• Fulfill other organizational duties as needed

Key Qualifications:

• Commitment to immigrant rights and racial, gender, and economic justice, and familiarity with issues impacting Asian American, immigrants and communities of color
• A belief in communities’ ability to support each other, organize, and achieve desired goals together
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, motivate, and inspire youth to grow as leaders and organizers
• Previous involvement in youth, community, and/or organizing work highly desirable
• Excellent interpersonal skills and history of working with people from diverse backgrounds
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize deadlines in a dynamic and changing environment, both as an individual and as a member of a team
• Highly motivated with the ability to take initiative, think creatively, and problem solve with a commitment to continued learning
• Bilingual Korean is an asset
• A valid driver’s license, car, and car insurance required
• Ability to work during times when youth are available in evenings and weekends required

Reports To : Executive Director

Compensation : This is a full-time position with a salary range of $45,000-$50,000 and benefits that include paid time off, health, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, life, and 401K.

Application : Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line “Youth Program Coordinator.”

HANA Center is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals are encouraged to apply.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $45,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Chicago, IL 60618