Equity & Justice Organizer opening
Position Overview
The most important aspects of the Community Organizer position are skilled communication, empathy, and relationship-building. The primary task is to increase – and retain existing – volunteer neighbor participation at both organizations. The Community Organizer will accomplish this through sustained, coordinated effort of volunteer recruitment and retention, and close work with the Executive Director and neighbor-leadership. The position reports directly to the Executive Directors of both organizations.
Requirements:
- Languages: comfortable with both spoken and written Spanish + English.
- Organizing Experience: time invested by living or working in a diverse community: direct organizing training or lived-experience preferred.
- Computer skills: basic data entry and graphic design, experience with email, What’s Ap, Excel, and Word.
- Communication Skills: Strong writing ability; comfortable giving presentations and leading meetings. Social Media skills or willingness to learn.
- Proof provided of being fully vaccinated by start date.
Multi-level evening teacher opening
Title: Adult Basic Education (ABE) English as a Second Language (ESL) Evening Instructor
Classification: Part time, nonexempt, up to 12 hours per week (7.5 teaching + 3 set-up/tear-down + 1.5 meetings/prep). Optional work one-on-one or with small groups of students focused on transitioning them to better job or career opportunities could also be added to this position and could involve 5-8 hours additional hours per week through June 2023.
Salary: $24 per hour paid bi-weekly / 90-day probation period
Benefits: PTO accrual, optional pre-tax employee-paid group Dental & Vison plans, optional 3% Simple IRA employer match
Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 5:30-8:45 PM plus occasional daytime meeting
Location: Blaisdell YMCA, 3335 Blaisdell Avenue South, Minneapolis MN 55408
How to Apply: Send resume, cover letter, and 3 references by email to director@lyndale.org
General Qualifications
- Minimum 1 year experience teaching ESL required, preferably in an ABE environment; previous experience with a multi-level class a plus.
- B.A./Master’s degree with TEFL/TESOL certification or Adult ELL Certificate; current MN teaching licensure preferred with ELL training.
- Spanish language competency strongly preferred.
- Ability to relate effectively with people of other cultures and varying educational backgrounds; learners range in proficiency from emerging literacy to advanced, so experience with a range of levels a plus.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Experience working with volunteers.
- Ability to lift 25 pounds.
Position Overview
Instruction:
- Provide high-quality instruction to adult English language learners, utilizing ABE best practices, state and federal standards and Literacy MN’s ‘English Unlocked’ curriculum.
- Differentiate instruction for multi-level student groups.
- Structure class to effectively utilize volunteer resources.
- Provide volunteers who assist and lead small groups in class with instructions on utilizing the daily lesson plan.
Administration and Data Entry:
- Record and enter daily student and volunteer data into the state ABE database to track student attendance and progress.
- Register new students and administer CASAS pre- and post-assessments according to state and federal guidelines.
Engagement, Outreach and Retention:
- Collaborate with education and organizing staff to support ongoing student recruitment efforts and course advertisement.
- Welcome students and integrate them into the classroom community; maintain strong communication and follow-up with students to support retention.
- Serve as a liaison in connecting students to the broader community by communicating with them about their needs and interests and sharing this information with the LNA Director.
Site Management and Classroom Setup:
- Manage partnerships with community sites; organize materials/storage.
- Organize room for instruction, including moving tables and setting up whiteboards and room dividers.
- Reset the room and make certain the space is left according to building standards.
- Communicate any community site concerns to the LNA Director.
LNA Staff Duties:
- Attend monthly LNA staff meetings.
- Assist with occasional LNA events and organizational work, as needed.
To apply: E-mail cover letter, resume, contact info for three professional references, and proof of qualifications (scanned copy of TESOL/TEFL or Adult ELL certificate or MN teaching license if applicable) to: director@lyndale.org. Resumes reviewed upon receipt; position filled when we meet the right candidate.
Who are we?
We are the Lyndale neighborhood associations (www.lyndale.org), an independent nonprofit housed in the South Nicollet Action Center at 3537 Nicollet Avenue South. As a neighborhood, Lyndale is one of the most diverse in Minneapolis with over half of our population being people of color and, according to 2015-2019 data, 25% of our community members being immigrants and refugees of Latino or Somali descent. Also based on 2015-2019 data, 21% percent of all families in Lyndale live below the poverty line, compared to 19% for all of Minneapolis and 35% of households overall are cost-burdened, meaning they spend over 30% of their income on housing. These statistics provide many challenges, as well as many opportunities. As a place-based nonprofit from Lake to 36th South Street and from Lyndale Avenue to 35W, we are focused on the neighbors and the needs of this area including housing and development, food security, racial justice and safety, education, as well as community building and engagement.
LNA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. COVID-19 safety protocols are in place in our classrooms.