'Auwai Vocational ('Oihana) Coordinator

Position: 'Auwai Internship Vocational ('Oihana ) Coordinator
Reports To: Executive & Programs Director
Organization:
MA'O Organic Farms (MA'O), located in Lualualei Valley, Wai`anae, is a social enterprise of the Wai`anae Community Re-Development Corporation, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Established in 2000, MA'O grows organic food and new leaders for a sustainable Hawai`i. For the past 20-years MA'O has operated 24-acres of certified organic land, producing over 400,000 pounds of food per year, all managed by young leaders going to college. In 2018, we expanded to an additional 21-acre parcel, and in April 2019 we acquired another 236-acres in Lualualei Valley. This new 'āina provides many opportunities, and huge kuleana to increase production of nutritious food and to bring youthful energy to Hawai'i's rural communities. MA'O has dedicated this 281-acre operation to two interconnected activities:

• Production, sales and distribution of high quality certified organic fruits and vegetables for the farmer's market, natural food stores, restaurants and markets; and,
• Training, mentorship and development of young adults within an 'auwai (pathway) of college bound, educational programs.

Position Overview & Priority:
The hana nui (importance) of this position is to develop and provide important 'oihana or vocational knowledge, tools, supports, resources and opportunities for youth engaged in the 'Auwai Youth Leadership Training to be delivered in ways that build pilina (connections) and capacity to careers that are culturally and communally relevant. The pillar of this practice is 'oihana ('oi or excellence + hana or work) and supports 'Auwai youth to explore, develop, enact and fulfill their vocational aspirations in an aligned and pono (righteous) pathway: kūlana (individual purpose) -> kuleana (responsibility) -> 'ohana (family) & kaiāulu (community). This position will work collaboratively with the Youth Empowerment Specialist (YES) and will be supported by the 'Auwai Team. This position will be primarily sited at the MA'O Pūhāwai farm campus in Lualualei.
Specific Responsibilities
The 'Auwai Internship Vocational ('Oihana) Coordinator specific responsibilities are to:
Program Development (10%). Working with the YES, this position will continuously integrate 'oihana (vocational activities) into the 'Auwai in ways that align and uplift the mission of the organization. The ea or sovereignty of this role lies in the ability to be creative yet responsive to the community context to include knowledge of the challenges faced and experienced by youth like cultural and communal isolation, disconnection and trauma. Knowledge of strengths based approaches will be critical in assisting youth to build pono, righteous and resilient, 'oihana pathways toward sustaining careers.
Program Management (20%). This position will coordinate 'oihana vocational strategies and activities to support and propel 'Auwai youth to be retained, to matriculate, to graduate and to progress into aligned and pono careers. With the support of YES and the 'Auwai team, the position will:

• Support youth recruitment, interview, and onboarding activities;
• Support the academic and enterprise wraparound services;
• Support the assessment and evaluation of youth and programs; and,
• Hold space for intern accountability conversations which are restorative.

Program Implementation (60%). This position will provide direct 'oihana vocational programming, services and opportunities for all 'Auwai youth in order to support and resource their career aspirations, specifically:
Youth 'Oihana Exploration & Engagement

• Embeds and implements scaffolded career exploration for interns with the YES and the Po'owai team to include workshops, guest speakers, or other events for interns to gain more clarity in pathways and career opportunities.
• Contributes and supports an 'Auwai learning environment that includes the reclamation of ancestral and cultural strengths (including practices of ola holistic health and well-being, building pilina connections and relationships, and the internal growth of the intern).

Youth 'Oihana Knowledge & Skills Development

• Embed and implement real-time workforce knowledge and skills development within 'Auwai programming in partnership with the YES that works to help interns hold themselves accountable to program commitments, and decision-making around careers (purpose, passion, and practice).
• Bolster and enhance the vocational programming for job readiness- knowledge, using their voice, tools and practices around financial literacy, resume/cover letter development, and interviewing skills.

Youth 'Oihana Capacity Building & Transition

• Implement and refine the programs evaluation processes (Lōkahi) to ensure program quality of intern experience; and,
• Bolster and enhance the practice, process and support that ensure that youth transitioning from our care are strengthened in that process and are ready to engage in their next opportunity.

Program Workforce Development & Systems Work (10%). The position will work with the ED/PD and the Po'owai to contribute to building a culturally and communally pono education to workforce pathway through the following activities:

• Support community partnerships (ie 'Auwai Education & Employer Hui) to build pilina and gain valuable feedback that grows community partnerships;
• Grow and refine post-YLT and HYLT opportunities to include strengthening of the Mohala Externships at WCCHC, Kamehameha Schools and elsewhere.

The successful applicant to this position will demonstrate leadership at a very high level to develop and implement a successful educational 'Auwai 'oihana program that grounds youth in their community, provides training in relevant enterprises and matriculates youth toward their higher education and career goals. Ideal candidates will:

• Possess sophisticated facilitation skills to develop, implement and assess programs in a collaborative team environment;
• Work well with little supervision at maximum efficiency levels to recruit youth and provide a quality training experience (guidance, support, and mentorship) that develops intern capacity to meet work and academic demands;
• Develop and nurture collaborative relationships with partners in the educational institutions and employer community, especially regional schools, businesses and nonprofits in professions that are needed in/by the community; and,
• Model mutual love, respect and a willingness to work, thus reinforcing organizational and programmatic policy and values in a positive and formative manner that supports our mission, goals and activities.

Education & Experience:

• Preferred: A Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Human Services, Counseling, Education, or related field with at least two years of applied experience in teaching, counseling, community organizing, advocacy, program/project development, implementation and evaluation.
• Minimum: An Associates Degree or equivalent with at least 4 years of applied experience in teaching/training, counseling/mentorship, community organizing/student advocacy and program development and evaluation.
• Additional. Experience with wraparound student support services and working with disadvantaged and/or non-traditional student populations as a priority.

Schedule and Working Conditions
Mondays through Fridays, 7:00am to 4:00pm. Must be available some evenings & Saturdays. The position generally works in an office environment, however, we are being called to be adaptive to outdoor working environments and to varying weather conditions.