The Northfield Union of Youth is hiring a new Youth Center Staff member AND a new Housing Coordinator!  If you have interest in supporting young people, empowering them to create positive change in their community, and having fun – please see the listings below and send a cover letter and resume to info@unionofyouth.org

Northfield Union of Youth (NUY) is a youth services 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission to give power and voice to area youth and to create a caring and enriching community.  Youth, employees, volunteers, board members, and adults work creatively and collaboratively together to meet this mission.  Employment with NUY is viewed through the lens of NUY’s mission and can present continuous and evolving duties and tasks.  However, the mission and the work to build developmental relationships and opportunities with youth does not change.  NUY’s work is based on a trauma-informed, harm-reduction, and positive youth development model.  Uniquely, NUY is run by a youth board and an adult board.  Youth elect and appoint both youth and adults to their respective boards.  Day to day programming is created, led, and implemented entirely by youth.  Organizational policies and procedures are agreed on jointly by both the youth and adult boards.  

The position of Youth Advocate – Community Housing Coordinator includes the following responsibilities:

Host Home Support:

In collaboration with NUY’s youth and adult leadership, help support, grow, and manage NUY’s Wallflower Program.  This host home program is designed to provide safe and caring homes for homeless youth to spend the night when home is not an option. Position responsibilities include

• Recruitment of host homes throughout the community through presentations, community conversations, and creation of marketing materials.
• Developing collaborations with other organizations, providing interagency support.
• Host family support before, during,and after hosting.
• Organization and leading host home training alongside community contracted subject matter experts.
• Acting as NUY’s point person on all housing related services.

 

Relationship Building:

Provide a relational caring adult presence throughout the Northfield community.  This includes at The Key Youth Center, in Northfield Schools, with other organizations, and in other environments. Position responsibilities include 

• • Providing informal and formal social and emotional support for youth, creating and fostering developmental relationships based on trauma informed and harm reduction strategies.
  • Providing youth-centric support services on a self-referral basis for youth
    • Includes relational referrals to academic support, workforce development, housing, food, healthcare, etc.

 

• Includes building and developing collaborative relationships with other youth services organizations and programs, including the Northfield Schools.

 

• Collaboratively building a community support system to ensure all young people have equitable access to services and safe housing. 
  • Representing NUY at appropriate community meetings.

 

Organizational Development: 

Position responsibilities include

 

• Communicating and strategically planning with the Executive Director on a regular basis, including administrative tasks and duties as assigned by the Executive Director to assist the organization.

 

• Communicating and strategically planning with youth board members and youth participants on a regular basis.
• Remaining up to date on best practices, including continued professional development.
• Assisting with other responsibilities and tasks as they develop.

 

Qualifications:

 

• Experience in outreach and relationship building with youth of various demographics

 

• • Knowledge of community development and sales

 

• Ability to work under stress and respond to emergencies/crisis situations

 

• • Knowledge of homelessness, youth mental health issues, and substance use disorders
  • Able to work independently on assigned projects and also collaboratively as part of a team

 

• Flexibility in work hours to meet the needs of the organization and the youth

 

• • Communicate effectively with persons of various social, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds

 

• Ability to pass all required background checks

 

 

Compensation:

NUY firmly believes in finding the right person who can engage and build relationships with youth, while fulfilling necessary organizational requirements.  The position is designed to be 1.0 FTE.  Compensation will range from $40,000-$45,000/year plus benefits, based on experience and qualifications.  NUY offers flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities, and a chance to creatively build and implement new programs.

Youth Center Staff responsibilities include the following:

Caring Adult:

• Provide a caring adult presence at The Key youth center on a schedule assigned by the Youth Board and Executive Director
  • Responsibilities include providing social and emotional support for at-risk youth, creating and fostering developmental relationships with youth, empowering and supporting youth leadership, and other responsibilities as they arise
  • Tasks include supervising the youth center, tracking attendance, tracking programs, cleaning, and other tasks as they arise
• Upon approval and review with the Executive Director, provide youth-centric support on an “as-needed” basis based on unpredictable and unforeseeable circumstances in youth’s lives
  • Includes check-ins and follow ups with youth throughout the week both within and outside The Key

 

Organizational Development:

• • Communicate and strategically plan with Youth Board members and youth participants on a regular basis

 

• Communicate and strategically plan with Executive Director on a regular basis

 

• Other responsibilities and tasks as they develop

 

Qualifications:

 

• Experience doing outreach and relationship building with youth of various demographics.

• Ability to work under stress and respond to emergencies/crisis.

• Flexibility in work hours to meet the needs of the organization and the youth.

 

• Ability to pass all required background checks.

 

Compensation:

NUY firmly believes in finding the right person who can engage and build relationships with youth, while fulfilling necessary organizational requirements.  The position is designed to be 1.0 FTE.  Compensation will range from $16.50-$18.00/hr plus benefits, based on experience and qualifications.  NUY offers flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities, and a chance to creatively build and implement new programs.

 

Equal Opportunity:

NUY is an equal opportunity organization.  NUY believes that the most efficient and effective workplaces employ employees with diverse backgrounds.  We strive to create a work environment where all employees and individuals, regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, public assistance status or veteran status, can succeed and make an impact in the community.

