The Organization
DreamYard Vision:
Building Artists- Building Community- Building Dreams- To change the world. DreamYard Mission and History:
DreamYard, founded in 1994, is a Bronx-based organization that uses the arts, social justice pedagogy and digital and connected learning to inspire youth, public schools and communities. DreamYard’s yearlong arts programs develop artistic voices, nurture young peoples’ desire to make change and cultivate the skills necessary to reach positive goals. By committing to sustained learning opportunities along an educational pathway, with 45 partnering public schools K-12th Grade, with our own DY Prep HS School and at the DreamYard Art Center in Morrisania, DreamYard supports young people as they work toward higher learning, meaningful careers and social action. We seek to be effective locally while having a national impact through partnerships, collaboration and learning exchanges.
Anti-racism Commitment:
At DreamYard, we commit to being an anti-racist organization. We lead with race because we operate in a country founded on the genocide of Indigenous people, the enslavement of African people, and the oppression of countless others. We acknowledge the role this history plays in perpetuating inequity and dominant white culture.
We are intentionally building a path toward racial equity by:
Challenging oppression and its intersections
Using art and education as a platform to offer a hopeful vision of the future
Identifying and uplifting the power and cultural assets that exist within our community of educators, artists, dreamers, young people and life-long learners
Encouraging the principles of justice, unity, equity, creativity, and joy
Transforming policies, procedures, practices, and programs (for example: striving for transparency and equity in pay and compensation structures regardless of race, culture, gender, ethnicity, creed, etc)
Understanding our staff, community members and partners are at different levels on the anti-racist continuum and embracing that we all have a place in this work
The Community
DreamYard is focused in the Bronx, a borough that possesses incredible cultural, human and economic assets. In addition to work throughout the Bronx, DreamYard partners with local, national and international communities using the arts to build bridges to opportunity. The organization believes that the arts are a necessary part of developing our local assets to their greatest potential.
The Position
The Director of Legacy & Internship Programs collaborates closely with the Co-Executive Directors and the Leadership Team to build and manage a growing number of internal and external work-based learning programs, and will lead the Legacy and Internship Programs team at DreamYard.
Reports to: Co-Executive Directors
Manages: Two direct reports, the Legacy & Internship Programs Manager, and the Program Coordinator.
Legacy and Internship Programs Team Management and Collaboration
Develop a comprehensive annual work-based learning and internship programs plan in collaboration with Co-Executive Directors, Leadership Team, and Legacy & Internship Programs Team;
Oversee all Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and Work, Learn, Grow (WLG) contracts through the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD);
Manage workflow of year-round internship programming for high school and college-aged students
Guide, support, and supervise the Manager of Legacy and Internship Programs and the Internship Programs Coordinator;
Work in partnership with 3 schools at the TAFT Campus (Bronx Collegiate Academy, Bronx High School of Business, and DreamYard Preparatory Academy) to develop school wide work-based learning opportunities and career exploration events (Career Day, Life Readiness Day, Career Panels)
Develop and manage the yearly Legacy and Internship Programs’ budget, track monthly expenses, and hold quarterly check-ins with Finance;
Document and assess organization-wide work-based learning programs – including
summer and program-year work-based learning report
Attend regular Program Director and Leadership Team Meetings and contribute to maintaining an accurate agenda;
Identify and support professional development opportunities to help strengthen the Legacy and Internship Programs Department as a whole;
Management of Worksite Partners & Advocacy Organization Relationships
Here to Here, ExpandEd, United Neighborhood Houses (UNH), Career Internship Network (CIN), Department of Education, NYC Center for Youth Employment
Prospect, steward, and manage relationships with community partners, corporations and community-based organizations to develop potential internship opportunities
Serve as the primary business contact; send regular updates of special accomplishments & events taking place at DreamYard to these constituents;
Create and advocate for innovative work-based learning program models rooted in authentic work that increase capacity and center equity
Work with advocates to strengthen work-based learning standards, goals, and opportunities nationwide
Organization Responsibilities
Strategize, advocate for and lead the roll out, onboarding, and evaluation of organization-wide summer internship programs in collaboration with the Leadership Team and Program Teams
Participate in regular Leadership Team meetings and provide leadership throughout the organization as it relates to work-based learning, building a healthy and equitable work culture, and setting organizational goals aligned with DreamYard’s organizational mission, values, and commitment to racial equity;
Assist with large-scale organization-wide events as needed;
Who You Are:
Committed to Black liberation and the dismantling of anti-Black and anti-Indigenous practices within work-based learning culture both personally and professionally;
Demonstrated experience in managing a team and supporting their career development;
Demonstrated experience in developing and executing year-round work-based learning programming, event management and planning
Demonstrated experience with SYEP and WLG programs or similar DYCD contracts
A collaborative self-starter who believes in the power of community and working together;
A well-connected community builder with a passion for advocating for the needs of young people
A keen leader who inspires young people to be the best version of themselves; possess an ability to create cohesive teams through effective communication and coaching;
Empathic - posses the charisma, patience, warmth to work with young people;
Versed and committed to DreamYard’s culture and community driven by core values, and commitments to social justice and racial equity.
Competencies
3+ years of progressively responsible experience in non-profit fundraising;
Strong project management and implementation skills;
Excellent interpersonal, verbal and general communication skills;
Confidence sharing DreamYard’s work and stories with Board members, donors and community partners;
Ability to relate to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community;
Demonstrated creative problem solving and strategic planning skills;
Excellent organizational skills and the ability to gracefully manage tight timelines in a fast-paced working environment and multiple projects concurrently;
The ability to collaborate effectively with team members and volunteers to achieve organizational goals;
Strong leadership skills, with an emphasis on listening, empathy, collaboration and effective communication based on honest feedback
Experience in DYCD database management, program design, relationship management, event planning, etc. Platforms include but are not limited to: YEPS, DYCD Connect, HHS, and EMS
To Apply
Please fill out this introductory survey by September 24, 2021:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13AU8SX-c2faWGv4Dc3V9e-5sYlwIMgDKCSlUwDtp9b8/edit
About DreamYard
DreamYard offers competitive salaries, an excellent benefits package, and generous paid time off; starting salary for this position is commensurate with experience and with similar positions citywide.