Navigator PT

Job Description

Job Description

Job Summary: The Firehouse Community Arts Center’s mission is to interrupt the cycle of violence in the lives of youth and young adults in North Lawndale through the power of the arts and faith. Reporting to the VIP Director, the Navigator plays a key role in the VIP (Very Important Process) violence prevention program by delivering social/emotional learning-based curricula, mentoring participants, and supporting youth and young adults on their journey toward purpose, accountability, leadership, and personal growth.

The Navigator works directly with young men and young adults impacted by community violence, including participants who may have caused harm, experienced harm, or been involved in cycles of violence, trauma, and retaliation. This role requires strong relationship-building skills, a trauma-informed approach, and experience or understanding of community violence intervention, restorative practices, conflict de-escalation, and participant accountability.

Navigators serve as committed advocates, mentors, and educators in both group and individual settings. They facilitate a structured curriculum while bringing creativity, cultural awareness, and engaging activities that help participants transform their mindset, strengthen emotional regulation, develop healthier decision-making, and build a more stable future. Navigators build long-term relationships with approximately 5–7 participants per cohort and connect them with arts programming, employment opportunities, counseling services, housing supports, and other resources.

Scope of Responsibilities:

• Facilitate Firehouse’s social/emotional learning-based curriculum in alignment with weekly session schedules, program standards, and participant needs.
• Lead group sessions that support mindset transformation, emotional regulation, conflict de-escalation, accountability, leadership, and life skills.
• Provide individual mentoring and relationship-building support to participants, including young men and young adults impacted by violence, trauma, and community instability.
• Use creative, culturally relevant, and arts-based activities to help participants engage with the curriculum and apply lessons to their lives.
• Support participant engagement by identifying barriers to participation and communicating concerns, needs, or progress to the VIP Director.
• Connect participants to internal program supports, including arts programming, counseling referrals, employment resources, housing supports, and other services as directed by program leadership.
• Accurately enter participant attendance, engagement notes, referrals, milestones, and other required data into designated program systems.
• Participate in required team meetings, case reviews, trainings, and professional development as scheduled within the part-time role.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries while remaining consistent, responsive, and supportive in participant relationships.
• Support transportation, participant outings, vehicle logs, or off-site activities when scheduled and approved by program leadership.

Requirements:

• 3 years demonstrated understanding of art in the context of healing 

• Significant experience working with young people and adults who face obstacles, trauma, violence exposure, justice-system involvement, or community instability.
• Experience or strong understanding of community violence intervention, violence prevention, reentry, restorative justice, mentoring, youth development, or a related field.
• Ability to build trust with high-risk participants while maintaining accountability, consistency, and professional boundaries.
• 1+ year of experience delivering structured, syllabus-based curricula, group programming, workshops, or social/emotional learning sessions.
• Deep historical knowledge of and commitment to North Lawndale and the surrounding community.
• Strong communication, documentation, data entry, partnership-building, and collaboration skills.
• Knowledge of the Firehouse mission, history, programs, and the systemic barriers facing youth and young adults.
• Willingness to participate in mandatory professional development, including reflective development experiences such as Crucible or other approved social-emotional/deep reflection/well-being experiences.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• CPR/First Aid/AED certification or willingness to obtain/maintain certification.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and designated program software systems.