Parkdale Food Centre Job Board
Youth Programs Summer Assistant
Description
Position: Youth Programs Summer Assistant
Hours : 35 hours/week, including one evening/week
Wage: $21.95/hour
Contract: 9 weeks, beginning on Monday, June 24th 2024
PFC's Youth Program supports youth to hone their skills as ‘Solutionaries’ and invite youth to create their own solutions to complex issues. A Solutionary is someone who sees opportunity where other people see challenges. We host a series of in-person workshops which focus on shifting thinking from what's wrong with our communities to what's strong within them.
As the Youth Program Summer Assistant you will support the day-to-day functions of our youth programs at Parkdale (and other programs on a need-be basis). You will be responsible for a variety of tasks and projects including maintaining a warm and welcoming environment for Neighbours (anyone accessing our programs), volunteers, and youth program participants. With the Youth Program team, you will help manage our summer Solutionary Crew cohort of 4-5 high school students. Your position will also include supporting the upkeep of the small garden space behind our grocery program as well as assisting the organization of and facilitation of workshops.
This position involves front-facing work in a busy, but fun environment with lots of opportunity for creative problem-solving. Supported in part by Canada Summer Jobs funding, this position is for a young person (15-30 years old) looking for an opportunity to develop their skills and challenge themselves, in a supportive environment that fosters growth and initiative. Over many years, PFC has challenged the status quo of food banking in Ottawa; as a result, the environment is unique with all sorts of different people, all dedicated to our awesome community. Check out our website parkdalefoodcentre.ca to learn more.
Tasks & Responsibilities:
- Provide safe onsite and offsite supervision of youth program participants
- Support youth in the development of a youth-led Solutionary project
- Create and maintain a supportive, anti-oppressive environment for youth by approaching issues with care and intention
- Assist in the delivery of social justice workshops to groups of children and youth throughout the summer
- Support Youth Program Manager in editing, creation and organization of workshop content
- Contribute towards content for social media
- Occasionally fill in during lunch service, at the grocery program or other activities
- Participate as part of the PFC Team by:
- Attending staff meetings and trainings
- Modeling professional behavior and positive communication with Neighbours, volunteers and staff team members
- Contributing to a culture of health, safety, kindness and compassion
- Supporting PFC events as needed
- Helping out in other departments as needed
*This role may occasionally include some heavy lifting
Desired Skills:
- You have experience facilitating workshops with youth!
- You are friendly, energetic and welcome our Neighbours with warmth and understanding
- You are a team player who actively listens and contributes to problem-solving collaboratively, and asks questions when clarification is needed, communication is key!
- You are physically able to work on your feet for long periods
- You have interest in local community resources, organizations and system navigation
- You have good relationship-building skills and good communication!
- You are able to operate in a busy environment with multiple interruptions.
Possible Additional Opportunities (to be discussed when goal-planning during placement):
- Developing resources to be used by the community, for example, Income Tax Clinic resource sheets, Neighbourhood maps for food bank catchment areas
- Creating content for our social media or communications campaigns including videos
- Kitchen skills, assisting in the preparation of community meals occasionally, as well as serving lunches and chatting with Neighbors in a more casual setting
- Workshop facilitation with both adults part of our AIM (Advocacy in Motion) program as well as youth in schools via our Growing Futures program
- Event planning, students could take charge of planning an extra event to be held in our community spaces, or organize programming for our once a month Coffee House
- Assisting with a community mural and Volunteer Appreciation events in our courtyard space. This would include prep of the courtyard such as gardening or painting
What you will learn
- How to be a Solutionary!
- How we can move beyond food banking, away from charity in social justice
- Why language matters in the work that we do
- How to engage with Neighbours with diverse backgrounds and diverse needs
To apply please submit your resume/CV AND cover letter by June 3rd. Please include a paragraph in your cover letter about why this program specifically interests you, and why working with Parkdale Food Centre aligns with your values and interests!
Compensation
$21.95 per hour