Youth Voice Coach

Position Title: Youth Voice Coach, Alameda County Youth Advisory Council

Reports To: Alameda County Youth Advisory Council Manager 

Location: Alameda County

Compensation: $27.01 hourly, generous benefits package

Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt 

About Fresh Lifelines for Youth

Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) is an award-winning nonprofit working to break the cycle of juvenile violence, crime, and incarceration. In twenty years of this work, FLY has supported tens of thousands of young people impacted by the justice system. FLY is at a critical juncture in our evolution: adding to a long history of success providing impactful intervention and prevention programs for young people, we understand that the pipeline-to-prison is a series of systems, structures and practices that suppress the ability of young people of color and other marginalized young people to thrive. We’ve set an audacious goal to do something about it: by 2030, through partnering with young people, communities, and systems, FLY will contribute to the fight for equity and justice by taking concrete steps to dismantle California’s pipeline to prison, equip 30,000 juvenile-justice and at-risk youth to transform their lives, and strengthen services for marginalized youth in California and beyond. More info at: www.flyprogram.org.

Department Summary:

This position is housed in the Youth Voice Department and in Alameda County. We envision the inclusion of youth voice as both a value of organizational culture and a vehicle of change in FLY’s IMAGINE 2030 plan. Young people will lead the process to elevate their voices authentically in a way that shapes and shifts institutional practices and policies to influence the system that has impacted them to be more effective, humane, and just. All youth who engage in Alameda County Youth Voice Initiatives will have the political education, skill sets, agency, and adult support to lean into their power and elevate their voices in their communities. FLY’s current Alameda County Youth Voice Initiatives includes the Alameda County Youth Advisory Council and the Oakland Public Safety Youth Leadership Council.

Youth Advisory Council (YAC) Overview: 

The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a collaborative effort between the Alameda County Probation Department and Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) to create systemic change through the inclusion of youth voices. The YAC will engage 12 paid youth council members ages 17-25 who have been impacted by the Juvenile Justice System and who have a passion to create systemic change. Youth will provide input and recommendations on current system processes, policies and practices and will be a part of key decision making that will positively impact youth directly impacted by the system. Council members will not only commit to the values of kindness, respect, determination, honesty, growth, integrity, and leadership but to also prioritize and uplift the voices of youth who are currently incarcerated. Youth will be supported through personal and professional development with one-on-one coaching, group support, and community partnerships. 

Position Summary:

The Youth Voice Coach (YVC) will mobilize for change by engaging in efforts to elevate youth voices in the juvenile justice system and the community. The YVC will further the work of FLY’s Youth Voice Department while collaborating with FLY’s Alameda County staff to execute a Youth Voice Integration Plan. This plan includes creating, planning, and coordinating efforts to ensure that the development of the Youth Voice philosophy, strategies, work plans and projects are integrated to advance key agency initiatives throughout the county. The YVC’s focus will be to lead Alameda County’s Youth Advisory Council work by supporting the development of the council and by providing coaching and skill development for council members. The YVC will be instrumental in guiding and working in partnership with the council members to create juvenile justice systems change and as well as transformative community change. Core functions of the YVC role include coaching, planning, coordinating, and stakeholder and community engagement. 

The ideal candidate will have lived experience with the carceral system and a connection to the Alameda County community. The candidate is passionate about social and racial justice, youth leadership, and youth voice. They will have a community organizing spirit and a commitment to systems change. They will bring joy to the work and will be dedicated to uplifting the voices of youth who have traditionally been ignored or silenced. 

Position Responsibilities: 

Support the development and implementation of the Alameda County Youth Advisory Council

• Gather input from youth voices in the community and in the juvenile facilitates through various methods such as 1:1s, focus groups, and workgroups to inform the work of the council  
• Assist in the ongoing recruitment of youth and engage 10-12 youth between the ages of seventeen (17) and twenty-five (25) who have been juvenile justice system impacted 
• Support the councils’ key systems change projects through research, planning, and community and system partner communication and collaboration
• Support the planning and execution of YAC events such as the launch, retreat and hosting community listening sessions 
• Execute the day-to-day support of the Youth Advisory Council operations

Provide individualized and group coaching support 

• Facilitate an initial participation assessment with each youth council member, as well as create individual skill development plans to support the youths’ personal and professional development
• Provide monthly coaching focusing on skill development areas as well as any areas contributing to YAC’s key systems change projects
• Support the cohesion and collaboration of the council through community building and skill development 
• Document all youth council member efforts in FLY’s internal tracking system, Efforts to Outcomes (ETO and well as maintain records of assessments, development plans etc.

Develop and Facilitate Trainings

• Assess and identify core trainings needed to support the council’s work 
• Create training content relating to political education, community organizing or other topics and continuously update content to reflect the needs 
• Outreach to community organizations, community members, or other stakeholders to facilitate trainings or to share relevant content and resources
• Facilitate trainings and administer pre and post surveys to assess the impact of trainings

Other duties as needed and assigned.

