Youth Advocate - Relief Staff Member LGBTQIA2S+ Programming

Choose your shifts!

$17.00 an hour.
1220 SW Columbia St, Portland, OR 97201

Transform Lives, Transform Yourself:

Are you passionate about uplifting LGBTQIA2S youth and creating safer, affirming spaces for young people in our community but need lots of flexibility in a schedule that allows you to work when it aligns with your schedule?

Do you bring experience and a commitment to celebrating and supporting LGBTQIA2S identities, especially for youth facing systemic barriers and houselessness?

New Avenues for Youth seeks a compassionate and resilient Relief Youth Advocate – LGBTQIA2S Programming to join our SMYRC (Sexual & Gender Minority Youth Resource Center) team.

As a Relief Youth Advocate, you'll support SMYRC programs in providing consistent and intentional spaces for LGBTQIA2S youth ages 13-25, supporting them in exploring affirming resources and building community. Your unique perspective, experience, and care will foster belonging and help create a vibrant, inclusive space centered on youth voice and leadership. Relief Youth Advocates also assist in the upkeep of the space by keeping it organized, stocked with program supplies, and clean.

Join New Avenues and…

• Make an Impact: Provide affirming, identity-centered support, advocacy, and resource navigation to LGBTQIA2S youth.

• Thrive in a Supportive Team: Join a collaborative, equity-driven, and inclusive team where your contributions and lived experiences are valued.

• Grow as a Professional: Receive ongoing training in areas such as LGBTQIA2S cultural responsiveness, trauma-informed care, and leadership development.

• Enjoy a Robust Benefits Package:

o Full health, vision, and dental insurance at zero cost to the employee (with options to cover family members).
o Generous holiday, personal, and paid time off (PTO) allowances.
o Discounted gym memberships to encourage a healthy lifestyle.
o Access to free counseling services to support your well-being.

Our Commitment to Equity:

At New Avenues for Youth, we envision a community where all young people thrive. We recognize that LGBTQIA2S youth, particularly those who are BIPOC, face unique challenges due to systemic inequities and intersecting forms of oppression. We are unwavering in our commitment to dismantling these barriers and fostering a truly equitable, youth-led space where every identity is celebrated, every voice is heard, and every young person is valued.

Who You Are:

· Affirming Advocate: You are passionate about LGBTQIA2S youth empowerment and bring a strong understanding of the diverse needs and experiences within LGBTQIA2S communities, especially for BIPOC, trans, and nonbinary youth.

· Compassionate Listener: You create safer, non-judgmental spaces where youth feel affirmed, celebrated, and supported in their journeys.

· Reliable & Flexible: You show up consistently, are adaptable to the changing needs of youth in the space, and can collaborate within a dynamic, youth-led environment.

· Growth-Oriented: You are committed to ongoing learning, particularly in areas of LGBTQIA2S equity, cultural responsiveness, and youth-driven programming.

· Equity-Focused: You understand how systemic oppression, including racism, homophobia, and transphobia, impacts the lives of LGBTQIA2S youth and approach your work with humility, cultural humility, and a desire to dismantle these barriers.

What You'll Do:

· Foster Community & Connection: Build intentional relationships with LGBTQIA2S youth, cultivating a welcoming and affirming environment where they feel safe, celebrated, and empowered.

· Support Resource Navigation: Provide direct support to youth in accessing community resources, housing support, healthcare, and other services, ensuring services are affirming of their identities.

· Engage Youth Voice: Collaborate with youth in planning and facilitating creative activities, workshops, and programming based on their interests and leadership.

· Document & Collaborate: Maintain accurate and timely records, coordinate with community partners, and support SMYRC’s commitment to youth-led, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive services.

· Celebrate Identity: Participate in events like Pride and other community-centered celebrations that affirm and uplift LGBTQIA2S youth.

Qualifications:

· Experience (paid or volunteer) working with LGBTQIA2S youth or within LGBTQIA2S community spaces preferred.

· Lived experience as a member of the LGBTQIA2S community is highly encouraged.

· Strong communication skills, ability to connect with diverse groups of youth, and commitment to equity and inclusion.

· LGBTQIA2S individuals, BIPOC, and those with lived experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

New Avenues for Youth is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $17.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Employee assistance program
• Referral program

Application Question(s):

• Please briefly share why you are interested in this position and how it aligns with your goals.

Work Location: In person

Salary : $17