Senior Program Facilitator

About Us:

One Common Unity (OCU) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that breaks cycles of violence and builds compassionate, healthy communities through the transformative power of music, arts, and peace education.

The Out of School Time and Enrichment (OST) Program:

Fly By Light is OCU’s flagship intervention that brings performing arts, poetry, song, dance, and visual art to youth. The goal of Fly By Light is to encourage students to find their inner voices, identify the light they bring to the world, and share their talents with their peers to build safer, more peaceful communities.

OCU’s OST department offers innovative youth programs that emphasize leadership, compassionate communication, effective conflict resolution, and self-love as pathways to personal growth, health, and wellness. Youth engage in activities that strengthen skills that equip them with the abilities to bring their “light” to their own communities, building peaceable environments that promote overall wellness. Artistic expression across different mediums (ex: music, visual arts, dance, and theater) are at the core of instruction.

The main objectives of the OST program are to help youth:

• Increase their feelings of self-confidence, value, worth, and empowerment
• Build an ability and desire to handle conflicts peacefully
• Gain an understanding of music and art as tools for self-expression and cultural change
• Hone their ability to critically engage with their environment and people of different racial, ethnic, socio-economic, and cultural perspectives
• Develop a personal set of life goals
• Engage in social justice projects in their communities
• Build an appreciation and love for nature
• Establish positive relationships with peers, artists, educators, counselors, and community members

ABOUT THE POSITION:

Senior Program Facilitators implement the Fly by Light youth intervention, support OCU Peace Room initiatives, and facilitate an evidence-based substance use prevention curriculum in District of Columbia middle & high schools. This position is year-round with varying hours depending on time of year, site, and specific projects (ex: summer camps, retreats, during school year, during summer, etc.). In addition to in and out-of-school programming, Senior Facilitators dedicate time in the OCU office to engage in facilitator meetings, training, and to complete required administrative duties.

Senior Facilitators will use the Fly by Light curriculum as a guide in helping students learn about the arts and integrate lessons on emotional literacy and social justice. Artist-educators will have input over individual workshops, but they must adhere to the program requirements as determined by the Director of OST & Enrichment and Senior Director of Programs The OST and Enrichment youth program is active in District of Columbia public schools. This position is available year-round:

• Senior Facilitators are each stationed within schools, to serve as an embedded faculty member at each school. Some schools will also offer after-school programs, on-site between 3:00PM - 6:00PM, so start time varies by program site.
• Senior Facilitators also dedicate a full day each week to engage in facilitator meetings, trainings, and to complete required administrative duties. They also support professional development trainings offered in the community.
• In addition, the Senior Facilitators support our annual summer retreats and the National Training. Senior facilitators are required to attend and help lead at least one summer retreat each year and lead workshops at the National Training.
  
  

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Recruiting and interviewing students for the program and working alongside school staff to plan classroom partnerships.
• Creating and implementing innovative workshops for students, faculty, and parents on social-emotional skills, mindfulness, conflict resolution skills, nonviolent communication, creative expression, therapeutic uses of the arts, restorative justice, and other related topics.
• School-based community organizing.
• Arriving at the site early to set up and greet students.
• Facilitating engaging, arts-based workshops with students.
• Organizing social justice advocacy campaigns, art showcases, field trips, guest speakers, and pop-up art events with your students.
• Providing as-needed support for students outside of the workshops.
• Communicating with students’ families about OCU events.
• Using sound judgment and following risk management protocol as outlined in the Fly By Light handbook to ensure program safety.
• Attending weekly staff meetings at the OCU main office and periodic facilitator professional development meetings.
• Relaying information from the OCU main office to students and their families.
• Working closely with school administration, teachers, and partners to plan and implement the program.
• Designing and facilitating regular family engagement workshops that mirror FBL youth programming.
• Implementing evidence-based interventions to groups in conjunction with grant requirements.
• Leading professional development trainings for OCU school and community partners and the facilitation of OCU’s Fly by Light National Training
• Supporting OCU’s curriculum development and providing ongoing feedback to strengthen the program.
• Providing ongoing feedback to co-facilitators as related to program quality and growth
• Setting program site goals and monitoring progress on a quarterly basis.
• Managing all student records, registration forms, surveys, and other administrative needs using the online database.
• Oversee the planning, design, and implementation of the Youth Organizing Troupe.
• Complete other duties as assigned.
  
  

REPORTING:

This position reports directly to the Director of Out of School Time and Enrichment.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5+ years experience with youth programming
• 3+ years experience in one or more forms of artistic expression
• Commitment to social justice, environmentalism, and nonviolence
• Positive, team-oriented attitude, as well as a passion for youth and community development.
• Experience working with youth and facilitating a process of creating final pieces that can be showcased to the entire school community.
• A deep understanding of, and experience with, cultural humility-based, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive approaches to work.
• Experience with and an ability to work from a perspective that affirms intersecting identities, such as sexuality, gender, race, culture, and class.
• Experience in teaching social-emotional skills, mindfulness, creative arts, conflict resolution skills, nonviolent communication, or other related topics.
• Communicates effectively with youth, caregivers, staff, and members of OCU’s team.
• Spanish fluency preferred not required
• Personal qualities of maturity, humility, strong work ethic, flexibility, and a commitment to learning/professional growth.
  
  

COMPENSATION:

The salary range for this full-time position is $50,000 - $70,000 (depending on experience), plus a competitive benefits package, including health coverage, retirement benefits after the first year, and paid holidays. The position will require some evening and weekend hours.

To APPLY:

Submit a CV or resume, bio, 3 references, and a thoughtful cover letter outlining your interest in this position.

Physical Requirement of the Job:

The environmental factors and/or physical requirements of this position include the following: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10-25 pounds. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand, and finger dexterity, including the ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard. The employee frequently is required to be in one position for long periods of screen use, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear both in person and over devices. The employee interacts in close spaces and frequently with other workers, vendors, and clients. The position works in a school or office environment with artificial light and air.

One Common Unity is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and encourages applications from people of color, women, differently abled, LGBTQIA, and other groups that have historically been subject to discrimination.