THE ORGANIZATION
The Center for Court Innovation is committed to reducing crime and incarceration, addressing violence, supporting survivors, and building communities while strengthening public trust in justice. The Center seeks justice for marginalized groups, bringing an equity lens – particularly a racial and gender equity lens – to its work. For 25 years, the Center has worked to foster justice and equity to create safe, healthy, and thriving communities and, ultimately, to transform the justice system.
The Center is an 800-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 Court, 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
Researchers at the Center conduct independent evaluations, documenting how government systems work, how neighborhoods function, and how reform efforts change things. We believe in the “action research” model; accordingly, our researchers provide regular feedback on the results of the Center’s own operating programs. The Center has published studies on topics including youth in the sex trade, reentry, gun violence, and drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration. Our researchers have been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals.
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.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Bronx Community Justice Center (BxCJC), one of the Center's newest projects, works to create a safer, more equitable Bronx through community-driven safety initiatives, violence prevention, youth opportunity, and economic development efforts.
The Bronx Community Justice Center is seeking a part-time High School Equivalency Instructor. Reporting to the Coordinator, Workforce Development, the High School Equivalency Instructor will provide High School Equivalency instruction and testing preparation to young people in the South Bronx.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Develop and facilitate HSE cohort-based classes to young people from the South Bronx;
- Develop curriculum that is culturally relevant, engaging, and focused on young people under the age of 30;
- Incorporate project-based learning and enrichment activities to expose participants to a wide range of educational opportunities and support program engagement;
- Collaborate with the Youth Initiatives team to address youth needs and coordinate support;
- Develop an engaging classroom environment that is supportive and strengths-based;
- Develop and maintain student portfolios, documenting milestone and other supporting interim achievements;
- Maintain attendance records;
- Develop and implement assessment strategies and track progress;
- Additional responsibilities, as needed.
Position Type: Part time, 15 hours a week.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a Master's Degree and one-two years of experience teaching youth and young people, or equivalent life experience. Demonstrated experience with curriculum and lesson plan development and implementation. Demonstrated success engaging marginalized youth in educational opportunities. Knowledge of youth mentorship, positive youth development, and youth centered practices. Excellent written communication and administrative skills strongly desired. The ideal candidate should have a deep understanding of and connection to South Bronx communities. Candidate must be a skilled communicator able to work in a multi-disciplinary setting. The ideal candidate will be familiar with the needs of the youth impacted by community violence, street involvement, and criminal legal systems. Professional or personal experience with the criminal legal system is preferred. Additional qualifications include:
- Previous experience facilitating restorative justice-based programming, and/or a familiarity with principles of restorative justice and conflict resolution preferred;
- Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally-responsive manner;
- Experience providing group and individual mentoring with youth;
- Bilingual (English-Spanish) a plus;
- Strong commitment to social justice and anti-oppressive practice.
Compensation: The hourly rate is $35/hour. This position is non-exempt.
The Center for Court Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. The Center does 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 seek 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.
As of September 9, 2021, all new hires are required to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for medical, disability or religious reasons by the Center’s Human Resources Department.
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. Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. No phone calls please.