Community Engagement Specialist

Build•Chicago, IL

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

BUILD, Inc. (Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development) is presently seeking a committed, self-motivated, and innovative individual to join our team. BUILD is a nationally respected gang intervention, violence prevention, and youth development organization based on Chicago’s West Side. Since 1969, BUILD has worked to save lives and mentor young people who live in the city’s most challenged neighborhoods. When you work at BUILD you make an important difference to the thousands of youth and families we serve. Our Core Values : Empathy, Passion, Persistence and Innovation. The Community Engagement Specialist plays a critical role within BUILD’s Community Engagement Department, working out of a central location in Humboldt Park to build deep, trust-based relationships with the residents, organizations, and stakeholders of the neighborhood. This position handles developing and driving a community safety plan for Humboldt Park through the establishment and leadership of the Community Response and Engagement Workgroup (CREW). CREW will bring together local organizations, service providers, and residents regularly to share updates, analyze trends in violence, coordinate targeted interventions, and align resources so that safety efforts in Humboldt Park are proactive, collaborative, and rooted in what the community itself identifies as its priorities. Beyond the safety planning work, the Community Engagement Specialist will encourage residents to become more civically and socially engaged in their neighborhood, helping cultivate a welcoming environment where community members can take part in restorative discussions, activities, and collaborative projects that strengthen peace and well-being across Humboldt Park. This role is instrumental to creating and sustaining BUILD’s strong public presence in the community, and reports directly to the Manager of Community Engagement.

Requirements

Minimum of 1 year of experience in community engagement, outreach, violence prevention, community organizing, program coordination, or a related field.
Must have reliable transportation
Familiarity with Humboldt Park or comparable Chicago neighborhoods strongly preferred.
Able to work flexible hours, evenings, and weekends.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Knowledge of community engagement initiatives and objectives.
Knowledge of Restorative Justice practices and experience leading Peace Circles.
Ability to work in a fast-paced and deadline-driven environment.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks.
Ability to create and execute ideas.
Exhibit a welcoming, hospitable attitude toward co-workers, youth, partners, and community members.
Enjoys working with people from all backgrounds.
Experience in event planning and execution.
Flexible and adaptable to the organization's changing needs.

Responsibilities

Lead the development of a comprehensive community safety plan for Humboldt Park, working from the organization’s central location in the neighborhood.
Establish and facilitate monthly CREW meetings, convening community stakeholders, service providers, and residents.
Coordinate services across participating organizations to prevent duplication of resources and close gaps in coverage, rather than overlapping existing efforts.
Set clear objectives for the safety plan, track progress against them, and engage stakeholders throughout the planning process to ensure the plan reflects the true needs and priorities of the community.
Establish a structured timeline for plan development, with defined milestones for stakeholder input, draft review cycles, and finalization.
Analyze trends in neighborhood violence using data and stakeholder input, and translate those findings into coordinated, targeted intervention strategies.
Maintain accurate documentation of CREW meetings, decisions, and action items, and report progress to the Manager of Community Engagement.
Contribute to and support Community Engagement programs and activities, including but not limited to Access to Justice (A2J), Community Family Nights, Hoops on the Block, and other initiatives.
Assist in developing and executing community outreach initiatives and departmental programs that align with BUILD’s mission.
Collaborate across departments to plan and support community events and activities throughout Humboldt Park.
Conduct door-to-door canvassing to promote BUILD events and initiatives throughout targeted areas.
Recruit, train, and lead volunteer teams to ensure outreach initiatives run smoothly and successfully.
Assist in designing and administering community surveys to measure public opinion on Community Engagement initiatives and inform future programming.
Represent BUILD in community meetings, coalitions, and public forums, gathering insight on emerging needs and trends and reporting findings back to the department.
Maintain a robust, up-to-date calendar of ongoing training requirements for self and, where applicable, CREW participants and volunteers.
Other duties as assigned