Youth Justice Agenda Campaign Fellow

Youth Justice Agenda Campaign Fellow

Opportunity: The Young Women's Project (YWP) is a dynamic, brave organization that develops leaders, takes on institutions, and builds youth power in DC. We are looking for a self-starter with a flexible skill set that includes youth development, training and facilitation, and social justice campaign work. We are a small, ambitious organization with a big agenda and limited resources. This is a great position for a recent college grad interested in graduate study in public health or policy. The fellowship is one-year in length with opportunities to join our permanent staff.

Organizational Background: The Young Women's Project builds the leadership and power of young people so that they can transform DC institutions to expand rights and opportunities for DC youth. Based in Washington, DC, YWP programs engage under-resourced youth of color, ages 14-24, with a focus on teen women, youth in foster care, and homeless youth. YWP’s model engages youth on four levels: First, we employ youth and invest in their development! We hire 50 youth campaign staff each year that receive 150+ hours of training and work 6-8 hours a week during school and 25 during summer to educate youth, conduct research, and advocate for policies that support YWP's goals. Next, YWP hires 250 youth as health educators (through the Youth Health Educator Program (YHEP)). Last year they educated 10,000 youth and distributed 130,000 condoms, and made 1,400 clinic referrals in 22 public schools. Third, YWP advocates for policies and programs that increase rights, resources, and job opportunities for under-resourced youth through a youth-adult partnership that integrates research, education, advocacy, and implementation work alongside of city agencies. Last year, adult and youth staff presented more than 50 testimonies and advocated for new policies and budget allocations within CFSA, DHS, DPR, DOES, and DCPS. Finally, YWP works within agencies to develop and implement agency programs and to improve accessibility and quality of contractor-run programs. YWP has three man programs: The Peer Health and Sexuality Education (PHASE) campaign improves youth health outcomes and works to reduce unplanned pregnancies and STIs by expanding comprehensive health education and access to school/community-based health care, and engaging youth as peer educators and leaders. The Youth Poverty Program (YPP) develops youth leaders as they transform their own lives and improve the District’s youth serving system. As part of YPP, the Center for Young Adults (CYA) provides capacity building training and support to youth emancipating from the DC foster care system. CYA provides weekly intensive; skills based development and support for 100-200 young adults ages 20-23 each year through center-based program that includes capacity building training, peer group support, and individual coaching. Young adults will commit to programming, meet rigorous benchmarks for employment, education, housing, health, community engagement and other areas, and make significant progress toward independence.

Position Summary: The Youth Justice Agenda Campaign Fellow (YJA-CF) will work as part of a 3-person Advocacy Team (including the Executive Director, YPP Program Director) and 30 youth organizers. The YHEP-Fellow will be responsible for a broad range of duties including training, youth recruitment & management, social media, and administration support. During the school year, the Fellow must be available to work until 6:45 3 days a week in order to accommodate an after-school training schedule. The fellowship is full time with a 9-12 -month appointment.

Salary: $32,000 with benefits (vacation, sick leave, paid holidays)

Responsibilities: Responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following:

Work with ED and PD to develop and implement specific youth-directed and led campaigns on education, employment, and health issues

Coordinate the recruitment, support, and management of youth educators on 3 campaign teams focused on education, employment, and health

Deliver 3 weekly trainings on a range of campaign issues and tactics including research, organizing, social media, and advocacy

Contribute to the development of lesson plans and other training material;

Contribute to data collection and input, report writing and other evaluation functions

Conduct policy research including primary data collection, collection state models, and policy analysis on a range of issues and develop materials for use in education, outreach, and advocacy including reports, briefing papers, and testimony

Help coordinate youth communication fellows program including the development and distribution of social media content and website content and development

Assist with online fundraising, donor relations, database maintenance, and invoicing

Qualifications:

BA or comparable experience in education, public health, youth development, social justice, or related fields.

2 years’ experience working with youth, women, and with communities of color;

Experience as a facilitator and trainer; can deliver trainings on a range of youth-relevant issues using popular education and experiential learning techniques

Experience as a community organizer/campaign worker on issues relevant to youth including education, employment, health or other issues

Deep, demonstrated understanding of how youth develop as leaders and social justice catalysts

Strong problem-solving & critical thinking skills, and written and verbal communication skills;

Experience in communications, social media, and fundraising or related non-profit work preferred

Experience with evaluation, data collection, and admin systems preferred

Deep, demonstrated commitment to social justice, youth empowerment, anti-oppression, and holistic comprehensive sexuality education for youth

Deep, demonstrated commitment to building youth power and working with youth as partners to improve youth serving institutions

Flexible, organized, resourceful, and able to set priorities and manage a busy workload

To Apply: Please email a cover letter, resume, and four professional references to Nadia Gold-Moritz (. Please write YJA-CF in the subject line. See for more information. Interviews will be granted on a rolling basis. The position will remain open until filled. The Young Women's Project is committed to affirmative action.

Company Description:

Organizational Background: The Young Women's Project builds the leadership and power of young people so that they can transform DC institutions to expand rights and opportunities for DC youth. Based in Washington, DC, YWP programs engage under-resourced youth of color, ages 14-24, with a focus on teen women, youth in foster care, and homeless youth. YWP work focuses on three DC youth realities: poverty, unemployment, and poor health outcomes. About 57% of our youth educators and 70% of our young adults live or go to school in Ward 7 and 8, communities that are disproportionately impacted by teen pregnancy, youth unemployment, and poor educational outcomes. Guided by these needs and opportunities, YWP is building a citywide network of youth educators and community problem solvers. Our model engages youth on three levels starting with self-advocacy. Youth staff and members build their skills in communication, problem solving, conflict resolution, goal setting) and guide them to advance their own rights and opportunities and navigate the complex systems of child welfare, education, and health care. Next, YWP employs youth and invests in their development as workers and community change agents. Last year, more than 250 youth worked 3-12 hours a week as educators, advocates, researchers, trainers, and community outreach workers. Youth work on teams and with a manger, apply their skills, develop professional behavior, put together a portfolio of work products, and earn a pay check. Third, youth and adult staff work side by side to create and advocate for policies and programs that increase youth rights, resources, and job opportunities. YWP's work is organized into two program areas, driven by long-term-system-change-focused goals.