Voices UnBroken is a Bronx-based non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing under-heard members of the community – primarily youth, ages 12-24 – with the tools and opportunity for self-expression. Through high quality creative writing workshops in juvenile justice facilities, group homes, residential treatment facilities, jails, and various other alternative and transitional settings, Voices UnBroken nurtures the inherent need in all people to tell their stories and be heard. It is our belief that this telling of stories and sharing of dreams leads to individual and community growth. Voices UnBroken workshops are facilitated by experienced Teaching Artists/ Workshop Facilitators and are the heart of our organization; their work has the potential to make a lasting impact on young people.

Teaching Artist/ Workshop Facilitator Responsibilities:

Facilitate 10-session poetry workshops for young people (ages 12-24) in jails and secure detention facilities
Develop lesson plans and prepare materials for each workshop session
Use a wide variety of techniques to relentlessly engage hard-to-reach, sometimes resistant, young people
Build and sustain strong, productive working relationships with site staff
Maintain a high level of flexibility and professionalism at all times
Collect, organize, and submit participant sign in sheets, surveys, etc.
Submit written reflections of each workshop session to Voices UnBroken Program Director on a weekly or bi-weekly basis

Must be able to attend meetings at the Voices UnBroken office in the Bronx
Seasonal paid trainings (fall, spring, summer)
Monthly staff meetings
Additional meetings with program staff: as necessary, average 3-7 hours per workshop
Other duties, as necessary

Qualifications:

Experience working with youth in challenging, non-school settings (including, but not limited to, jails, juvenile justice facilities, group homes, and drug treatment programs)
Experience teaching/facilitating poetry/creative writing to adolescents who are excited about it, and to adolescents who have the potential to be excited about it, with the help of a great facilitator
At least 5 years of facilitation experience
Bachelor’s degree (preferred)
Knowledge of and experience in workshop/session planning
Strong facilitation, communication, and interpersonal skills
Comfort with solo facilitation
Knowledgeable about poetry, poetic devices, and analyzing poetry, and have a repertoire of successful poetry activities
Committed to bringing the best, high quality arts programming possible to the young people we work with
View teaching writing from a youth development perspective
Bilingual (Spanish and English), a plus
Willing and able to travel throughout New York City as the majority of workshops take place outside of Manhattan

Voices UnBroken Teaching Artists/ Workshop Facilitators:

Introduce young people to poetry, creative writing, and the creative process, often for the first time
Enjoy guiding a group through a process of falling in love with their own voices
Are adept at and enjoy group facilitation, as well as providing individual support
Are passionate about arts and youth development
Have extensive experience facilitating workshops with reluctant writers
Enjoy facilitating in non-school settings

Compensation:

Teaching Artists/Workshop facilitators will be paid $25/hr for each 90-min session, plus $25/hr for prep and may bill up to five hours total per workshop session (including workshop, prep, facilitation, reflection and documentation). Additionally, Teaching Artists/Workshop Facilitators are compensated for training and staff meetings.

Voices UnBroken employs without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, or any other attribute not related to superior performance.

To Apply:

If you are interested in applying, send your resume, cover letter, and a sample writing activity that you think would be appropriate for use in a Voices UnBroken workshop to hr@voicesunbroken.org. Please answer the following in your cover letter:

Why do you want to work with Voices UnBroken?
Tell us how your experience(s) as a teaching artist/workshop facilitator makes you an ideal candidate for this position.

ALL INTERESTED APPLICANTS SHOULD VISIT WWW.VOICESUNBROKEN.ORG SUBMIT THEIR RESUME, COVER LETTER, AND 90 MINUTE SAMPLE LESSON PLAN TO HR@VOICESUNBROKEN.ORG.