Art with a Heart, Inc. (AWAH) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance the lives of people in need through visual art. Art with a Heart has been engaging a broad, spectrum of individuals since its inception in March 2000. With over 10,000 classes a year in some of Baltimore’s most vulnerable neighborhoods and over 4,000 volunteer annually from diverse backgrounds, Art with a Heart has the ability to attract and engage varied participants for a teen leadership initiatives. Art is a universal language and an accessible tool for developing leadership skills, i.e., working together to formulate ideas, setting goals, practicing critical thinking.

The Director of Leadership and Engagement is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Art of Leadership program.

What is the Art of Leadership?

The Art of Leadership (AOL) program is:

Fifteen-month teen leadership initiative that introduces participants to issues facing the Baltimore community and develops fresh perspectives for how to address these issues.

Participants include a diverse group (diverse race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status and gender) of 15 to 20, 10th and 11th grade public and private school students who live in the Baltimore area.

The Program introduces and/or reinforces leadership competencies that will make the students better able to solve community problems and enhance their civic participation.

Participants are challenged to leave their comfort zone in order to learn about each other and gain new appreciation for differing background and experiences.

Topics include public education, health care, the arts, crime, poverty, and the racial divide in Baltimore.

Workshop sessions will take place once a month on Sundays, 4pm to 8pm with dinner included. In addition to Sunday gatherings, there will be occasional experiential days when schools are closed. There will also be two overnight retreats during the course of the 15-month period.

DESIRED SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICSThe Director of Leadership and Engagement should have the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics:

A keen interest, genuine passion for, and deep personal commitment to AWAH’s mission.

Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred.

Four years experience managing teen programs with skills in leadership development and training.

Excellent people, process and project management abilities.

Outstanding analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people.

Exceptional relationship building, listening, coaching, and interpersonal skills.

Positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed with demonstrated passion for AWAH’s mission and the AOL vision.
Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, AOL students, their parents/guardians and collaborative partners.

Solid judgment and leadership skills.

Flexibility to create and/or execute ideas in new or ambiguous environment.

A team player, who can interrelate and operate effectively with peers and other associates within a collegial, yet demanding, work environment.

An individual who is able to handle a variety of constituencies, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and thrive in a complex environment with multiple priorities.

Impeccable integrity and strong work ethic.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensure the AOL has the necessary people, processes, collaborations, systems and policies to create an exemplary youth leadership program, i.e. establish selection criteria, financial aid analysis, evaluative measures, interview protocols, and alumni engagement.

Provide effective leadership to students, volunteers, and programming partners.

Manage relationships with AOL collaborators including, but not limited to, schools, community organizations, volunteers, and cultural institutions.

Attract, develop, and retain interesting, inspiring and engaging collaborative and experiential partnerships.

Plan and coordinate all aspects of AOL curriculum and calendar including but not limited to, speakers, retreats, experiential learning and community service projects.

Empower, motivate, and mentor participating youth and provide them with opportunities to learn and grow while offering informal feedback through ongoing coaching.

Provide the necessary skills to optimize communication and cohesiveness among student cohort.

Prepare and submit an annual programming budget, manage effectively within this budget, and report accurately on progress made and challenges encountered.

Utilize quantitative and qualitative data, including feedback from students, volunteers, collaborators and staff, to identify any gaps in performance and impact and develop and implement initiatives to assure improvement.

How to apply

Send resume and cover letter via email to info@artwithaheart.net.