NACA Inspired Schools Network - MBKA Community Director
The NACA Inspired Schools Network (NISN), in partnership with the City of Albuquerque, with three high schools, and four nonprofit organizations will deepen and scale a community of practice on social emotional learning (SEL) to encourage safe, equitable, and culturally-relevant school environments that promote the success of boys and young men of color (BYMOC) in terms of attendance, persistence, and graduation rates. SEL is a promising approach to preventing violence through increased problem solving strategies, empathy development, and emotional wellbeing. SEL also promotes academic mindsets such as belief in oneself, goal setting, and persistence. NISN is in a unique position to promote culturally relevant practices that use an Indigenous lens and incorporate holistic wellness to meet the SEL needs of the whole child/youth.
NISN will facilitate a local community of practice; document practices and challenges especially relevant to BYMOC to build upon emerging national literature; and engage youth in sharing their experience with SEL work with local educational leaders to inform future practices and policy. The population served will include BYMOC ages 14-21 attending Albuquerque area high schools that have diverse, low-income, immigrant, undocumented, and first generation college-going populations. This project will respond to disparities in area truancy, suspension, and graduation rates for BYMOC, aiming to create school environments that affirm culture and heritage and is responsive to the needs of BYMOC.
Overview
The My Brothers Keeper (MBK) Community Coordinator (or the “Coordinator”) manages the day-to-day operations and overall implementation of the programs and priorities outlined in the NACA Inspired Schools Network’s MBK Community Challenge Competition proposal.
The Coordinator ensures that MBK programs across Albuquerque are executed with fidelity and in accordance with the mission of My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and the goals of the MBK Community Challenge Competition.
Specifically, the MBK Community Coordinator manages and/or directly supports four key areas:
1. Program Delivery
2. Collective Impact Coordination & Facilitation
3. Obama Foundation/MBK Alliance Process Oriented Requests
4. Evaluation & Reporting Support
Additionally, the MBK Community Coordinator serves as a thought partner to the NISN Leadership Team and a key point of contact for the MBK Alliance Portfolio Manager.
Core Responsibilities
Program Delivery
● Serve as the primary project manager concerning the implementation of program delivery as outlined in NISN’s grant proposal, leading NISN’s efforts to deepen and scale a community of practice on social emotional learning (SEL) to encourage safe, equitable, and culturally-relevant school environments that promote the success of boys and young men of color (BYMOC)
● Develop and manage a master work plan designed to ensure timely accomplishment of each project milestone
● Maintain close communication with partners, program participants, and staff in an effort to quickly identify areas of improvement and/or opportunities for course correction
● Draft correspondence, answer and screen phone calls, and direct inquiries related to the delivery of services and/or program implementation
Collective Impact Coordination & Facilitation
● Serve as the primary point of contact for each partner organization or stakeholder (non-profit partners, government officials, private companies, etc.) involved in the collective impact effort to advance the program delivery as outlined in the grant proposal
● Establish and maintain effective and cooperative professional relationships with all levels of management and employees – among the employer, key partners, and the Obama Foundation
● Develop meeting agendas and produce/update all relevant documents as needed. This would include preparing materials and handouts for team and leadership team meetings
● Play a key role in the facilitation and coordination of collective efforts to support of the advancement of the grant proposal and MBK efforts within Albuquerque
● Cultivate and strengthen partnerships that will support and further advance the cradle-to-career framework (six milestones) of My Brother Keeper locally
Obama Foundation/MBK Alliance Process Oriented Requests
● Coordinate with the assigned MBK Alliance Portfolio Manager to fulfill requests related to grant management and general Obama Foundation policies and processes
● Respond to inquiries and requests in a timely manner
Evaluation and Reporting Support
● Support data collection and management efforts aligned to the Evaluation Plans development for the Impact Grantee.
● Participate in meetings with MBK Alliance and its designated contractors related to the evaluation of the proposal and the associated program implementation
● Support the Impact Grantee’s Executive Director and/or Program Manager in the development of reports related to the implementation of the grant proposals
Professional Development
The MBK Community Coordinator may be required to participate in a series of approximately one to three national training and development sessions annually. The Coordinator will not only have the opportunity to learn from the leadership at NISN but will also have the opportunity to participate in a community of practice with other MBK Community Coordinators throughout the country.
Personal Qualities of Top Candidates
● Local Context & Connections: Possesses an intimate understanding of the Albuquerque area
● Commitment to Equity: Passionate about closing the opportunity gap and ensuring that every child - regardless of their background - reaches their full potential.
● Communication and Customer Service Skills: Communicates clearly and compellingly with diverse stakeholders in both oral and written forms; anticipates and responds to customer needs in a high-quality and courteous manner.
● Adaptability: Excels in constantly changing environments and adapts flexibly in shifting projects or priorities to meet the needs of a dynamic transformation effort; comfortable with ambiguity and non-routine situations.
● Focus on Data-Driven Results: Relentlessly pursues the improvement of performance and is driven by a desire to produce quantifiable programmatic results.
● Innovative Problem-Solving: Approaches work with a sense of possibility and sees challenges as opportunities for creative problem solving; takes initiative to explore issues and find potential innovative solutions.
● Teamwork: Increases the effectiveness of surrounding teams through collaboration, constant learning and supporting others; sensitive to diversity in all its forms; respects and is committed to learning from others
● Dependability: Does whatever it takes to consistently deliver with high quality under tight deadlines; successfully manages own projects through strong organization, detailed work plans, and balancing of multiple priorities.
Qualifications
● Bachelor’s degree preferred.
● 6-8 years related work experience, with community organizing and project management experience strongly preferred.
● Previous exposure to or experience in government, non-profit, social impact, and/or K-12 education sector a plus.
About the role
The MBK Community Coordinator is a full-time employee of the NACA Inspired Schools Network. 100 percent of the MBK Community Coordinator’s time is focused on the advancement of the programs and priorities outlined in NISN’s approved grant proposal and local MBK efforts within Albuquerque.
For inquiries email Jessica Helen Lopez at lopez@nacaschool.org
