Walnut Way Conservation Corp. (Walnut Way) is the lead agency for a project sponsored by the Zilber Neighborhood Initiative (ZNI) that aims to support the design and implementation of a comprehensive neighborhood driven quality-of-life plan in the Lindsay Heights neighborhoods. Walnut Way is a neighborhood association with a mission to sustain economically diverse communities through civic engagement, environmental stewardship and ventures for community prosperity.

Position Title: The Neighborhood Engagement Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY: The Neighborhood Engagement Specialist supports implementation of a collaborative and comprehensive Lindsay Heights Quality of Life plan. This position is responsible for inspiring a vision of quality communities that embrace a love of diversity, and the common good. The Neighborhood Engagement Specialist implements programs and events to support resident engagement in the eight strategies with a particular focus on resident engagement, leadership, and events (Report to the Community, Spring Lift-up, Neighbor Nights and Harvest Days). Perform other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES include the following:

1. Community Engagement and Neighbor Engagement

• Involve residents in practices to advance the Lindsay Heights Quality of Life Plan.
• Involve residents in the advancement of the Advancing Community Investment in Health: Implementation of the Innovations and Wellness Commons Grant
• In coordination with the Neighborhood Program Coordinator, outreach, plan and convene Report to Community and additional Walnut Way Conservation Corps events. Insure accurate recording and sharing of proceedings.
• In coordination with the Neighborhood Coordinator and Associate Director, plan, outreach, and implement the Spring Lift-Up and Harvest Day Festival.
• Staff Walnut Way monthly community meetings and neighbor nights
• Support all communication efforts as assigned related to community engagement
• Arrange all special events
• Collaborate and support other local organizations and institutions engaged in ZNI

2. Reporting:

• Prepare reports to support Quality of Life Plan and Operations – Document neighbor and partner engagement
• Track participants and relationships developed to advance community engagement
• Prepare reports required by ZNI, Walnut Way and other funding partners
• Track and keep accurate up-to-date program information and outcomes

QUALIFICATIONS:

An individual must demonstrate a passion for collective action and be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of five years experience in a community organizing in transformative settings
• Proven track record in designing and implementing evidence based community development programs.
• Strong project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and lead teams in diverse settings.
• Possess strong leadership and team building skills.
• Proven ability to work with urban adults from diverse economic backgrounds.
• Excellent oral and written skills; ability to represent the agency.
• Experience working with political, government and community stakeholders.
• Knowledge of non-profit functions and capacity building strategies.
• Creative, innovative, flexible, love for results and community leadership.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications [Word, Excel, PowerPoint], database and Internet.
• Ability to adjust to emerging priorities, motivator, and effective listener.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends.
• Residents of the Lindsay Heights neighborhoods or near north side of Milwaukee [zip codes 53205 or 53206] will receive strong consideration.

Position Title: Men’s Wellness Project Community Navigator

Reports to: Neighborhood Program Coordinator for the Lindsay Heights Initiative

Full Time: Up to 32 hours per week (.8 FTE)

Limited Term: March 2013 – July 2016

Position Summary: The Community Wellness Navigator (CWN) assists with the coordination of activities for the “No Longer an Island: Creating a Men’s Place-based Peer Outreach and Social Support Network” project, a Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families funded grant, to ensure deliverables are met. The project is a community-academic partnership designed to implement a peer outreach and leadership network in the Lindsay Heights Neighborhood to strengthen social support of African American fathers and men and increase community and family engagement. The CWN will support grant implementation with the aim of reducing stress in African American men to increase their ability to engage with their families and ultimately improve birth outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Community Wellness Navigator will work with project team members with the following.

Core Responsibilities:

• Knock on doors and make phone calls to meet neighborhood residents (fathers and men), learn about their individual needs and desires for the community, connect them to resources, recruit interested men in MWC activities and attract people to events
• Build & track relationships with men, conduct follow up, and engage men in peer support network.
• Identify, build relationships, and work with existing neighborhood organizations and community-based groups
• Support the Project Coordinator with the following: conducting weekly porch-to-porch outreach, including surveying; establishing and supporting (i.e. note taking) 3 new men’s peer groups populated by men recruited from a porch-to-porch campaign, partner organizations, and referrals from participants; identifying and cataloguing local assets that exist to support men and families in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood; disseminating of project lessons learned; more items as needed.

Other Responsibilities:

• Attend monthly meetings with project team to coordinate grant activities and deliverables
• Represent WW and MWC at neighborhood events and meetings and build partnerships as appropriate; Create and promote events of the grant and Walnut Way (WW)
• Attend weekly debriefing meetings to reflect on what is learned in the field and modify protocol as needed.
• Collect in the field survey data on individual empowerment and community engagement among Porch-2-Porch participants.
• Keep data on all activities, including # of doors knocked and calls made and the details of those contacts.
• Seek out resident leaders, persuade and mobilize them to participate in the Men’s Wellness project, neighborhood, and Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families activities.
• Participate in Lifecourse Collaborative meetings and activities to strengthen communication and connection with citywide efforts; document frequency of participation and range of participants.
• Performing other related duties as required or assigned.

Learn more about becoming a Blue Skies Crew Member at Walnut Way