Note: Many FLY events and activities occur during evenings and weekends and require flexibility in staff schedules. Some travel between FLY’s counties will be required. Remote work will be an option when appropriate. 

Experience Requirements and Preferences 

• Strong Organizational Skills: Ability to juggle many projects and tasks with autonomy. Proven administrative skills and ability to manage programmatic organization, forecasting, and implementation at a high level of professionalism. 
• Computer Skills: Proficiency with applications including Google Workspace and Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Experienced with database systems. Experience with Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) database is a plus.
• Time Management: Utilizes strategic time management to concentrate efforts on FLY priorities through efficient systems, processes and tools.  
• Equity-Centered Facilitation: Experience with facilitating conversations around equity, race, systemic racism, white supremacy, implicit bias, trauma, and inclusivity is a plus. 
• Community Organizing: Experience building coalitions or mobilizing people 

Compensation

This position is a Full-Time Non-Exempt role at a rate of $27.01/hourly with differential pay options based on advanced degree and, when applicable to the role, speaking another language. Our Total Rewards Package also includes the following: 

• Healthcare and/or 403(b) stipend
• Mileage reimbursement 
• 10+ PTO days per year plus 12 holiday days; FLY also provides 3-4 additional "rejuvenation days off" twice per year in July and December (these days off are above and beyond your accrued PTO hours)
• 8 hours of civic engagement hours
• Annual professional development goal stipend with a portion eligible toward health/wellness needs 
• Employee Assistance Program (paid for by FLY)
• Flexible work schedules and occasional remote work days 

At FLY, we have adopted a no-negotiation policy. This policy reflects our commitment to equity and ensuring that the offers we make to our candidates reflect competitive and appropriate compensation given the market and the role.

At Fresh Lifelines for Youth, we are committed to hiring top talent. As such, FLY will be implementing a temporary policy offering all new hires a one time signing bonus. All full-time hires will receive $1,500.00 which will be paid in their first paycheck. This amount will be prorated accordingly for part-time hires. This does not apply to seasonal or contract positions. Nor would it apply to internal lateral moves or promotions. 

Our Commitment To Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion

At FLY, we embrace a diversity of identities, beliefs, thoughts, and experiences. We commit to creating an organizational culture of equity and inclusion to serve our youth and communities better. FLY is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive for an inclusive culture and a staff team that reflects diversity. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex/gender, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. We strongly encourage women; people of color, people who identify as part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities; people with experience in the juvenile justice or criminal justice systems; and people with disabilities to apply. Fresh Lifelines for Youth is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 263-2630 or compliance@flyprogram.org

COVID-19 Vaccination

At FLY, we are committed to the safety of our employees, clients, and all others who enter our workplace. While COVID-19 poses a threat to the health and well-being of all individuals, vaccinations can significantly reduce that threat and help protect our workplace as well as our community. As such, FLY would like to make clear that the COVID-19 vaccination is a condition of employment.

However, FLY does allow staff to apply for exemptions based on medical history or sincerely held religious beliefs or practices. However, this must be approved through FLY’s compliance department. If approved, employees will be subject to weekly COVID-19 testing and must wear masks/PPE at all times. 

Additionally, FLY will allow accommodations for unvaccinated employees to perform their essential job functions so long as it does not impose either a direct threat to the health and safety of the workplace and employees; or an undue hardship on the organization.

If either of the two conditions above are not met, and the employee can not receive the vaccine, employment may be terminated. 

If you have additional questions, please contact us at (408) 263-2630 or email 

compliance@flyprogram.org 

Preferred Competencies

• Cultural Responsivity: Demonstrates the values articulated by FLY’s definitions of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Valuing diverse identities within the organization and being self-aware of one’s own bias, power and privilege in different relationships and settings
• Professionalism: FLY defines professionalism as the ability to own your work, be accountable, and take initiative to produce goal-oriented results. This also includes the customer service we show to our youth, their families, our colleagues and stakeholders, as well as the ability to follow FLY policies and procedures.
• Collaboration: Ability to work productively within a team, contribute to the work with the big picture in mind (FLY’s mission and agency goals), and be mindful of exercising your strengths while also encouraging others to do the same.
• Communication: Uses effective written and verbal communication with staff, teams and communities served; demonstrates empathy, self-awareness, and listening skills. 
• Critical Thinking: Consistently identifies, gathers, and applies relevant information to complete work efficiently and effectively. 
• Resiliency: Demonstrates the ability to adjust to change and work through ambiguity with a growth and solutions-oriented mindset. This means having an openness to change and new perspectives, as well as seeing change-related challenges as fluid and possible to overcome rather than fixed.