Community Outreach Associate

Position Summary

The Community Outreach Associate supports programs in Nueva Esperanza’s Housing & Economic Development (NEHED) department, focusing on various aspects of community transformation and revitalization, with a particular focus on community education, advocacy, and direct service. This focus includes all aspects of individual, community and family prosperity – including areas related to the physical environment (natural and built), basic needs (food, housing, etc.), community cohesion (community events, etc.) and community leadership development, among other topics. All activities will support and advance Esperanza’s vision of creating and modeling an opportunity community in the Hunting Park neighborhood. Projects may encompass research, direct service, community education, organizing, advocacy, and/or any other activity that advances the overall goals of the Opportunity Community with designated targeted audiences and geographies.

The Community Outreach Associate will report directly to NEHED VP and SVP and will participate in all department/organizational activities as necessary for the Esperanza Housing & Economic Development (NEHED) division.

Essential Functions

1. Support the block-level ambassador network in designated geographic areas, to cultivate community participation and leadership in all programmatic areas; support community-based participatory research/health equity outreach initiatives as assigned, including events coordination, communications, data collection, and reporting;

2. Support delivery of community education campaigns, both broadly to the general community and narrowly to designated segments of the broader community, including but not limited to helping to prepare educational and/or marketing and communications materials; dissemination of said materials into the community via events, canvassing, co-facilitating meetings and workshops;

3. Support facilitation of community coalitions and other types of groups;

4. Support management of community volunteers for events and activities as needed;

5. Support implementation of youth leadership development programs and internship experiences;

6. Ensure application of best practices in direct service and community-based activities as appropriate;

7. Support direct service activities in environmental stewardship and greening, including tree-planting, urban gardening, heat mitigation initiatives, and other related efforts;

8. Maintain robust relationships with community members – residents, business owners and other stakeholders – to facilitate community-based activities including education, advocacy, and research;

9. Support the activities of other NEHED team members, including the corridor development team, and the broader Esperanza staff as needed, including community events, general outreach and engagement, referral to and follow up with other services and departments, etc.;

10. Contribute to the overall alignment and synergy of the Esperanza ecosystem through cross-functional work when appropriate and/or assigned; in future years, this job description/position may end or change based on corporate priorities.

Non-Essential Functions

1. Attend relevant workshops as necessary to maintain professional and technical knowledge, certifications, and licensure.

2. Attend relevant staff meetings to promote communication and execution of goals and objectives.

3. Complete special projects specific to the function of the department or as needed for the department as directed by the SVP and/or VP of NEHED.

4. Participate in all Esperanza-wide functions, meetings, and programs as required.

Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Understanding of Esperanza’s mission, goals, and objectives.

2. Ability to work independently with a high level of energy and contribute to the larger team.

3. Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to and passion for Esperanza's mission.

4. Willingness to learn the intricacies of community outreach, organizing, and engagement.

5. Ability to influence and persuade individuals and groups and mobilize a call to action.

6. Must be entrepreneurial, energetic, imaginative, well-organized, and capable of functioning effectively in an independent environment.

7. Bilingual (English/Spanish) proficiency; experience with translation and interpretation between languages is preferred.

8. Microsoft Office Suite applications proficiency; experience with Canva and/or graphic design (flyers, etc.) is a bonus.

9. Ability to work creatively with limited resources.

10. Comfortable with producing reports, documenting community activities (videos, photos, etc.) for projects and storytelling to the community about initiatives, activities, etc.

11. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

12. Familiarity with the neighborhood to be served (Hunting Park, North Philadelphia) is preferred.

Experience, Education, and Licensure

Minimum Experience

• 2 years of demonstrated work and/or volunteer experience in community outreach, engagement or organizing, group facilitation, public relations, advocacy, and community development activities.

Minimum Education

• High School diploma is required.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

a. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will frequently stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel objects, tools or equipment; reach with hands and arms; balance; talk or hear. The employee will frequently climb stairs; stoop; kneel; crouch or crawl.

b. Occasional pushing, pulling, and lifting various materials and equipment associated with events, meetings, and general community activities.

c. Operate standard office equipment.

d. Specific vision abilities required by the job include frequent reading and close vision; distance vision; color vision; peripheral vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus.