Outreach Worker

INSIPLE COALITION; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Employee discounts

Free uniforms

Opportunity for advancement

Paid time off

Training & development

Job summary

INSIPLE Coalition seeks an Outreach Worker to establish a credible presence in Riverdale, Roseland, and West Pullman. You will engage residents, identify high-risk individuals, and connect them to support services, aiming to reduce violence and promote peace in the community.

The role emphasizes walking blocks, building trust, and collaborating with a team to respond to critical incidents, while supporting ongoing violence prevention training and community events.

Qualifications

• Ability to establish credibility with residents in high-risk areas.
• Strong de-escalation and conflict mediation skills.
• Comfort with walking outdoors and on foot for extended periods.
• Reliable documentation habits and data entry proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a daily presence in assigned areas and engage residents.
• Identify and build relationships with individuals at highest risk of violence.
• Mediate conflicts and de-escalate disputes to prevent violence.
• Respond to shootings and critical incidents with the team to support affected individuals.
• Mentor participants and refer to Case Manager for services.
• Connect participants to workforce development, reentry, and youth programs.
• Log daily contacts and incidents for grant compliance.
• Support community events and neighborhood activations.
• Participate in shifts and ongoing violence prevention training.

Skills

Relationship building

Conflict mediation

Active listening

Community engagement

Job description

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Employee discounts
• Free uniforms
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Training & development

Organization | INSIPLE Coalition
Position title | Outreach Worker, Community Violence Intervention
Employment status | Full-time
Salary | To be confirmed
Location | Chicago, IL (Riverdale, Roseland, West Pullman)
Reports to | Site Manager
Posting platform | ADP

About the Role

INSIPLE Coalition is hiring an Outreach Worker to be a consistent, trusted presence on the blocks of Riverdale, Roseland, and West Pullman. You will build relationships with the individuals most likely to be involved in violence, step in to cool conflicts before they turn into shootings, and connect people to the support that helps them choose a different path. This role is for a credible messenger whose word carries weight in the neighborhood and who is ready to use it for peace.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a daily presence in assigned areas, walking blocks and engaging residents
• Identify and build trusting relationships with individuals at the highest risk of shooting or being shot
• Mediate conflicts and de-escalate disputes before they turn violent, and work to prevent retaliation
• Respond to shootings and critical incidents alongside the team, supporting those affected and calming tensions
• Mentor a group of participants and refer them to the Case Manager for services
• Connect participants to INSIPLE's workforce development, reentry, and youth programs
• Log daily contacts, mediations, and incidents accurately for grant compliance
• Support community events, peace walks, and neighborhood activations
• Take part in shift briefings, debriefs, and ongoing violence prevention training

Requirements

• Established relationships and credibility in Riverdale, Roseland, or West Pullman
• Ability to engage and earn the trust of individuals at the highest risk of violence
• Strong de-escalation and conflict mediation skills, with calm judgment under pressure
• Willingness to complete 40 hours of violence prevention training
• Reliable documentation habits and comfort with basic data entry
• Ability to work outdoors and on foot for extended periods
• Ability to work non-traditional hours, including evenings, weekends, and on-call crisis response
• Reliable transportation
• Background check required; a prior record does not automatically disqualify a candidate

Preferred

• Lived experience that strengthens your connection to the people we serve
• Prior experience in street outreach, violence interruption, or mentoring
• Valid driver's license

About Us

INSIPLE Coalition, short for Information Needed So I Plan Life Everyday, is a Chicago-based nonprofit whose mission is to prevent violence, strengthen communities, and create pathways to opportunity. Rooted in the Far South Side neighborhoods we serve, we partner with credible messengers, community institutions, and city stakeholders to reduce shootings and homicides, support individuals at the highest risk of violence involvement, and strengthen the community-based infrastructure that makes lasting peace possible. Our work is grounded in the belief that those closest to the problem are closest to the solution, and that healing, not punishment, is the foundation of public safety.

Equal Opportunity Statement

INSIPLE Coalition is an equal opportunity employer.

We encourage applications from people with lived experience, including returning citizens.