Voices of Youth in Chicago Education (VOYCE)

Job Description – Safe Schools Consortium Coordinator

Organization Description

Voices of Youth in Chicago Education (VOYCE) is a grassroots organizing collaborative for education justice led by students of color from six community organizations across the city of Chicago. VOYCE builds the power of the low-income youth of color who are most directly impacted by educational inequities, organizing for structural policy changes that expand racial justice and equal opportunity throughout public education. Since its formation in 2007, VOYCE has launched and won successful grassroots campaigns to re-write the Chicago Public Schools discipline code, roll back the use of high-stakes standardized testing in low-income classrooms of color, and limit the role of police in schools.

Albany Park Neighborhood Council (APNC), a multi-issue, multi-generational community organization on the north side of Chicago, is the fiscal sponsor for the VOYCE collaborative.

Position Summary

VOYCE seeks a highly motivated, strategic and passionate leader to join the collaborative as the Safe Schools Consortium Coordinator. The Safe Schools Consortium Coordinator works closely with youth, staff and leadership from member and allied organizations to direct and execute citywide youth leadership development programming, strategic partnerships, and evaluation and documentation efforts that support VOYCE's grassroots, direct action organizing campaigns for racial and education justice. The Safe Schools Consortium Coordinator will be responsible for the leadership of the Safe Schools Consortium, a unique collaborative with the Chicago Teachers Union and Alternatives Inc. aimed at building student and teacher leadership to transform school discipline in Chicago at the classroom, school and district level. The Safe Schools Consortium Coordinator also works closely with Albany Park Neighborhood Council and the VOYCE Campaign Director to lead the financial management and fundraising for the collaborative's $500,000 annual budget.

This is a dynamic leadership position that requires creativity, passion, and vision. The position reports to the Executive Director of the Albany Park Neighborhood Council, the fiscal sponsor for the VOYCE collaborative. This is an organizing position and willingness to work evenings and some weekends is required.

Responsibilities

• Work with Alternatives Inc., to coordinate the Safe Schools Consortium, a collaborative of students, teachers and practitioners aimed at expanding the use of non-exclusionary school discipline. Consortium leadership responsibilities include:
  •     Develop and execute short and long-term strategic work plans that leverage the expertise of all Consortium members (including Chicago Teachers Union Quest Center, Alternatives Inc., classroom teachers and students, and evaluators)
  •     Incorporate meaningful student voice and leadership into all materials developed by the Consortium, such as published training curriculum and research findings
  •     Convene quarterly Consortium-wide meetings with project staff, teacher and student leaders to analyze evaluation findings and incorporate key learnings into future work.
  •     Supervise the implementation of a formative and summative evaluation process to generate constructive and applicable results for future organizing and implementation.
  •     Drive all public communications of Consortium results, including the publication of the Alternatives/Quest Center training curriculum and the release of evaluation results to drive organizing efforts.
  •     Work with Chicago Public Schools district leadership on coordination of implementation, data-sharing, and additional policy changes needed to expand and sustain the school-level best practices developed by the Consortium.

Oversee VOYCE citywide youth leadership development, including working with the VOYCE Organizing Director to plan and design collaborative campaign meetings, youth leadership retreats, and other youth spaces to build the political analysis, critical thinking and leadership skills of VOYCE student leaders and advance VOYCE's organizing campaigns.

Direct and conduct (as needed) ongoing evaluation, documentation and publication of VOYCE leadership development outcomes.

With Albany Park Neighborhood Council and VOYCE Campaign Director, lead financial management of the collaborative, including: grant writing and reporting; budget management and ongoing development of new donors and fundraising opportunities.

The position works closely with the VOYCE Campaign Director to ensure that program, research and evaluation efforts support the execution of VOYCE's strategic grassroots organizing campaigns for racial justice and some organizing activities may be required.

Required Qualifications

•     Minimum of 3 years organizing and/or program management experience
•     Strong political analysis of public education, racial and LGTBQ justice, youth rights and organized labor.
•     Outstanding interpersonal and teamwork skills
•     Strong organizational skills, including attention to detail and the ability to meet deadlines
•     Exceptional writing and oral communication skills
•     Excellent time-management and a willingness to work non-standard hours
•     The ability to proactively identify challenges and work to find solutions
•     The ability to work independently while collaborating with others on common goals
•     Strong computer skills, specifically Microsoft Office suite

Preferred Qualifications

•     3-5 years of experience in a supervisory or management position.
•     Bachelor's or Master's degree in a related field.
•     Fluency in Spanish a plus.
•     Strong research and data analysis skills.

Office Location

Albany Park Neighborhood Council is located at 4749 N. Kedzie Ave, Chicago. This position involves significant travel around the city and a car is required.

Compensation

Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits, including health care, vision and dental coverage.

Start Date

As soon as possible.

How to Apply

Candidates from underrepresented populations, including people of color and LGBTQ people, are strongly encouraged to apply.

To apply, send your resume, cover letter and the contact information for three professional references to mail@voyceproject.org.