Workshop Specialist
THE ORGANIZATION
The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit www.innovatingjustice.org.
The Center is a 900-employee, $100 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.
Operating Programs
The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Justice Center, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.
Research
The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.
Policy & Expert Assistance
The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area.
Center Support
A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The New Rochelle Community Justice Center, one of the Center’s newest projects, aims to improve outcomes for New Rochelle youth and emerging adults by developing a collective impact approach that invests in criminal legal system responses and community-led safety. Building on the Center’s successful court- and -community-based project models such as Bronx Community Solutions and the Brownsville Community Justice Center, the New Rochelle Community Justice Center brings together a range of court- and community-based partnerships to create and enhance a more equitable and safer community.
The New Rochelle Community Justice Center is seeking a Workshop Specialist for its DREAM (Developmental Resources for Emerging Adult Members) and YJEP (Youth Justice and Equity Program) programs. Reporting to the Program Coordinator, the Workshop Specialist will lead the presentation of workshop curriculum objectives and activities, while also coaching and supporting program participants towards individual goals.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Assist with the creation and development of program curricula and workshops that promote essential life skills and wellness for emerging and young adults;
- Lead multi-week training cohorts that include discussions on personal development, future outlook, and civic engagement;
- Build and maintain a caseload of participants, and develop and implement a personalized individual action plan with each participant;
- Provide participant coaching toward stated goals and identify areas of opportunity for referrals or further development;
- Contribute to data collection and management using Salesforce and other tools;
- Maintain electronic program materials;
- Represent NRCJC and its interests at meetings and events as assigned; and
- Additional tasks as necessary.
- A strong connection and commitment to New Rochelle;
- Significant experience in youth development and/or youth programming;
- Experience working with youth/emerging adults impacted by the criminal legal system and/or community violence;
- Experience in supporting programs with multiple priorities;
- Strong relationship-building and communication skills with experience on diverse teams; and
- Highly organized, excellent communication skills, flexible and innovative.
Position Location: New Rochelle, NY.
Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $52,000 - $56,500 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.
The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.
Candidates are expected to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the hiring process. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an offer, or termination of employment, regardless of when discovered.
As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. While the Center does not require vaccination, we strongly recommend that all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up to date.
In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment verification form upon hire. Please refer to the job posting for relevant contact information. If contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.