Hours: 30 hours per week (negotiable)
Compensation: $30/hr

Organizational Background

Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation (SWBCDC) is a non-profit organization serving Boston’s diverse neighborhoods of Hyde Park and Roslindale. We create and preserve affordable housing to prevent displacement of low and moderate-income residents. We work with businesses to strengthen the commercial base of the neighborhoods. We work with residents to develop and implement strategies for climate change mitigation and resiliency, and transit equity along the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line. We employ Boston youth to restore local conservation woodlands, learn about urban farming, and participate in job readiness and life skills training to prepare them for future success.

Program Description

In 2024-25, Southwest Boston CDC’s Green Team will operate two teams during the summer and one during the school year. Our Woodlands team of 16-18 year old youth will continue restoration of Hyde Park’s urban wilds (conservation woodland) under the guidance of the Boston Parks Department. They will build and restore trails, learn to identify and properly remove invasive plants, plant native trees, create swale to help prevent flooding. They will learn safety in the woods, woodland and river ecology and the role that urban conservation land plays in helping to mitigate the effects of climate change in our city. They will also travel for 1-2 days to a USDA Forest Service site in New Hampshire to learn from Forest Service Rangers. Youth will learn job readiness and life skills such as proper workplace conduct and conflict resolution, teen workers’ rights, personal banking; resume preparation, interviewing, and post high school education and job options.

Our Garden team of 14-15 year old youth will work the Boston Nature Center and with the Grow to Consume Garden Heritage program with CitySprouts. They will learn about food justice, urban farming, maintaining raised flowerbeds and smaller trees.

The 2024-5 school year program will continue outdoor work in spring and fall, and participate in indoor learning activities during winter months.

Program Coordinator Responsibilities

Working under the direction of 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:

• Work with Assistant Director to recruit and hire 5 Crew Leaders

• Recruit and hire 12 Youth Crew Members

• Orient, train and supervise all Crew Leaders, who will be responsible for training, working alongside, supervising and evaluating youth.

• Coordinate environmental education and job readiness trainings with volunteer trainers

• Meet periodically with Boston Parks Department staff to determine the scope of urban wild restoration work and monitor work progress at Urban Wild sites

• Create program schedules

• Track staff hours and prepare invoices

• Participate in work and educational activities as needed to observe the Crew and Crew Leaders in the field, and to photograph the Team’s work.

• Attend appropriate workshops and networking events, as determined in consultation with the Assistant Director

• Lead weekly Green Team staff meetings

• Conduct program evaluation

Qualifications

Required Experience:

• Supervising and/or teaching youth

• Youth program development

• Experience working in diverse communities

• Interest in caring for conservation land or gardening/farming

• Excellent verbal and written skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel

• Well organized, able to multi-task

• Ability to work effectively both independently and as a team member

• Access to a car

Helpful Experience:

• Program management/administrative skills

• Experience with Zoom and google docs

• Staff or intern supervision

• Landscaping/gardening/farming experience

• Environmental education

• Ability to speak Spanish or Haitian Creole

• Familiar with the neighborhoods of Hyde Park, Roslindale and Mattapan.

• Experience and/or interest in community organizing on climate change problems and solutions

Please send cover letter and resume to Patricia Alvarez at: palvarez@swbcdc.org.

For questions: call 617-990-4498. To learn more about the Green Team visit our website: www.swbcdc.org. Southwest Boston CDC is an equal opportunity employer.