We…

• Are a nonprofit organization working with business, nonprofit, government and community leaders to address complex and systemic issues.
• Facilitate conversations addressing environmental, economic, and public health issues between diverse stakeholders as we work toward social equity and environmental health.
• Take action and implement on-the-ground projects to improve our air, land, and water for all beings.
• Plan and host events for environmental leaders from businesses, nonprofits, government and most-impacted communities to share information, network and learn from one another.

Mission
Catalyze collaboration across perspectives, power, and systems for social equity and environmental health.

Vision
Relationships foster an inclusive, just, and thriving world for all beings.

The Northside Safety N.E.T. (Neighborhoods Empowering Teens) is a collaborative and systems-change approach to addressing disparate environmental impacts and empowering at-risk teens of color in North Minneapolis. The partners in this collaborative will leverage their existing resources and expertise to develop and implement a year-long training for a cohort of ten youth (16-24), around community service, environmental stewardship, leadership, life skills training, workforce development, and civic engagement from an environmental justice lens. The main objectives are to:

• Integrate young people in local conversations and movements to address environmental justice issues identified by the Northside Green Zone task force
• Raise the environmental literacy and practical skills of young people to create a new generation of environmental stewards
• Increase exposure to and interest in careers related to the environment, sustainability and green enterprises

EI is the project administrator for Northside Safety N.E.T. The program itself is currently in the design phase. The Project Coordinator will work closely with the Associate Director, Food and Agriculture to finalize details of program design for the youth cohort to begin in late summer.

The Project Coordinator is responsible for managing and implementing the Northside Safety N.E.T. project. The Project Coordinator will communicate and coordinate with host sites and youth participants on day-to-day activity logistics, finalize and adapt project plans for youth engagement, and facilitate the weekly youth activities. Most activities will be located in North Minneapolis with a consistent weekly schedule. This position reports to the Associate Director, Food and Agriculture and will work closely with them to help develop and design the project plans and maintain partner relationships. The Project Coordinator will have an evaluative mindset, sharing lessons learned with the team and adapting programming for continuous improvement.

During the school year the youth programming will take place tentatively on Thursdays from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.; in the summer, youth programming hours will tentatively be Thursdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for planning and arranging for facilitation of the sessions and ensuring host sites and youth are prepared for the weekly activities. A majority of the sessions will be facilitated by partners from the host sites.

Project Coordination

• Manage day-to-day communication with host sites and youth participants
  • Ensure partners and youth are prepared for each week’s activity
  • Provide and prepare any necessary materials prior to activity
• Organize and manage general logistics for programming
  • Arrange transportation, timing, meeting locations, etc. for each week’s programming

Youth Engagement

• Facilitate weekly activities with the cohort employing youth engagement strategies and methods
• Provide mentorship and coaching to the youth cohort throughout the project through direct interaction, leading by example, and connecting youth with other professionals who can serve as mentors

Project Planning

• Collaborate with host sites and other Environmental Initiative staff to design project activities
• Research and identify best practices for youth engagement strategies and tactics; incorporate into project activities
• Refine and adapt weekly plans to respond to youth needs and interests, host site needs, weather, and other variables

Organizational Development

• Participate in Environmental Initiative’s organizational development opportunities
• Identify and share lessons learned from project with internal team and project partners
• Participate in professional development opportunities relevant to improving skills for the execution of Project Safety N.E.T.

Desired Experience

• Relevant Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience designing and implementing youth development activities, especially with high school aged youth and a focus on environment and agriculture
• Strong youth / young adult engagement skills
• Ability to coordinate people and many project pieces; organized, thorough, and accountable in managing logistics and project details
• Cultural competency and community connections, particularly related to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in North Minneapolis
• Effective communicator comfortable with facilitation, public speaking, and written communications
• Experience, knowledge of, and interest in the environment, public health, urban and local food systems
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, uncertainty, and comfortable with experimenting with innovative project design
• Creative problem solver and solution oriented
• Self-starter, with the ability to work independently and be self-guided
• Interest in and willingness for learning, giving/receiving feedback, and personal and professional development
• Enjoys working with youth and the balance of both office work and getting hands in the dirt
• Brings whole self to work, eager to join a team with humor and laughter

Compensation

This is a one-year, part-time position beginning in July 2021, with the potential to expand into a full-time role. It will average 20-30 hours per week, with an annual salary of $40,000, pro-rated to part-time at 20-30 hours per week, resulting in approximately $20,000 - $30,000 per year, and has additional pro-rated benefits compensation.

Environmental Initiative offers a flexible benefits package, including a group health care plan, dental insurance, transit benefits, HSA and FSA accounts, life insurance, long-term disability coverage, and a 403(b)-matching program. Environmental Initiative also embraces a flexible working environment, with the option to work remotely and determine a regular work schedule that accommodates individual staff members’ needs and preferences.