Youth Counselor: 10th Grade Focus (Bilingual English/Spanish)

COMPENSATION:
$55,000 annually plus a robust benefits package, including medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement plan with match, generous paid time off, commuter benefits and much more.
Required Language Proficiency: English and Spanish.

WHO WE ARE:
Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) is a comprehensive community development organization based in New York City. For more than a half-century, AAFE has advanced racial, social, and economic justice for all, regardless of background. AAFE is an innovative nonprofit organization guided by the belief that people can only thrive when they have access to safe and stable housing, essential social services, and resources to achieve economic mobility for their families. Programs and services include affordable housing development and management, an array of community services, and small business financing and training. AAFE maintains offices in Chinatown and the Lower East Side (Manhattan) and Flushing and Jackson Heights (Queens).

WHY WE NEED YOU:
Reporting to the Program Manager for Youth & Family Development, AAFE seeks a full-time Staff Generalist: Youth Counselor: 10th Grade Focus to work within the Youth & Family Team in Flushing, Queens. The ideal candidate is a self-starter, comfortable working in a close-knit team-oriented setting, open to self-reflection and feedback, practices curiosity, and can learn through doing. This staff member will work directly with youth living and learning in Flushing. The Youth Organizer is responsible for the following activities:

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead AAFE Youth Team’s effort to engage and support the 10th grade students in Flushing High School.
• Mentor caseload of identified 10th-grade students through regular individual and group check-ins focused on:
  • Attendance and engagement 
  • Academic habits and goal setting
  • Skills building and Leadership Development

• Create Individual Participant Plans (IPPs) with each program participant, collecting information about student goals and support systems and monitoring student progress throughout the year.
• Conduct regular Classroom push ins to 10th grade advisory and core classes, facilitating presentation and activities that promote:
  • Study skills and organization
  • Goal setting and self-advocacy
  • Early college and career awareness
  • Social-emotional skill-building

• Facilitate Engagement & Exposure Activities workshops hosted in the Community Center and the school in the form of
  • Small group Workshops
  • Career Conference Panels
  • College and Career Exploration Trips

• Partner with relevant stakeholders in the youth team, community services team and school partners to support Youth Team Goals and Program Efforts.
• Collect and analyze program participant and activity data, for the purpose of monitoring, reporting, and refining metrics for program outcomes and impact.
• Report on program outcomes achieved and suggest and implement changes as needed.
• Support Youth & Family Team programming as assigned, including but not limited to college visits, Career Conference, Summer Retreat, celebrations, parties, special events, etc.
• Assist Program Manager in preparing regular reports.
• Participate in department and staff meetings and training.
• Share light chores to maintain and optimize organization and neatness in the office.
• Support office operation as needed.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, psychology or another related field.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English.
• 1-2 years of experience working with high school aged youth.
• Experience teaching and/or developing curriculum.
• Understanding of immigrant communities and commitment to working with culturally diverse communities and environments; strong sense of social justice and belief in youth power and potential.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and handle multiple complex tasks.
• Highly motivated self-starter who can work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent organizational and computer skills including Google Suite, MS Suite, and social media.
• Ability to work occasionally in the evenings and weekends.

EXPECTATIONS & HOW WE WORK:
We believe that the people and the communities that we have the privilege to serve deserve our very best every day.  We are a results-driven organization that focuses on inclusiveness , empowerment, and impact . AAFE employees are accountable, collaborative, and strong communicators with a core strength of community service and development.  We are strategic thinkers who are committed to racial equality and treating each other, and the communities we serve, with respect and dignity .  We have an aptitude for technology and a strong desire to continuously learn . This philosophy expands to the way we manage our work and the way we put our best foot forward.  All employees are expected to adhere to the following: 

• Ensure compliance with all grant/contract requirements.
• Attendance and punctuality; includes being on-time for work, being on-time for scheduled meetings and planning for scheduled time-off in advance with supervisor approval.
• Overtime: obtain approval from supervisor prior to working overtime or comp time.
• Provide quality customer service to both internal and external partners and co-workers. This includes responding to emails within 24 hours, answering the phone by the 3rd ring when possible and giving a deadline and meeting the given deadline for responding to inquiries.
• Dress appropriately for the workplace and in accordance with our dress-code policy. Maintain a positive, helpful attitude.
• Work as part of a team in supporting other AAFE program contracts and projects.
• Support efforts that ensure a safe and healthy work environment.
• Understand and embrace the value in collaborating with people of different cultures, races, genders, ethnicities, beliefs, experiences, and ideas.
• An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities.
• Maintain a positive, helpful attitude.
• Enjoy your time at work!