Associate Program Director, Criminal Justice Program

American Friends Service Committee • Ypsilanti Charter Township, MI

11h • $62,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Program Director of AFSC's Michigan Criminal Justice Program works
in direct partnership with the Program Director to support and guide Program
Staff, Volunteers, Inside Connectors and Participants in fulfilling the Mission
of our program: Accompanying women serving long sentences in Michigan through
incarceration to liberation.

This Mission is met by creating, supporting and engaging networks of
interpersonal relationship through the three (3) main tenants of our program
work: The Good Neighbor Project (TGN), Moms Empowering Moms (MEMs), and Welcome
Home Good Neighbor Freedom Hub (WHGN).

The Associate Program Director will be responsible for leading, guiding and
participating in the exchange of educational dialogue with currently and
formerly incarcerated people to formulate an informed written analysis and
participatory action plan for all Transformative Justice Campaign Initiatives
drafted, supported and promoted by our work. As our work at the MCJP of the AFSC
is directly connected to the only women's prison in the state of Michigan it
will be imperative for the Associate Program Director to have the skill set to
incorporate a feminist framework into the development of strategic narrative
change and diligently advocate for the inclusion of said framework when working
across gendered barriers within coalition movement work.

Requirements

• High school, GED or equivalent experience required. Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred.
• Minimum four years’ experience in in advocacy, organizing, and/or working for social and/or transformative justice and change work required. Additional two years’ experience  with individuals impacted by the criminal legal and punishment system preferred. Each year of completed degree in a related field can be considered as experience.
• A deep and demonstrable understanding of intersectional justice that is rooted in working for racial, gender, LGBTQIA+ justice and disability rights and economic justice
• Demonstrated ability to be an effective and compassionate advocate on behalf of people in prison and their loved ones.
• Experience working with community-based, social justice program work.
• Ability to work evenings and/or weekends and to travel, as
• Ability to work effectively independently and within a team environment.
• Experience with standard Microsoft Office and related technology.
• Must be capable of working under tight time constraints in a high-volume environment with multiple priorities.
• Understanding of and commitment to the principles, concerns, and considerations, of AFSC in regard to issues of race, class, nationality, religion, age, gender and sexual orientation, and disabilities. Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with diverse staff.
• Commitment to Quaker values and testimonies. Understanding of and compatibility with the principles and philosophy of the American Friends Service Committee including non-violence and the belief in the intrinsic worth of every individual.
• Respect for and sensitivity to cultural, ethnic, racial, gender and religious diversity and familiarity with non-violent approaches to problem solving.
• Ability to organize, plan ahead and prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Understanding of and commitment to the principles, concerns, and considerations of AFSC in regard to issues of race, class, nationality, religion, age, gender and sexual orientation, and disabilities.

Responsibilities

• Organizing and Outreach
• With program associate, recruit and train dedicated Good Neighbor Volunteers.
• Provide leadership in various stakeholder circles when needed.
• Provide advocacy help & resources, including the formation of freedom strategies, plans and applications, for and with women serving long sentences in Michigan.
• Help lead coalitions and mobilize people to challenge the use of punishment-based systems in MI, particularly the use of long punishment on women and their loved ones.
• Provide and/or supervise direct advocacy for women involved in our program work when needed.
• Stay informed and connected to larger prison related issues in Michigan.
• Support the program associate in liaising with the WHV national Lifers of America (NLA).
• Support policy and cultural campaigns.
• Occasionally work on volunteer committees as well as with other AFSC regional and national criminal justice colleagues.
• Build relationships with policy stakeholders in various power positions throughout the state in order to influence policy and shift narratives on punishment in MI.
• Develop and provide workshops and political education opportunities inside Michigan prisons and/or in the community.
• Supervising Staff, Volunteers, and Interns
• Direct supervision of program associate.
• Direct supervision of grant funded organizers.
• In coordination with consultant, develop training and mentorship for staff and volunteers according to various learning styles.
• In Coordination with program director and consultant, supervise, coordinate, train, and provide ongoing support and mentorship to all volunteers (inside and outside of prison).
• This position will be asked to take on Program Director duties when needed.
• Co-Supervise all aspects of the work, including:
• Good Neighbor work / Welcome Home good Neighbor work (co-mentor and relationship based models for all our work)
• Parole navigation, commutation applications and other avenues towards freedom.
• Moms Empowering Moms.
• Partnerships and opportunity development for long service women returning to the community.
• NLA liaison.
• Communications
• Adhere to all AFSC policies and procedures.
• Respond directly to women who we support via telephone, email, in writing or other creative ways upon recommendation of the team.
• When needed, speak on the viewpoints of AFSC at Quaker meetings and gatherings, colleges, religious and political organizations.
• Represent AFSC in coalitions and collaborations.
• Help raise the profile of AFSC’s Michigan Criminal Justice Program by engaging in social media strategies and collaborative messaging work with other program staff, volunteers, and women participating in our program work.
• Commitment to values centered work with kindness, patience, compassion and understanding. Reflect graceful accountability when mistakes are made. Lead efforts for peaceful mediation of conflict and an overall commitment to the long-term, humble amends and harm reduction to bridge and relationship building.
• Ensure responsibility in maintaining healthy relationships with our allies.
• Collaboration with Supervisor
• Assist the program director with research and writing projects related to trends and patterns in the criminal legal and punishment system in MI, which have been identified through direct communications with women in prison, loved ones of people in prisons, academic and grassroots experts, and review of data and research.
• Assist program director in creating, implementing and evaluating office culture policies and practices that promote effective teamwork and self-care.
• Support Fundraising efforts, through meeting attendance, grants, individual donations, and grassroots fundraising.
• Assist program director in representing AFSC at appropriate coalition, collaborative and other network meetings and events.
• Other
• Regular attendance and punctuality are required.
• Operates safely in all conditions and follows policies and procedures.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical and hospitalization plan; term life, STD & LTD, defined benefit pension plan, 403b match, plus other benefits including vacation, PTO, sabbaticals, extended leaves, holidays, participation in unemployment and worker’s compensation and social security.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees