Youth Empowerment Program Opportunities

Starr Commonwealth•Albion, MI

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Starr Commonwealth is seeking individuals passionate about building meaningful relationships with young people and fostering their growth. This is not a recruitment for one specific position, but rather building a pool of candidates for multiple current and upcoming opportunities across Starr's youth-serving programs in Calhoun County. Opportunities may involve recreation and group-based programming, individual coaching and case support, school and community engagement, or new youth programs in development. The core philosophy is that relationships come first, and team members are expected to be actively involved with young people, initiating conversations, learning their interests, and creating opportunities for them to recognize their strengths and imagine new possibilities. The ideal candidate will serve as a mentor, facilitator, coach, and positive adult presence, enjoying connection with adolescents and young adults, and remaining grounded, flexible, and relationship-focused when working with youth experiencing adversity, disengagement, challenging behaviors, or complex circumstances.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Experience working with adolescents and/or young adults through employment, education, recreation, coaching, mentoring, residential care, behavioral support, community programs, volunteer work, or another relevant setting.
Demonstrated ability and genuine desire to build relationships with young people.
Ability to actively initiate conversations, activities, and engagement rather than relying on youth to make the first move.
Ability to remain calm and manage your own emotions when a young person is frustrated, disengaged, challenging, or having a difficult day.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team while also being self-directed and taking initiative.
Dependable, adaptable, creative, and comfortable working in a dynamic program environment.
Valid driver's license and ability to meet applicable driving requirements.
Ability to work onsite in Albion and/or Battle Creek based on program assignment.

Nice To Haves

Experience facilitating recreational activities, games, groups, workshops, classes, practices, or other structured activities for youth.
Experience supporting youth experiencing adversity, behavioral challenges, disengagement, crisis, or other complex circumstances.
Experience in youth development, education, recreation, mentoring, coaching, social services, residential programming, behavioral health, or community-based programming.
Experience working within or navigating school systems and community resources.
Experience providing individual coaching, case support, goal planning, or resource navigation.
Associate's or bachelor's degree in education, social work, psychology, human services, recreation, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Build authentic, supportive relationships with adolescents and young adults.
Serve as a mentor, role model, and consistent positive adult presence.
Actively engage young people who may initially be hesitant, guarded, disengaged, or unsure about participating.
Learn about each young person's strengths, interests, goals, experiences, and motivations.
Support youth in developing confidence, resilience, communication skills, healthy decision-making, and a stronger sense of belonging.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries while balancing empathy, encouragement, and accountability.
Plan, lead, and participate in engaging recreational, educational, relationship-building, and youth-development activities.
Facilitate games, group discussions, workshops, skill-building activities, and other structured programming.
Adapt activities and approaches based on the interests, abilities, energy, and needs of the youth participating.
Create an environment where young people feel welcomed, included, supported, and encouraged to participate.
Help manage group dynamics while modeling respectful communication, emotional regulation, and problem-solving.
Build ongoing coaching relationships with assigned participants (in some opportunities).
Help youth identify goals, strengths, barriers, resources, and next steps (in some opportunities).
Facilitate individual and group coaching sessions (in some opportunities).
Support youth in navigating school, employment, community resources, and other systems (in some opportunities).
Coordinate and communicate with schools, families, community partners, and other youth-serving professionals as appropriate (in some opportunities).
Maintain required program documentation and follow-up (in some opportunities).
Work collaboratively as part of an interconnected team while independently managing assigned responsibilities.
Communicate effectively with colleagues and program leadership about youth needs, program activities, concerns, and opportunities.
Remain flexible as programming, schedules, participant needs, and organizational priorities evolve.
Contribute ideas and take initiative rather than waiting to be directed through every interaction or activity.
Participate in training, meetings, events, and other program responsibilities as assigned.