Wellness Mentor

Guitars Over Guns; New York (NY); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Guitars Over Guns Organization (GOGO) seeks a Wellness Mentor for the 2026-2027 school year to promote well-being and provide safe, supportive spaces. The mentor helps participants set goals, build coping skills, and make responsible choices within a strengths-based, trauma-informed framework.

The role reports to the Director of Mental Health and Wellness and requires initiative, independence, and teamwork across sites and partners. Community-based youth programs are central to this opportunity.

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, counseling, or health-related field.
• 2–3+ years working with youth, especially youth of color.
• Knowledge of systemic barriers facing youth of color and low-income backgrounds.
• Prior experience in the mental health field.
• Prior experience facilitating groups.
• Team experience in collaborative settings.
• Experience with Google Workspace is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Promote participant well-being by creating safe, brave, and supportive spaces.
• Support participants in exploring goals, healthy coping strategies, and responsible decision-making.
• Collaborate with mentors, school staff, and program team.
• Maintain confidentiality and apply trauma-informed approaches.

Skills

Trauma-informed approach

Youth engagement

Strong communication

Confidentiality

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Associate degree in psychology or related field

Tools

Google Workspace

Job description

Guitars Over Guns Organization (GOGO) is a nationally recognized, award-winning nonprofit that is challenging the perception of what is possible for youth who experience the power of music-based mentorship. We place teams of professional teaching artists in after-school and community-based programs to provide a powerful combination of music education and mentoring at no cost to youth from vulnerable communities in Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City.

Job Description

GOGO is seeking a Wellness Mentor (WM) for the 2026-2027 school year.

The Wellness Mentor promotes greater participant well-being by creating safe, brave and supportive spaces for participants.

Wellness Mentors support participants in exploring and achieving goals, increasing healthy coping strategies, and encouraging responsible decision-making through a positive, strengths-focused, trauma-informed approach.

The Wellness Mentor reports to the Director of Mental Health and Wellness. The ideal candidate is a mental health professional, who takes initiative and who is able to work well independently and on a team.

Necessary Qualities

The Wellness Mentor is accountable for the highest quality implementation of our M-Power Mental Health Program.

• Maintain a safe, brave and respectful environment for students to discuss their challenges and goals
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team with participants, mentors, and school staff
• Strong interpersonal skills, strengths-based, trauma-informed, healing-centered approach
• High degree of discernment around confidentiality and disclosure
• Excellent communication (in-person and online)
• Growth mindset with a desire to continually update their knowledge and skills, and embody coaching best practices
• Quick decision making in response to changing conditions or crisis
• Technologically savvy; comfortable learning new software
• Organized, dependable, and reliable
• Passionate about mental health and wellness

Desired Experience

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, counseling, or health and behavioral sciences or related field
• 2-3+ years workings with youth, especially youth of color
• Knowledgeable about systemic barriers facing youth of color and youth from low-income backgrounds
• Prior experience in mental health field
• Prior experience facilitating groups
• Prior experience working on a team
• Prior experience with Google Workspace, desired but not required

Work Demands

• Ability to commit to the Wellness Mentor position for one academic year
• Willingness to work some weekends and evenings as needed based on program schedules, events, and partnership opportunities
• Able to travel independently to various programming sites
• All Guitars Over Guns contractors are required to complete a Level II background check through Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Miami and through Chicago Public Schools and After School Matters in Chicago
• Completion of the YMHFA Certification and other additional trainings (paid)