Outreach Coordinator for Social Justice

Job Overview
Increase MPOWER's capacity to respond and engage with community residents, businesses and stakeholders who are impacted by the street-based sex trade in their neighborhoods. This position will act as a bridge between residents, the Benedict Center Sisters Program, the City Office of Community Wellness and Safety, and other MPOWER steering committee members (law enforcement, housing, advocacy, research partners). MPOWER is a collaboration to expand harm reduction and housing first approaches to help women in the street based sex trade who use opioids and other drugs instead of arrests, fines or incarceration. Primary duties include: Present at community meetings and events to increase awareness of MPOWER’s efforts, hear resident concerns and invite residents to support long-term solutions. Provide follow up constituent service calls to stakeholders who called for service/ reported concerns about solicitation. Convey relevant information to inform street outreach and service response to those locations as a non-police response to address women’s underlying needs. Record and report key data metrics.

Responsibilities

Community Education and Engagement (40%)

• Work with MPOWER and Benedict Center to develop and implement a strategic communications plan and supporting materials for community engagement activities.
• Develop deep understanding of the issues facing impacted women, the Benedict Center Sisters Program philosophy and approach, and working knowledge of diversion and deflection programs.
• Represent the MPOWER Collaboration at meetings by MPD Crime and Safety, Target Team, resident associations, business associations and other community-based meetings in assigned districts.
• Educate and engage community residents, business owners, and community groups about the MPOWER Project efforts through community meetings, focus groups one-on-one meetings to generate support and ideas for collaborative solutions.
• Facilitate ideas and help implement ways for community residents and stakeholders to play a meaningful role in the planning and implementation of MPOWER activities.
• Establish respectful, encouraging connections with local business owners, residents, criminal justice professionals and other service providers in the areas targeted by the MPOWER project.

Coordinating Follow-up to Calls for Service from Stakeholders (15%)

• Help create and implement a response protocol for resident and stakeholder calls for service regarding suspected solicitation.
• Receive and review call reports for service regarding possible solicitation.
• Contact the resident/ stakeholder/ caller within one business day to listen to the resident’s concerns, collect information from the resident about circumstances that precipitated the call
• Educate callers about how the information shared will be confidentially used to direct services to help women in the context of the MPOWER project
• Invite/ Engage callers to learn more about the issues, the project and how to stay informed or get involved (invitations to meetings, general project updates and data-based impact reports)
• Record relevant data from calls in tracking system

Coordinating Outreach and Service Response for Individuals in Need (15%)

• Help create and implement a response protocol for the Sisters Program and other key service providers to conduct outreach and support for individuals encountered informed by call data.
• Use call information to direct the Sisters Outreach and other MPOWER agency service providers to individuals at known locations.
• Coordinate the service providers to offer practical resources, information and supportive conversation to women who are or might be involved in the street-based sex trade in identified locations.
• Coordinate the service providers to link women to community resources including food, shelter/housing access, syringe exchange, legal rights, anti-violence advocacy, HIV/STD testing and health care; follow-up to ensure that referrals are appropriate and effective.
• Track follow up responses and outcomes in tracking system.

Evaluation and Data Collection (10%)

• Track, analyze and report data from stakeholder calls for service and service provider responses.
• Track daily contacts (outside of calls for non-emergency response) with community members, MPOWER stakeholder agencies, and other community resources. Note outcomes for each contact.
• Track number community members engaged through community engagement activities.
• Provide qualitative reports on stakeholder feedback.
• Produce monthly reports aggregating key deliverables of the OCWS contract.
• Create project updates and community impact reports for dissemination to community.
• Participate in research and evaluation activities with MPOWER partners.
• Share relevant and critical information to Sisters Program and Benedict Center leadership in real time.
• Complete and submit documentation in a timely manner.

Supporting MPOWER and Benedict Center Diversion, Deflection and Community Intervention Efforts. (10%)

• Assist ED in coordination and facilitation of MPOWER meetings and activities.
• Assist in development and training of protocols for MPOWER cross sector collaborators for pre-arrest diversion, deflection and community interventions.
• Provide briefings and meetings with key leaders on City, County and State Level receive updates on MPOWER progress.
• Work closely with identified research and evaluation partners to develop data tracking, assessments and reports.

Enhance Street Outreach and Service Referrals for Impacted Women (10%)

• Cultivate strong partnerships with Sisters Program Manager and Outreach staff.
• Work with the Sisters Program Manager to inform expanded street outreach activities, assessing trends, addressing barriers, and identifying innovative new approaches to engage women on the streets.

Mission and Values Focus:

· Agree, uphold and demonstrate our mission to help women affected by the criminal justice system find hope and lead safer and healthier lives while advocating for a system of justice that is fair and treats everyone with dignity and respect.

· Learn and explain the basics of harm reduction and housing first principles and practices

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in related fields including Communications, Public Health, Community Engagement and Education, Community Activism, Urban Studies, Criminal Justice, Social Justice and Systems or Social Work or commensurate with experience.
• Minimum 1 year of experience working with residents and stakeholders on community level.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport with community members and stakeholders.
• Excellent public speaking skills with the ability to engage diverse audiences in an open and respectful environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Able to work in a self-directed manner, able to respond to changing priorities, and able to make sound decisions.
• Proficient in research data collection methods to inform program development.
• Requires valid driver’s license.
• Bilingual, Spanish required

This position offers an exciting opportunity for individuals passionate about making a difference in their community while developing valuable professional skills.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $56,077.00 - $67,220.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evenings as needed
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Ability to Commute:

• Milwaukee, WI (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Milwaukee, WI: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $56,077 - $67,220