Coordinator, Community Initiatives

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit www.innovatingjustice.org.

The Center is a 900-employee, $100 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn't), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.

Operating Programs

The Center's operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Justice Center, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research

The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

Policy & Expert Assistance

The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area.

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Reimagining Intimacy through Social Engagement (RISE) Project responds to the intersection of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and gun violence and supports healthy relationship norms and the prevention of intimate partner violence at the community level. The RISE Project draws on public health, community organizing and transformative justice models to create a holistic approach to violence.

The Center is seeking a Coordinator for the RISE Project, to coordinate a community-based initiative focused on addressing the intersection of gun violence and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) city-wide, largely focusing on Brooklyn and Queens. The Coordinator will work collaboratively to implement programs focused on community engagement, norms change, violence prevention, and engagement of individuals who are causing harm. The RISE Project works in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS) and Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD).
Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Educate and support staff at Crisis Management System sites on issues of IPV/DV (Domestic Violence), their intersection with community violence, gender-based violence, gun violence, and strategies for promoting healthy relationships through developing and facilitating trainings, information sharing, and collaboration; Develop and facilitate regular trainings on IPV/DV for staff and community at large, including CJI-project sites, schools, community-based organizations, and community members; Facilitate youth programs focused on healthy relationships and IPV/DV prevention; Plan and coordinate community events aimed at reducing violence, promoting healthy relationships, community accountability, healing, and capacity building; Meet regularly with the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Crisis Management System to ensure effective collaboration and communication; Build and maintain strong relationships with community partners, organizations, and stakeholders, including attending community board meetings, local NSTAT, and tenant meetings as needed; Conduct weekly community outreach and participate in community events to promote the program; Provide community-based crisis intervention and individual engagement, including enrolling clients into appropriate programs and services, providing referrals to additional resources, advocating on behalf of clients, and delivering short-term case management and safety planning to clients experiencing harm; Document all services in the required software within 24-48 hours while being very specific and including comprehensive notes for each service provided; Establish and maintain strong relationships with public and private local stakeholders that provide services to those impacted by intimate partner violence/domestic violence; Submit regular monthly reports to the Project Director to capture pertinent program data; Drive community service van(s) safely following NYC DOT guidelines to designated sites as needed; Safely return van(s) to the parking location after work-related events or community service; Maintain van(s) cleanliness and report all incidents to the supervisor; and Additional relevant tasks, as necessary. Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have: A Bachelor's degree in the human services field and 2-3 years of related experience in violence prevention or equivalent experience, a Master's degree is preferred; At least 2 or more years of experience in a position directly related to intimate partner violence or domestic violence, as well as experience in community organizing, community engagement, Project/Program management and group facilitation preferred; Driver's license is strongly preferred; This exciting position requires a creative self-starter who can accomplish tasks in a fast-paced environment; Candidates must be comfortable navigating interdisciplinary settings and must be willing to roll up their sleeves and be actively involved in day-to-day operations; and Experience with transformative justice frameworks, individual counseling, and community-based violence prevention preferred. Position Type: Full-time, 10:00am - 6:00pm, occasionally working earlier and later with flexibility to work some Saturdays.

Position Location: Brooklyn, NY with expected travel within the five boroughs.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $62,400 - $74,000 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and as such, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our aim is to create a supportive and respectful environment where every individual, irrespective of their background or identity, feels valued and included.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the requirement of the COVID-19 vaccination for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. Accordingly, the Center does not require all new hires be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus; however, the Center recommends all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up-to-date on the vaccination.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. Kindly refer to the job posting for the relevant contact information. If the contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from making inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.