Director of Programs - Center for Urban Pedagogy (Brooklyn, NY)

Who: The Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP). CUP is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of design and art to increase meaningful civic engagement, particularly among historically under-represented communities. CUP’s work addresses the needs of communities struggling to make sense of the complex public policies and decision-making processes that impact their lives, from affordable housing to labor rights. By collaborating directly with communities to create accessible and visual explanations on issues important to them, CUP provides individuals with the tools to claim their rights, advocate for their needs, and fight for social justice.

What: CUP is seeking a creative and energetic individual with experience in design and policy who wants to use design and art to contribute to meaningful social change. The Director of Programs will work on and oversee the core Community Education and Youth Education programs. This is an exciting new position that will support the implementation of CUP’s recently completed strategic plan, which emphasizes a deepening of our work’s impacts, an expansion of our efforts to share our methodologies with others, and a greater commitment to leadership development.

Project Coordination (Grant ltd.) - Open Space Alliance - Brooklyn, NY

Greenpoint Parks Project Coordinator
Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn
Brooklyn, NY

Program: Greenpoint Community Parks Stewardship
Full-time/Part-time: Temporary, Grant Funded Position
Exempt/Non Exempt: Non-Exempt
Employer: Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn (OSA)
Supervisor: Executive Director

Deadline to Apply: March 3

This is an excellent opportunity and challenge for an outgoing candidate with community outreach and planning experience to work on their feet to build park stewardship throughout Greenpoint, Brooklyn. This is a grant funded position to build stewardship in Greenpoint parks and playgrounds with the Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn (OSA). OSA's mission is to maintain, activate, enhance and expand the parks and public spaces of North Brooklyn, in partnership with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks). This position is funded through the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund, a joint program of the New York State Office of the Attorney General and Department of Environmental Conservation. The GCEF program is a $19.5 million grant program created by the State of New York with monies obtained through a settlement with ExxonMobil over its Greenpoint oil spill.

Purpose of Position:
OSA is seeking a highly organized and energetic Project Coordinator to carry out the Greenpoint Community Parks Stewardship Project. Through volunteer programming, community engagement and education programming, the Project Coordinator will be responsible for creating a sustainable Parks Stewardship program in five parks and playgrounds in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The Project Coordinator will be a vital resource for the McGolrick Park Neighborhood Alliance, McGolrick Park's existing community group, and will work to foster the creation of other steward groups throughout the neighborhood. Through active recruitment and outreach, the Project Coordinator will help to build and support local park steward groups while helping to inform community members of upcoming Park events, closures, and other projects. The Project Coordinator will be expected to create sustainable volunteer programs in place to allow regular community events to continue beyond the term of the grant.

Responsibilities

• Develop a strong working relationship with the existing park friends group in Greenpoint: McGolrick Park Neighbors Association (MPNA) and facilitate MPNA's continued development
• Work with MPNA to help build their volunteer base with active neighborhood recruitment, identifying needs and systems to ensure long-term growth
• Help MPNA with the development and execution of their events - including obtaining permits, coordinating with the Parks Department, publicizing events, and following up with new attendees
• Use MPNA as a model in developing similar organizations throughout Greenpoint
• Conduct significant outreach to the Greenpoint community, working with existing community groups and organizations to determine areas with greatest need for attention
• Develop volunteer event calendar and youth education curriculum and programs for summer season events
• Seek opportunities for creating new parks friends groups, providing training, outreach, and support
• Promote community programming and encourage park stewardship throughout the neighborhood, utilizing local partnerships, social media and creative campaigning
• Engage neighborhood partners to support the work of park friends groups and explore potential new projects and activities in Greenpoint parks
• Build strong partnerships with the staff at NYC Parks Department and Partnership for Parks
• Create ongoing, regular events, and build outreach infrastructure to ensure volunteer growth after the grant period
• Coordinate social media efforts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
• Meet programmatic benchmarks and track progress for grant reporting

Required Skills

• Excellent communications skills, including public speaking and presentation skills
• Strong interpersonal skills, using a demonstrated collaborative approach
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task and coordinate multiple projects at one time
• Ability to think quickly and creatively under pressure
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, and Social Media platforms, comfort with database systems
• Flexible in accommodating evening or weekend events as required

Desired Education/Experience
Bachelor's degree
Previous experience working in a community relations, urban planning or government relations role
Knowledge of Greenpoint history and issues facing NYC parks and urban park conservancies

Schedule: Approximate Dates: April 2016 - January 2018. Extension of position beyond grant period a possibility, but not guaranteed.

How to apply
Please submit cover letter and resume to jobs@osanb.org