*This is a one-year rotating position*

The Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement (OYEA) works to uplift young voices in decision-making processes and helps advance the lives of young people across Boston through programming and resource connecting. We feel it is crucial to have young voices actively engaged in the policies and decisions that impact their lives, and our mission is to provide the platform for them to do so.

All Boston youth should have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. We aim to serve as a central hub connecting young people to these resources and opportunities across City Hall and in their communities. We also value the youth workers who are on the ground with Boston's young people each day and aim to provide the necessary support and developmental opportunities to uplift their work. Our goal is to create and support spaces that empower our next generation to become community leaders and agents of change.

The Youth Lead the Change program is the City of Boston’s one million dollars per year youth participatory budgeting program. YLC is the first youth-led PB program in the US, established in 2014. Each year, young people have the opportunity to allocate one million dollars per year of the City's capital budget by submitting ideas and voting on the finalists. YLC aims to involve as many youth as possible, ages 12-22, who live, work, or go to school in the City of Boston as possible.

Position Overview:
The Youth Lead the Change Fellow will be the primary OYEA team member focused on the day-to-day operation of the Youth Lead the Change $1 Million per year youth participatory budgeting program. This position will be involved in all aspects of the YLC program, especially the participatory budgeting process. This includes idea-collection, ballot creation, voting, and project implementation. This position will work closely with the rest of the OYEA team, the youth of the Mayor's Youth Council, and government and community partners. The position will require significant travel to facilitate the steps of participatory budgeting involving community outreach. This includes but is not limited to visiting schools, libraries, community centers, and other community organizations and tabling, presenting, or leading meetings at these locations. The position requires a self-starter with an interest in public service, community organizing, attention to detail, and superior organizational skills. This role will require meaningful engagement with diverse young people and families throughout the City of Boston. This position will report to OYEA's Strategic Partnership Manager.

Important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Working closely with OYEA staff on every step of the Youth Lead the Change participatory budgeting process.
• Ensuring that youth in Boston have the opportunity to participate in the program by working to reach idea collection and ballot goals.
• Actively works to ensure the ideas and votes collected are representative of the diverse voices of Boston’s youth population. Working with partners in City government to ensure the smooth operation of the program.
• Monitors and maintains email correspondence on the YLC email account.
• Engaging eligible youth in the YLC process through direct outreach and engagement.
• Supporting youth involvement in the program through direct outreach to and engagement with Boston’s schools, community centers, libraries, and community organizations.
• Attends resource fairs, community meetings, and events on behalf of OYEA to promote the YLC program and other services offered office-wide.
• Supports the implementation and development of all projects funded by past and present YLC cycles.
• Assists with connecting Language Other Than English (LOTE) speakers with available translation and language services as needed.
• Performs related work as required.

• Minimum of two (2) years of full or equivalent part-time experience.
• Bachelor’s degree is strongly preferred and may be substituted for two (2) years of required experience.
• Bilingual preferred.
• Experience working with or eagerness to work with high school-aged youth.
• Excellent customer service skills and the ability to positively engage with diverse communities.
• Interest in public service, civic engagement, youth services & programs.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills required.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Flexible schedule as some nights and weekends may be required. Travel offsite is required.
• Knowledge of the City of Boston and its neighborhoods is preferred.
• Driver’s license preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications and Google Suite.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job.

C.O.R.I check required. S.O.R.I check required. 

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

Terms:

Union/Salary Plan/Grade: Non-Union/$25 per hour

Hours per week: 35