Community Engagement Specialist

The North Lawndale Early Learning Collaborations mission is to ensure that families considered priority populations with children 0-8 years old have the resources needed to engage and enroll in quality early learning programs. Since 2013, the Collaboration has brought together community organizations across North Lawndale to advance this mission and to promote a no wrong door approach for families to access Early Childhood Education & Care (ECEC) programs. Today, the North Lawndale Early Learning Collaboration comprises many diverse partners that are as committed to the success of the Collaboration as they are to providing early childhood education and care for all children. Illinois Action for Children recently received the Birth to Five Implementation grant that will continue to drive this work forward, providing support in regaining pre-2020 enrollment levels and further increasing enrollment in ECEC programs and services in North Lawndale.

Under the direction of the North Lawndale Community Connections Program Manager, the Community Engagement Specialist will be responsible for directing, leading, and managing all the work of the North Lawndale Early Learning Collaboration (NLELC), meeting all objectives and activities of the Birth to Five Implementation grant, and implementing data collection methods to track ECEC enrollments. The second main responsibility will be aligning the work of NLELC with the Community Parenting Support Saturation Program (CPSSP) activities in North Lawndale. Both program objectives are to increase enrollment in early childhood programs and raise awareness of North Lawndale programs in early childhood and kindergarten readiness. Our plan is to integrate the CPSSP work in North Lawndale with the NLELC to saturate the community with access to a referral system across all ECE providers so that there is no wrong door for families. This will create a collaborative environment in North Lawndale that supports families and aims to increase enrollment across North Lawndale.  

The ideal candidate will have a strong background working with communities furthest from resources and the ability to effectively communicate with a variety of audiences: families, children, and professionals. The candidate should also possess data management and WordPress skills to provide oversight on the community website. The candidate is expected to promote and adhere to the workplace core capabilities of accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement (CQI), communication, competent people, and clear priorities. All work is to be completed by organizational standards.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following. The company reserves the right to add to, delete, change or modify the essential duties and responsibilities at any time.

• Build relationships and rapport with North Lawndale Early Learning Collaboration (NLELC) community partners and recruit organizations that provide services in North Lawndale to join the collaboration. 
• Lead, manage, convene, and coordinate NLELC meetings monthly.
• Raise public awareness in North Lawndale of the communitys Early Childhood Education & Care (ECEC) programs and services.  
• Develop and implement targeted marketing to North Lawndale families, having an  understanding of target audiences to develop messaging and determine marketing methods that are best suited to communicate the benefits of ECEC to these audiences. 
• Plan and implement social media and advertising strategies to promote ECEC programs and services, highlighting services offered in North Lawndale ZIP codes and pushing families to enroll in these programs and services.
• Develop, establish, and implement data collection methods to track ECEC enrollments.
• Exhibit a strong background in data management, maintaining database and data entry for the NLELC to track measurable results and impact for the community.
• Increase outreach and engagement to the North Lawndale community through quarterly coordinated events that promote services and increase enrollment for partners in the North Lawndale Early Learning Collaboration.
• Develop, engage, and build trusted messengers among community partners by promoting ECEC programs and services during collaboration meetings to build partners knowledge of programming. 
• Identify, recruit, and engage four parent ambassadors to share event information and reach out to fellow parents in advance of Community Resource Days. At each hosted community event, parent ambassadors will help educate other parents about the importance of ECEC programs, connect them to the Ready for Kindergarten, Ready for Life website, and encourage parents to enroll their children in ECEC programs and services.
• Build knowledge of all resources and supports in North Lawndale, becoming an expert in the area.
• Cultivate strong relationships with parents by listening to their needs, challenges, and solutions to enhance their life.
• Coordinate and integrate strategies and activities in North Lawndale with community partners and other teams working in North Lawndale.
• Collaborate and work closely with the Program Manager of CPSSP to connect the CPSSP initiative in North Lawndale with the NLELC, meeting both outcomes of the grants.
  • Establish a referral system across all ECE providers so that there is no wrong door for families.
  • Support in database design and collection of CPSSP in NorthLawndale
• Utilize WordPress to promote, leverage, and elevate the website, Ready for Kindergarten, Ready for Life, created for the North Lawndale community.  This website will act as a one-stop shop for resources in North Lawndale, designed to support the communitys parents as they prepare their children for kindergarten.  
• Produce and oversee building out the community event calendar through the Ready for Kindergarten, Ready for Life website using WordPress.  
• Establish an intake form on the website for parents.
• Commit to applying a culturally responsive and racial equity lens to all work.
• Complete other duties as assigned.
• Execute our workplace core capabilities of accountability, customer focus, continuous quality improvement (CQI), communication, competent people and clear priorities.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:  Bachelor's degree or higher in Social Work, Education, Psychology, Community building or related field.  At least five years of related experience and or training.  Ability to work in a variety of settings with culturally diverse families and communities with the ability to be culturally sensitive, appropriate, and professional.  Ability to build strategic relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders with divergent interests and goals.  Experience coordinating meetings, events, and workshops using multiple technical platforms when needed.  Experience embedding an equity lens in working with communities.  Experience with data management systems.  Experience with website design/ WordPress.  A strong sense of respect for confidentiality, involving families and fellow employees.  Willingness to work flexible hours evenings and some weekends.  Excellent documentation skills.  Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to establish rapport at all levels.  Excellent presentation and public speaking skills with diverse audiences.  Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle and provide own transportation with a valid drivers license.  Excellent skills working with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Benefits of Working at IAFC:

• Working with passionate team members that are driven by our Mission: Illinois Action for Children is a catalyst for organizing, developing and supporting strong families and powerful communities where children matter most.
• We strive to foster and implement a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our organization. We know it is not only critical to the success of diversity initiatives - but instrumental in creating an unbiassed and inclusive workplace! It not only relates to the diverse clients we serve but also creates a positive employee experience.

We offer an extensive benefits package that adds value to your total compensation. Our benefits include:

• Health, dental and vision insurance plans with company contribution of 95% for single coverage
• 401k with company match
• Generous PTO first year-23 days, the second year-28 days, the third year and on - 35 days
• 11 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Account
• STD & LTD insurance
• Company paid Life Insurance

Starting Salary: $58,000 (based on experience)  Location: 1340 S. Damen, Chicago, IL, 60608

Illinois Action for Children is EEO/M/F/V/D employer.

While we desire for this job posting to be comprehensive, all aspects of the position may be amended at any time at the discretion of IAFC including job duties, work location and/or work schedule.

As established by the Illinois Action for Children Board of Directors, all employees are required to receive a vaccination against COVID-19, unless a medical or religious reasonable accommodation is approved. If offered a job, the candidate must be able to prove that they have been vaccinated with one of the CDC-authorized vaccines, including either Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson / Janssen or request and be granted an accommodation before their start date.