Community Placemaking Coordinator

CEDAM's AmeriCorps Information: CEDAM's AmeriCorps program connects local and statewide agencies to meet neighbors' critical needs. Members create community, build capacity and serve neighbors across Michigan. Our AmeriCorps program advances equity for Michiganders in two key ways 1. Cultivating the next generation of leaders in the community economic development field and 2. Supporting economic inclusion for Michiganders. 

Organizational Information : Know Allegiance Nation (KAN) is a village building enterprise that seeks to build a nation of knowledge seekers through consciousness raising and literacy attainment. We teach and provide literacy programs primarily to inner city youth to grow their knowledge, so that they can grow up to pass knowledge on to the next generation of youth that will eventually become elders nurturing their villages/communities. For more information visit: knowallegiance.org or kanbooks.org.

Role and Responsibilities: Our Community Placemaking Coordinator will focus on planning, coordination, implementation and evaluation of our placemaking projects within the community. Our AmeriCorps member will: 

• Engage various stakeholders (residents, youth, elders, businesses, organizations, etc…) in community meetings and focus groups on planning placemaking projects in communities served by KAN in Detroit and Flint to gain feedback, input on project particulars including project design and logistics.
• Recruit volunteers for placemaking projects (youth literacy hub, pop-up/permanent skate park, community park expansion, etc…).
• Manage placemaking service projects (murals, gardens, carpentry, recreation, etc..).
• Support the revised creation of an online & physical booklet on placemaking plans and high-level development plans in partnership with contractors, designers and other KAN team members.
• Canvas and survey neighborhood, collecting data and also disseminating information on programs and initiatives of KAN.
• Support the mentorship of youth and their exposure to careers in the arts, urban planning, landscape design and placemaking and connect them with opportunities to have a voice in neighborhood planning efforts across the city they live in. 
• Supervise a group of summer interns to support summer placemaking implementation. 
• Support the coordination of an arts, culture and placemaking festival.
• Haul equipment, tools, resources and people as necessary.
• Assist with the creation of placemaking project evaluation tools - collecting and analyzing feedback as necessary.
• Highlight programming and successes via newsletters, social media, reports, etc… 
• Participate in CEDAM AmeriCorps monthly meetings, trainings, events, data collection, reporting and additional items as needed.
• Participate in AmeriCorps & Michigan's AmeriCorps events and trainings.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Willingness and interest in working with a diverse population, specifically youth, while modeling patience, kindness, flexibility, respect.
• Ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders and team members around a goal.
• Work with minimal up-front guidance and the ability to take ownership of work product.
• Ability to manage multiple projects efficiently and simultaneously.
• Experience in community/volunteer organizing and outreach.
• Attention to detail and organization required.
• Strong written and oral communication skills. Experience using Google Suite, Canva and Adobe not necessary but a plus.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule (some night and weekends may be required)

Minimum Qualifications:

• Be at least 18 years of age. Applicants must have HS diploma, GED or working toward the completion of one.
• U.S. citizen, U.S. national or lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
• Pass the following National Service Criminal History Checks: State of Michigan background check, State of residency (if not Michigan), FBI Fingerprinting, and State & National Sex Offender Registry

Compensation: 

Members will receive a living allowance of $26,000 distributed in even increments, bi-weekly. Members will receive student loan forbearance for qualified loans, health care package, childcare assistance upon eligibility, and continual professional development. Upon successful completion of service an education award in the amount of $7,395 will be issued. Members will serve 1,700 hours for the term = 40 hours/week. CEDAM's AmeriCorps Program is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations will be made for interview/service as needed. All interested candidates must be available to spend 40 hours in training the week of September 9.