Community Engagement Worker – Indigenous Arts and Cultures (JOB ID: ELM865)

About this position

Employment Type:  Full-Time, Permanent

Work Hours:  35 hours per week (includes evenings and weekends; shares on-call)

Salary:  $55,939 per annum (L7), plus comprehensive benefits (April 2023 pay rate) 

Location: 150 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0B1

Priority will be given to Indigenous Persons. Applicants are required to clearly identify their Indigenous lived experience in their cover letter.

JOIN OUR TEAM

YWCA Toronto strives to uphold anti-discrimination practices and anti-oppression principles to ensure that the rights of all individuals are respected and protected. We work to promote a climate that is welcoming of all women and individuals who identify as Trans, intersex, non-binary, agender, and/or Two-Spirit. We encourage applications from women and gender diverse people from all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations.

The Community Engagement Worker- Indigenous Arts and Cultures is responsible for leading the design and implementation of programming that promotes the arts and cultural enrichment activities focusing on Indigenous culture and traditions, with the goals of creating an inclusive community, encouraging engagement with the broader community, and developing effective strategies to meet the emotional, practical and social support needs of the tenant community.  The Community Engagement- Indigenous Arts and Cultures position will work within the Community Engagement Program team and alongside the Jean Tweed Centre case management team to ensure that community engagement activities support a positive and dynamic community environment with a focus on health outcomes.

ABOUT YWCA TORONTO – YWCA ELM CENTRE

YWCA Elm Centre includes 300 units of permanent housing for three different resident groups: 165 units of affordable rental units for women, 50 units for Indigenous women, gender diverse people and their families and 85 supportive units for women and gender diverse people living with mental health challenges or concurrent mental health and substance use challenges. The Elm Community Engagement Team provides support program and services to the entire residential community, with a focus on community capacity building, housing stabilization and health promotion.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Acts as specialist consultant to YWCA Manager, YWCA Elm support team, Jean Tweed Centre case managers and tenants in the area of innovative community engagement and capacity building with marginalized and mixed communities;
• Develops, implements and evaluates Indigenous-specific programming (groups, workshops, circles, etc.) to ensure YWCA Elm Indigenous tenant community has direct access and opportunity to share, receive and reclaim Indigenous knowledge, arts, teaching and ceremonies;
• Develops, implements and evaluates cultural, recreational, social and/or education programs for the full tenant community;
• Designs and delivers programming specifically designed to build individual and community capacity through activities that promote the development and use of harm reduction principles in conflict resolution and mediation skills, including peer-led processes for addressing issues of concern to the community;
• Supports tenants in addressing legal notices related to lease infractions such as arrears, Rent Geared to Income (RGI) documentation and/or behavior/tenancy challenging issues;
• Assist in conducting intake interviews, ensures relevant documentation is completed/acquired and supports tenants in the move-in process as required;
• Maintains a working knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act, Social Housing Reform Act, and the Ontario Human Rights Code.

QUALIFICATIONS

• General knowledge of an academic or technical discipline normally acquired through the completion of an undergraduate degree in a social services or health field (examples: BSW/Social Work, Occupational Therapy, etc.) (Cases for equivalency will be considered);
• 3 - 5 years’ experience working in a diverse, direct service setting with adults and families who experience impacts of poverty, homelessness/ under-housing, violence/trauma, mental health/addictions/ or concurrent disorders, and other sources of marginalization or oppression;
• Knowledge of Indigenous services and community resources and other community resources that provide culturally-competent services for Indigenous clients; and demonstrated ability to incorporate knowledge of Indigenous traditional teachings into community programming and individual support;
• Life Skills Certificate an asset;
• Lived experience in the Indigenous community and the ability to deliver culturally sensitive services;
• Preference will be given to qualified candidates of Indigenous heritage;
• Demonstrated ability to use arts-based practices to promote individual and community capacity;
• Demonstrated ability to deliver programming that recognizes and values cultural identities (ethno-racial, LGBTQ, e.g.) and creates opportunities for strengthening community through sharing and building understanding and respect;
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Indigenous health and wellness and the past, present and ongoing harms of colonialism impacting Indigenous Peoples in Canada;
• Supportive counseling and group-work approach that is flexible, strengths-based, de-escalates tension, and teaches conflict resolution and demonstrated crisis intervention and conflict mediation skills, with ability to remain calm in crisis;
• Proven experience and strong skills in developing and facilitating group-based programming;
• Experience working with diverse individuals and groups (ethno-cultural, gender, abilities, race, etc.) and the ability to deliver culturally sensitive services and programs;
• Very good knowledge and understanding of community resources;
• Familiarity with Windows and Excel programs;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Knowledge of a second language or culture an asset.

Vaccination Policy: - In accordance with YWCA Toronto’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, all YWCA Toronto employees, students and volunteers are strongly encouraged to obtain all COVID-19 vaccinations and booster doses as recommended by Toronto Public Health.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your cover letter and résumé as a single document to Danielle Nakouz, Manager of Elm Housing Support Program at elmhousingjobs@ywcatoronto.org. Please quote JOB ID number ELM865 and your name in the subject line. 

Please note: A vulnerable sector police reference check is required by the successful candidate prior to hiring. YWCA Toronto is a unionized workplace. Staff are represented by CUPE Local 2189. This position is within the Bargaining Unit. Please indicate on your cover letter and email subject line if you are an internal candidate. For internal applicants, this position is not secondable.

YWCA Toronto promotes the principles of anti-oppression and adheres to the tenets of the Ontario Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from women and gender diverse people of all races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations. 

YWCA Toronto provides accommodation during all parts of the hiring process, upon request, to applicants with disabilities. If contacted, please advise us if you require any accommodation. While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. 

YWCA Toronto is a Scent-Sensitive Workplace.

Posting Date: March 30, 2023