Workshop Facilitator - Black Achiever's Program

Be the Spark! Join our passionate team of Employment and Community and help us to achieve great things in our community!

This is a unique opportunity for an individual with community engagement and outreach experience to grow and further develop an initiative with Black young people living in Scarborough communities.

Black Achievers is a new mentoring initiative of the YMCA of Greater Toronto (Y-GTA) that will support educational achievement and create change across the system of employment for Black young people by bringing them together with adult Black professionals/role models in individual and group mentoring sessions through schools, employment organizations, and social service organizations (including Y-GTA). The initiative will celebrate the full participation of Black young people in professional, academic and community life. Black-led at a staff and collaborative level, the project is seeking a Workshop Facilitator to lay the ground work for youth engagement and further development of a mentoring program model.

Inclusivity. As with all Y-GTA programs and spaces, Black Achievers will take place in a safe and affirming environment where all youth belong, regardless of age, gender identity and gender expression, race, ethnicity, religious heritage, class, sexual orientation or physical/mental ability. Anti-Black racism is a key focus in Y-GTA’s Diversity and Inclusion strategy.

With support from the Y-GTA Black Experience Staff Advisory Committee and reporting to the Senior General Manager, the Workshop Facilitator will be responsible for planning and delivering the Black Achiever’s Program by recruiting and training mentors, and delivering the post-secondary /career readiness curriculum, the character/leadership development curriculum to youth, as well as facilitating cluster mentoring and providing one-on-one support services to the Achievers Program participants at schools/communities. The overall purpose will be to provide black youth the opportunity to develop academically, socially and mentally with the support of adult black role models/mentors.

In this role, you will:

• Assist with the development and maintenance of workshop material, academically, professionally and socially; participate in curriculum reviews when needed


• Prepare for and facilitate virtual/in-person learning; engage youth and adult mentors to make workshops interactive and relevant


• Complete case note documentation, workshop attendance and handles confidential data; ensure quality audit measures are achieved in accordance with the YMCA and funder’s standards


• Assist with marketing and outreach for the program when necessary


• Provide customer service by responding to telephone, email and direct inquiries


• Consult and collaborate with team members on participant progress


• Ensure YMCA policies and procedures are followed


• Ensure self-management of program targets related to the employment program delivery


• Understand the importance of the volunteer staff partnership and integrate the value of philanthropy and volunteerism in dealings with members, volunteers, donors and staff


• Participate in program evaluation outcomes in relation to the program purpose and specific goals


• Perform other duties as assigned

You bring:

• University Degree preferred or College Diploma in Career Planning, Employment Counselling, Education, Social/Community Work, Social Services, Human Resources and/or related field


• Minimum of two years group facilitation experience would be an asset


• Superior presentation and written communication skills


• Able to provide excellent service delivery to students served by the Black Achievers Program


• Knowledge of community resources, familiarity with the education system, labour market as well knowledge of the challenges the Black community face


• Proficient with computer applications, e.g. Microsoft Office 365 and Internet search engines


• Well-developed interpersonal, and relationship building skills; ability to establish rapport and excellent communication with members, staff and volunteers


• Able to visualize, understand and articulate YMCA outcomes


• Flexibility regarding assigned working hours, including evenings and weekends


• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and building a sense of belonging


• Sound knowledge of and sensitivity to the experiences of Black young people in the GTA and the impact of anti-Black racism, including particular experiences of Black female-identified youth


• Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle an asset

What you need to succeed:

• Commitment to the YMCA’s Mission, Vision and Values


• Focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of all children, youth, and vulnerable people in YMCA programs including understanding legal and moral obligations related to reporting suspected child abuse to Child Protection Services


• YMCA Competencies: Accountable, Relationship-Builder, Improvement-Orientated, Team Player & Leader, Equity and Wellbeing Promoter

Why work for the YMCA?

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities. We are committed to helping our employees reach their full potential and are recognized as a great place to work. We offer meaningful jobs and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the health of our communities. See what you can expect from the YMCA here.

Joining the Y means contributing to over 165 years of providing opportunities for people to shine through programs and services like health and fitness, licensed child care, camps, employment and immigrant services, education and training, and services for youth, families, and seniors. Learn more in our 2020–2025 strategic plan, Ignite the Light, which outlines how we are focused on boosting well-being and promoting equity across the Greater Toronto Area.

The YMCA of Greater Toronto is committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We strive to remove barriers to employment and recognize that diverse staff who reflect the communities we work in enrich the experiences of our participants and our team. As an equal opportunity employer, we invite applications from all qualified candidates including racialized people/people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, disabled people/people with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

If we can make the recruitment process more accessible for you, please let us know when we reach out about a job opportunity so we can work with you to accommodate your needs.

In keeping with our commitment to safety and child protection, job offers are contingent on the successful completion of a Police Records Check. Within the first four months and every three years thereafter, a Vulnerable Police Records Check is required. Learn more about these checks here.

The YMCA only considers applicants who are legally entitled to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, due to the volume of applications we receive, we can only contact candidates who are selected for an interview.

Check out the next steps in our recruitment process and see what others are saying about working at the YMCA.