Youth Empowerment Specialist - VPI - Program: Re-Imagine Youth Development

The Puerto Rican Cultural Center; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 40,500 - 49,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Medical and Dental insurance

Job summary

The Puerto Rican Cultural Center is seeking a Youth Empowerment Specialist to provide mentorship and programming for youth aged 11-21. The role involves planning and delivering educational and recreational activities.

Candidates should have experience working with youth, strong communication skills, and a background in boxing is preferred. The position offers a salary of $45,000 along with benefits including paid time off and medical insurance.

Qualifications

• Experience working in a school or after-school setting.
• Strong commitment to youth development and violence prevention.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with task-oriented focus.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English preferred.
• Certified in boxing or fitness instruction preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on programming to youths.
• Support daily schedules and activity organization.
• Conduct intake assessments and enroll enrollments.
• Maintain cleanliness and safety of workspaces.
• Provide programming in Life Skills or Sports.
• Build relationships with community youths.
• Identify and de-escalate youth crises.

Skills

Communication skills

Experience working with youth

Commitment to violence prevention

Boxing background

Job description

Description Founded in 1973, the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) is a non-profit, community-based umbrella institution, which seeks to serve the socio-cultural needs of Chicago's Puerto Rican and Latino community. It is built on the following principles: a philosophy of self-determination, a methodology of self-actualization and critical thought, and an ethics of self-reliance best expressed in the motto, "To live and help to live."

Job Summary

The Puerto Rican Cultural Center's Re-Imagine Youth Development Program aims to provide young people between the ages of 11-21 years old with attentive care, mentorship, guidance, and programming that will positively impact their lives and improve their sense of direction and well-being. Youth Empowerment Specialists will be tasked with implementing Life Skills Programming, Civics Programming, as well as cultural artistic activities and sports and recreational programming.

Boxing Coach / Fitness

Responsible for training, mentoring, and motivating athletes of all levels in the sport of boxing. The coach develops personalized training plans, teaches proper technique, and builds athletes’ physical and mental strength to help them reach their goals - whether recreational fitness, competitive boxing, or professional advancement.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide hands‑on programming to youths of the Humboldt Park Community and surrounding areas that will positively affect their lives and improve their sense of well‑being.
• Support the Program Coordinator in the organization of daily schedules and activities, and the implementation of programming.
• Conduct initial intake assessments and enrollments for youths, as well as exit interviews to determine the success of the program.
• Assist program and department staff with keeping tidy, clean, and safe workspaces.
• Provide daily programming in one of the following areas: Life Skills, Civics, Arts and Culture, or Sports and Recreation.
• Maintain proper communication with department staff and program leadership on questions or concerns regarding the program.
• Be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Build and foster relationships with community youths, partner agencies and school staff.
• Identify youth crises and conflicts and be able to calmly intervene and de‑escalate if needed.

This position requires compliance with all of The PRCC's written standards, including its Standards of Conduct, all policies and procedures, and Regulatory Compliance requirements. Compliance will be considered as part of the regular performance evaluation.

Qualifications

• Experience working with youth in a school or after‑school setting.
• Strong sense of commitment to violence prevention and youth development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Work independently with strong sense of focus, task‑oriented, non‑judgmental, open personal qualities, and clear sense of boundaries.
• A passion in the arts, or sports and fitness is a plus.
• Need to pass the Biometrics Fingerprint Service.
• Bilingual preferred (Spanish and English).
• Strong background in boxing (competitive or professional experience preferred).
• Certified in boxing or fitness instruction (preferred but not always required).

Working Conditions And Physical Requirements

OSHA Category 3 - Involves no regular exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues, and tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues are not a condition of employment.

Benefits

Salary: $45,000

Paid Time Off; Paid Holidays; Medical and Dental insurance

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to creating a welcoming workplace that celebrates inclusion and diversity. The PRCC provides equal employment opportunity to all applicants and does not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, or promotion based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other basis or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. In addition, The PRCC is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.