Youth Leadership Coordinator

Be Part of a Great Team!

Why a career with Independence First?

When you join Independence First you will be part of a
collaborative and passionate team. You will also enjoy lucrative
benefits! Independence First was selected as one of Milwaukee
Business Journal's Best Places to Work in 2024.

Independence First is looking for awesome people to join our team!

Youare just the person to join our growing team if you are...

*Looking for an Excellent Benefits Package

*Passionate About Helping Others

*Prefer Bilingual in English, Spanish, Hmong or Arabic (Not

Benefits include:

* 12 sick days, 13 vacation days and an additional 12 paid holidays a year

* Employer paid Dental, Life Insurance (twice annual salary),
AD&D, Short and Long Term Disability

* Health Insurance Benefits (partially employer paid, depending on coverage)

* Low-cost Vision Insurance

* Employer-matched 403(b) Retirement Account

* Fitness Center On-site

* Annual Health Risk Assessment

* Annual Flu Shot

* Comprehensive Wellness Program

* Tuition Reimbursement Program

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position: Youth Leadership Coordinator

Status: Full-Time, Hourly

Reports to: ILS Program Director

Position Summary: Responsible for coordinating and
facilitating Independence First programming for consumers up to 30
years of age. The Youth Leadership Coordinator will work in
maintaining day-to-day operations of youth programs including
co-facilitation of groups, maintaining waiting lists for programs,
outreach, program implementation, evaluation and collaboration on
projects and programs. The coordinator will work within the
Independent Living Services Department, collaborating with IL
Coordinators on student outreach efforts, and classes within the
larger curriculum. The coordinator will conduct Disability Mentoring Day.

Youth workshops include: Sexuality Education, Girls First, My
Brother's Keeper, peer support groups; Safe Relationships Safe Places,
Boundaries and Personal Space, Disability History and Awareness, and
other workshops as assigned

Youth programs include: Youth Leadership Summits, Peer Support
Groups, Classes and Workshops, and Disability Mentoring Day

The Youth Leadership Coordinator will be responsible for completing
documentation and submitting reports when classes and workshops are
taught on an individual, group, or on a fee for service basis. Provide
back up coverage / support to other programs within the department
(Assistive Technology, Information and Referral, and Transition /
Diversion etc...) as needed.

Position Expected Hours of Work: This is a Full-Time position.
Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30
pm. Occasional evenings and weekends. Position is housed and
primarily operates out the Independence First main office and
provides services throughout our service area as needed.

Essential Functions of the Position:

1. Organize and facilitate Youth Leadership Summit (YLS), collaborate
   with the Youth Leadership Coordinator and Wisconsin FACETS to
   coordinate, facilitate and measure results of Youth Leadership
   Summit. Will conduct outreach to Milwaukee Public Schools and
   outlying county high schools. Create and maintain high-quality
   relationships between Independence First and local school staff and
   students with disabilities.
2. Support Group Activities, conduct outreach and coordinate youth
   support groups multiple times throughout the school year both in the
   schools and onsite at Independence First during the Summer.
3. Collaborate with community agencies to ensure IL classes and
   workshops are accessible to youth identifying in the LGBTQ
   population and that other community agencies serving LGBTQ youth are
   accessible to youth with disabilities.
4. Coordinate Sexuality and Relationship Education Program, secure
   training in the Making Proud Choices Curriculum and facilitate the
   curriculum with adaptations for students with disabilities. Teach
   other classes as assigned, including Safe Relationships Safe Places.
5. Coordinate Disability Mentoring Day, and facilitate Disability
   Mentoring Day by securing students with disabilities for a job
   shadow placement and secure mentor placements within the community.
6. Participate as a member of the Independent Living Services team by
   attending agency meetings and events.
7. Develop and maintain appropriate collaborative relationships with
   other organizations / service providers to enhance the goals of
   independent living.
8. Obtain the necessary cross-training to be able to provide backup
   coverage / support for other programs and functions within the department.
9. Complete agency required documentation in the database.
10. Compete agency and vendor required documentation, including
    documentation related to fee for service activities.

Disability Policy Change Essential Functions:

1. Participate in individual and systems advocacy activities by
   voicing opinion at public hearings and educating public officials
   through letter writing or other appropriate means on issues relating
   to independent living.
2. Actively participant in agency advocacy team.
3. Present testimony on disability issues by writing, email, and fax,
   in person testimony to legislative bodies on the local, state and
   federal levels. This includes contacting congresspersons, senators
   and giving opinions on pending legislation.
4. Assist consumers with their advocacy needs.
5. Participate in Disability Policy Change Events.

Work Environment

1. Work is generally performed in an office setting with minimal to
   moderate noise level.
2. The work environment characteristics described here are
   representative of those an employee encounters while performing the
   essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be
   made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the
   essential functions.

Disclaimer:

The above statements reflect the general details necessary to
describe the principle functions of the occupation described and
shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work
requirements that may be inherent in the occupation.

As an Independent Living Center, it is required that 51% of
Independence First's staff have a disability. Independence First is
an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages people with
disabilities to apply for this position.

Professional Qualifications:

Must have a firm belief in consumer control, the independent living
philosophy and our agency Vision Statement:

Independence First is for full inclusion of persons with
disabilities in every aspect of our community and Independence First
commits itself toward this end.

'Empowerment is part psychological, part social, and part
political. It is the process by which individuals define their own
problems, find their own voice, develop their own plans, act on
their own behalf, and claim their own power.'

'Empowerment means more than having responsibility, but also
having the authority and ability to make one's own choices.'

1. Bachelor's degree in related field or life experience may be
   substituted in lieu of, in full or part of academic requirements.
2. Previous experience working with people with disabilities required.
3. Excellent oral and written communication skills required.
4. Knowledge of federal, state and community services and funding resources.
5. Knowledge of disability rights legislation preferred.
6. Good computer skills, knowledge of MS Word products, specifically,
   Word, EXCEL, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
7. Demonstrated positive attitude, reliability, a self-starter who
   assumes responsibility when warranted, is conscientious,
   professional in manner and hard working.
8. Transportationally mobile or able to arrange own transportation.
9. Must be able to work occasional weekends and evening hours.