Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation
Hyde Park Green Team
Youth Jobs and Environmental Education Program

Job Title: Program Coordinator
Hours: Year-round, 30 hours per week (negotiable)
Salary: Based upon experience

Organizational Background

Founded in 2001 to serve the Boston neighborhoods of Hyde Park and Roslindale, Southwest Boston CDC's (SWBCDC's) mission is "to develop and preserve housing for low- and moderate-income people; prevent displacement of neighborhood residents; strengthen the commercial base of the neighborhoods, and create vibrant and stable communities through programs that bring long-time residents and newcomers of all ages and diverse backgrounds together." The CDC has numerous initiatives to advance its mission and address the needs of the economically and racially diverse neighborhoods it serves. Our current programs include foreclosure prevention, affordable housing development, green space development, social service planning and youth jobs and environmental education.

Program Description

The Hyde Park Green Team Youth Jobs and Environmental Education Program employs 4-8 high school-aged youth afterschool from May-June and September-October; and 14 youth for 25 hours per week in July and August. Youth are supervised by 20-24 year old crew leaders. The Green Team works from May and October to clean and beautify Hyde Park's Cleary/Logan Square business district; and to carry out preservation work in Hyde Park's urban wilds, including invasive plant removal, pruning, planting and trail building. Youth use bicycles to travel between work sites and learn a range of skills including bike safety and proper use of landscaping tools. They also participate in educational field trips including a Neponset River canoe trip to learn about river ecology, a Thompson Island work exchange to learn about harbor ecology, Brookwood Farm to learn about organic gardening. Youth receive in-service training in topics such as personal financial management, resume writing and interviewing.

Program Coordinator Responsibilities

Working with the SWBCDC Assistant Director, the Green Team Program Coordinator will have primary responsibility for administering all aspects of the Green Team program. The Program Coordinator will:

• Assist with hiring of Crew Leaders and Youth Crew Members
• Orient, train and supervise 2 Crew Leaders in the summer, and 1 Crew Leader in the spring and fall
• Communicate with collaborating organizations to develop program components
• Meet with Boston Parks and Recreation personnel to determine the scope of work at Urban Wild sites
• Create program schedules
• Mange program expenses including invoices and cost tracking
• Assist with grant-writing, reports to funders, invoicing funders
• Attend appropriate workshops and networking events, as determined by the Assistant Director
• Participate in some activities at Urban Wild sites and field trips as needed to photograph/videotape the Team, and observed the crew and Crew Leaders in the field
• Oversee annual program evaluation
• Work with Southwest Boston CDC staff as needed and participate in staff meetings

Qualifications Required Experience:

• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Program development
• Work with youth
• Ability to ride a bicycle
• Basic knowledge of and commitment to environmental protection and sustainable living
• Experience working in diverse communities

Helpful Experience:

• Budget management
• Staff or intern supervision
• Grant writing
• Landscaping or trail maintenance
• Environmental education
• Bike safety and maintenance

Resumes reviewed on a rolling basis. Please apply as soon as possible by contacting Pat Alvarez at palvarez@swbcdc.org, or 617-364-7300. Deadline: February 29, 2012.

Click here to view a short video of the 2010 Green Team in action entitled, "Educate, Engage, Evolve." Also, please visit the 2011 Green Team's blog.