Event Specialist, Safe Spaces

Put your passion into practice - YMCA of Metro Chicago is now hiring Safe Spaces, Event Specialists for Chicago's My CHI My Future Year-Round Safe Spaces Program!

Salary starts at $15.86 per hour

**Applicants must be at least 16 years old; no more than 24 years old and must reside in the Humboldt Park area.

Safe Spaces, Event Specialists are responsible for working on a team with other staff and a Program Coordinator to plan all aspects of the Kickback event series, on-site coordination, working with vendors, data collection, and outreach and promotion.

The Safe Spaces, Event Specialists will assist with the planning and implementation of the 11 Kickback events that are a part of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago's My CHI My Future Year-Round Safe Spaces Humboldt Park Program. The Youth Staff should be positive, enthusiastic, civic-minded individuals with strong connections to their community. The Safe Spaces, Event Specialists plays a key role in ensuring that program participants have a safe, supportive, interactive and enriching program experience while ensuring the safety and security of all program participants.

Our staff is the Y's greatest asset. Our teams provide valuable skills, knowledge, and passion that is essential to the contribution and positive impact in our communities, which is why we offer Y employees numerous perks and benefits, including:

• Do meaningful work and contribute to the advancement of the YMCA vision by meeting the needs of the people in our communities
• Complimentary Family YMCA membership and an employee discount on select programs
• Career advancement opportunities - grow your career at the Y!

Responsibilities:

• Attending My CHI My Future cohort trainings
• Working with the Kelly Hall staff to plan all Kickback events for the year by completing the following tasks:
• Plan for food, activities, and entertainment at Kickbacks
• Set up and attend Kickback events
• Outreach to local organizations, including distributing flyers and canvassing to promote Kickbacks
• Posting on social media about Kickbacks
• Designing flyers and other promotional activities
• Documenting events (e.g., photos, videos)
• Support data collection
• Receive and respond to calls and questions from DFSS and youth
• Attend mandatory trainings and meetings per request of DFSS
• Assist with conducting surveys after Kickback events

Requirements:

• Passion for and willingness to create Safe Spaces for fellow youth in Humboldt Park area
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain productive, positive relationships with other youth
• Willingness to design and implement large-scale program operations
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and independently to manage multiple priorities, effectively structure work, and meet deadlines
• Proficiency in digital communication tools, including Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides)
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, with the ability to adapt message to audience, including the ability to serve as an enthusiastic ambassador for the YMCA
• Availability to commit to 2 hours in the evenings on weekdays as well as the occasional weekend
• At least 16 years old; no more than 24 years old
• Must reside in the Humboldt Park area

Child Abuse Prevention - Supports the YMCA’s commitment to child abuse prevention by:

• Reporting any items that may provide a health or safety hazard to staff, members or guests to your supervisor
• Following all policies and procedures related to keeping children safe in our facilities and programs, including those related to the monitoring and supervision of children
• Reporting any suspicious behavior and violation of policy and procedures to your supervisor
• Completing all child abuse prevention training as required

Behaviors

• Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
• Enthusiastic: Shows intense and eager enjoyment and interest

Motivations

• Ability to Make an Impact: Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization