Youth Mentor

ABOUT HUNEEBEE PROJECT

Huneebee Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit social enterprise that promotes equitable job preparedness amongst our most resilient youth and environmental conservation in disinvested urban neighborhoods through bee hive installation, pollinator habitat restoration, and educational workshops. We believe beekeeping in itself is a therapeutic practice – one that requires awareness of your body in time and space, use of regulation strategies to maintain a calm presence in the midst of an open beehive, as well as reflective and honest discussions about fear, loss, courage, and hope. At Huneebee Project, these healing aspects of beekeeping are combined with social work support, professional development workshops, and creative outlets to empower our youth and young adults.

Huneebee Project involves youth and young adults in and around New Haven with past or present foster care involvement, child protective involvement, and/or developmental trauma histories in 15-week-long therapeutic job skills training programs. We refer to participants in these programs as “Beekeepers in Residence” or BKIR for short. The participants experience hands-on training on beekeeping practices and relevant job skills, while being supported in developing body and emotional awareness, regulation strategies, and mindfulness practices. Each Huneebee Project cohort builds, paints, installs, and maintains honey bee hives. Each participant graduates the program with an increased capacity for relationship building and personal skills, self-efficacy and empowerment, an understanding of the role of the honey bee in nature and the many benefits of pollinators, and a completed resume. The Project also provides employment opportunities to graduates and engages the broader communities in seminars and workshops at the designated garden sites.

Huneebee Project partners with the Yale Child Study Center, Gather New Haven, and Green Village Initiative (GVI).

POSITION OVERVIEW (What we're looking for)

We are seeking responsible and motivated individuals with backgrounds in mental health care, graduate-level MSW student (or equivalent, accredited Masters-level candidate) or experiences and/or skillsets in, child development, education, youth community services, the creative arts, and/or environmental/natural studies to serve as mentors for our 2025 cohorts of Beekeepers in Residence training program. No prior beekeeping experience is necessary.

Mentors will be expected to support BKIR participant engagement, encourage a safe and supportive environment to promote self-exploration and expression, and provide transportation to and from weekly workshops. The individual will monitor and offer support to their mentee(s) throughout activities and when engaging in hive checks. Mentors will be guided and supervised by Huneebee Project’s Director of Clinical Services (LCSW credentialed staff).

This part-time position pays $20/hour. All mileage incurred will be reimbursed at the standard mileage rate for business travel.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & DUTIES (What you’ll be doing)

• Attend a paid trauma informed and mandated reporter training prior to the start of the program
• Be present for BKIR orientation (first program day)
• Facilitate weekly check-ins with your mentee over the course of the training, either by phone, email, or in-person at a Saturday workshop
• Attend a minimum of 50% of workshops throughout the duration of our program
• Attend the Huneebee graduation (final program day)
• Assist with transportation for a minimum of 12 out of the 15 Saturday workshops

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS (What you'll need to bring along)

• Interest and curiosity in nature-based therapies
• Background in mental health care, child development, education, youth community services, the creative arts, and/or environmental/natural studies or enrolled in a related accredited program
• Strong verbal communication skills; consistently demonstrates our values of cultural humility, respect, and kinship
• Familiarity and/or willingness to understand Connecticut’s child protective and/or foster care system
• Reliable source of transportation; valid license and motor vehicle registration
• Able to follow and take direction; motivated to learn; adaptable to change
• Works collaboratively with a team; asks for and seeks guidance as needed

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please submit a completed cover letter and CV/resume to Alexia Levin-Liberator at alexia@huneebeeproject.com.

Job Type: Contract

Pay: $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 2 – 5 per week

Schedule:

• Weekends only

Ability to Commute:

• New Haven, CT 06513 (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in New Haven, CT 06513

Salary : $20