 

Application and Hiring Process:

 

• NUY will be interviewing on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

• To apply, please submit a cover letter, résumé, and contact information for three professional references to info@unionofyouth.org.   Inquiries and questions can be sent to this same e-mail address.

 

 

Youth Center Coordinator – job description

Northfield Union of Youth (NUY) is a youth services 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to give power and voice to area youth and to create a caring and enriching community.  Youth, employees, volunteers, board members, and adults work creatively and collaboratively together to meet this mission.  Employment with NUY is viewed through the lens of NUY’s mission and can present continuous and evolving duties and tasks, but always rooted in youth empowerment and developmental relationships.  NUY’s work is based on a trauma-informed, harm-reduction, and positive youth development model.  Uniquely, NUY is run by various youth boards and an adult board of directors.  Programming is created, led, and implemented by youth.  Organizational policies and procedures are agreed on jointly by both the youth and adult boards.  The position of Youth Center Coordinator includes the following responsibilities:

Youth Center Management:

The Key youth center is the longest-running youth-run youth center in the nation and provides a safe place for youth to connect with each other, caring adults, and their community from 3pm-10pm 365 days a year! The Key combines youth empowerment, enrichment activities, and supportive services.  The Key celebrates over 10,000 visits by youth each year (20-50 youth each day) and is a life-giving community for generations of youth.

Position responsibilities include consistent oversight, management, and coordination of the youth center.

• Providing primary staff support during youth center hours in conjunction with other staff or AmeriCorps members.
• Training, supervision, and support of AmeriCorps members and Youth Jr Staffers.
• Ensuring program quality, and volunteer/mentor coordination. This is done by working collaboratively with youth, as a consistent point person, to assist in supporting youth-led ideas.
• Responding to emergencies and crises.
• Working with community partners like Northfield Police Dept, mental health professionals, employers, schools, and other individuals or organizations.

Relationship Building:

Position responsibilities include

• Providing social and emotional support for youth, creating and fostering developmental relationships with youth, empowering and supporting youth leadership, and other responsibilities as they arise.
• Providing youth-centric support services on a self-referral basis for youth.
  • Includes relational referrals to academic support, workforce development, housing, food, healthcare, etc.
  • Includes building and developing collaborative relationships with other youth services organizations and programs.
• Role modeling and maintaining appropriate boundaries with young people.

Organizational Development

Position responsibilities include

• Communicating and strategically planning with the Executive Director on a regular basis, including administrative tasks and duties as assigned by the Executive Director to assist the organization.
• Communicating and strategically planning with youth board members and youth participants on a regular basis.
• Management of several projects at one time.
• Assisting with other responsibilities and tasks as they develop.

Qualifications:

• Experience in outreach and relationship building with youth of various demographics
• Ability to work under stress and respond to emergencies/crisis situations
• Ability to balance communication with community adults while holding confidence of youth
• Knowledge of youth mental health issues and substance use disorders
• Flexibility in work hours to meet the needs of the organization and the youth
• Desire to grow youth capacity while meeting social/emotional and basic needs
• Team-oriented personality
• Ability to pass all required background checks

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent

Compensation:

NUY firmly believes in finding the right person who can engage and build relationships with youth, while fulfilling necessary organizational requirements.  The position is designed to be full-time (salaried-exempt). Compensation will be a salary range of $40,000-$50,000/year plus benefits, based on experience and qualifications.  NUY offers flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities, and a chance to creatively build and implement new programs.

Equal Opportunity:

NUY is an equal opportunity organization.  NUY believes that the most efficient and effective workplaces employ employees with diverse backgrounds.  We strive to create a work environment where all employees and individuals, regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, public assistance status or veteran status, can succeed and make an impact in the community.

Application and Hiring Process:

NUY will be interviewing on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, résumé, and contact information for three professional references to key@unionofyouth.org. Inquiries and questions can be sent to this same e-mail address or by contacting Executive Director Emily Fulton-Foley at 651-999-9795.

 

If you’re going to be attending post-secondary classes in 2020/2021 and have been active within the Northfield Union of Youth, let us help you!  Scholarships available for $2,000/year, up to $8,000 over multiple years.  See attached application form (or renewal form for past recipients).  Due March 19th, 2021.  Email emily@unionofyouth.org with any questions!

Key Scholarship Form 2021_22

2021_22 renewal application

Our work at NUY revolves around the ever changing landscape of youth identified needs and opportunities for community growth. 2019 certainly brought plenty of that, and we are excited to share with you some of our successes from last year. We are grateful for Northfield for their commitment to seeing every young person as a unique and valued citizen, and continue to push to ensure that all kids have voice and power through the creation of a caring and enriching community.

Read the English version of the 2019 Impact Report or download the PDF version here:

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Lea la versión en español del Informe de Impacto 2019 o descargue la versión en PDF aquí:

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If you’re going to be attending post-secondary classes in 2019/2020 and have been active within the Northfield Union of Youth, let us help you!  Scholarships available for $2,000/year, up to $8,000 over multiple years.  See attached application form (or renewal form for past recipients).  It’s due March 20th!  Email emily@unionofyouth.org with any questions!

 

Key Scholarship Form 2020

2020 renewal application

Scott joined the Northfield Union of Youth (NUY) three years ago, and at that time we had little savings, immense debt from the mortgage of our youth center, and were about a month away from closing our doors. Through Scott’s relentless effort, NUY has come full circle and is out of debt, has three full-time employees, and is in the strongest position in its’ 25 year history. Through his time at NUY, Scott worked with youth facing some of the biggest challenges. He made relationships with those who struggled with mental illness, abusive households, chemical addiction, and homelessness. He saw problems as opportunities to help and walked alongside youth to create new systems and better supports. Since then, Scott has had a mission to help the youth in need and empower them to be their best selves because, in his own words, “Empowered youth create empowered adults”. We are proud to see Scott Wopata take his experiences to the Community Action Center (CAC) in September as their new Executive Director and know that he will creatively and compassionately support the community and families like he supported the youth at The Key.

The community of youth and adults involved with the Northfield Union of Youth have grown to love and appreciate Scott for the effort he put into growing our non-profit and helping the youth who need it most. Now that he is leaving, there is an immense sorrow that surrounds the organization, but as VP of The Key Youth Board Chase Ingraham put it, “It is a selfish sorrow”. This is just one of the many iterations The Key and NUY goes through. From the beginning, The Key has been an inter-generational establishment – cycles of people come and go – and the director is no exception. Through these cycles NUY and The Key have remained strong and thriving organizations with a fixed purpose. The integrity, the mission statement, and the motivation to make the change we seek will always stay. We know that through the positive and empowered culture that Scott has helped develop over the past three years, we will not only maintain the success we have seen but continue to grow to be even stronger.

As the search for new leadership begins, our Youth Boards and Board of Directors are committed to finding someone who understands the value of youth empowerment and is able to engage the community in the way that Scott has done for so many years. Every person involved in the Northfield Union of Youth is committed to our mission statement, “…to provide power and voice to area youth and to create a caring and enriching community.” We are confident that we will find someone who not only understands the statement, but truly believes in its value. Scott truly believed in this mission.

Scott Wopata has not only grown as a person through his experience at the Key and NUY, but he has empowered all those around him to grow as well. The four of us writing this letter owe Scott a great deal when it comes to helping us become the people we are today. He’s taught us the power of empowering not only ourselves, but those around us. He has challenged us to think critically and look at obstacles from more than just one angle, and he’s taught us that our voice and actions can make a difference in other people’s lives.

Northfield community, thank you for your support and your generosity.  The Key is part of the fabric of our community and we are confident that we can all work together to carry the impact of NUY into the future.  Stay up to date, donate, or learn more about NUY at www.unionofyouth.org.

To the Community Action Center, please know Scott is someone who genuinely cares and takes empowerment for youth, families, and the community to the next level. He communicates in a way that helps others rethink the way they do things and how they can help. He has changed how we think, act, and feel. His persistence and resilience have been some of the most important qualities in his leadership here at NUY. His example has helped many youth and community members make improvements to both their own lives, and the lives of others. The community is better for having Scott involved and working for them.

Scott, thank you for bringing NUY to where it is now, a place where youth are experts on youth. A place where youth voice, opinion, and perspective have been amplified. Thank you for teaching us how to make it stronger, even for when you aren’t here. We love you Scott Wopata, take care.

Love,

Luke, Chase, Diana, and Bella

 
Luke Wiskus is the President of The Key Youth Board
Chase Ingraham is the VP of The Key Youth Board
Diana Montero is the President of the NUY’s Mental Health Board
Bella Callery is the VP of NUY’s Mental Health Youth Board

Questions or concerns can be directed to info@unionofyouth.org

If you’re going to be attending post-secondary classes in 2017/2018 and love The Key, let the Key love you back!  Scholarships available for $2,000/year, up to $8,000 over multiple years.  See attached application form (or renewal form for past recipients).  It’s due March 29th!  Email key@unionofyouth.org with any questions!

Key Scholarship Renewal Form 2017 (past recipients)

Key Scholarship Application Form 2017 (new applicants)

 

April 20th marked the start of a new chapter for the Northfield Union of Youth as we welcomed 7 NEW adults to the Adult Board.  Their support, leadership, hard work, passion, and dedication to the mission of NUY will help give power and voice to all Northfield youth.  As we celebrate their willingness to help, we’re also excited about the future of supporting MORE youth-led ideas.  The Union of Youth is truly a place for youth to get connected, make things happen, and positively impact the world.  Join me in welcoming:

New Adult Board Members (through 2018)

Cecilia Cornejo

Mary Dunnewold

John George

Stacy Holmgren

Kathy Ingraham

Steve Kennedy

Che Regnier

 

They join a great team of adult board members that have helped the youth guide NUY through an exciting time of transition:

Current Adult Board Members (through 2017)

Nancy Amerman

Karen Anway

Missy Donkers

Ruthie Gilbertson

Susan Sanderson