Bilingual Community Ambassador

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit www.innovatingjustice.org.  

The Center is a 900-employee, $100 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.

Operating Programs

The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Justice Center, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research

The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

Policy & Expert Assistance

The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area. 

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Center for Justice Innovation has operated an office in Syracuse, New York since 2004. The Upstate Office assists in the development of new problem-solving court initiatives, provides technical assistance to existing problem-solving courts throughout Upstate New York, and plans and implements new programs focused on improving the delivery of justice. 

The Center for Justice Innovation’s Upstate Office is seeking a Bilingual Community Ambassador to provide direct client services related to safe housing and quality of life. The Bilingual Community Ambassador will be a member of a team of four Community Ambassadors; one for each quadrant of the city.  Reporting to the Syracuse Community Development Coordinator, the Bilingual Community Ambassador will conduct outreach to Syracuse city residents, provide appropriate referrals to city agencies, and work to improve information sharing, services and communication with the city’s Neighborhood and Business Development. The Bilingual Community Ambassador will work in the city of Syracuse’s diverse neighborhoods, but especially focus outreach to families and individuals living in the Westside. 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Conduct community outreach to residents through door-to-door, tabling events, neighborhood block parties, community centers, and other places around the city where people congregate;  
• Assist residents by linking them to resources, services and programs to address housing and quality of life issues in their homes and communities;  
• Act as liaison between residents and code enforcement, housing inspectors, and other city employees;  
• Share resident feedback with city agencies and the Land Bank;  
• Maintain records in electronic grant reporting systems (tablets);  
• Assist in the coordination of planning meetings, training programs, and other events; 
• Coordinate room reservations, invitations, and refreshments, and prepare meeting materials;  
• Maintain filing system of receipts and invoices;   
• Prepare monthly reconciliation reports; and
• Additional relevant tasks, as needed. 

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a High School Diploma/GED and 2-4 years work experience in a related field. Fluency in conversational Spanish required. Candidates should be familiar with the city of Syracuse’s neighborhoods, particularly the Near Westside, and be excited to work with diverse populations that may be different from their own. This position requires a detail-oriented self- starter with excellent organizational skills who can get things done efficiently in a high-paced environment. Knowledge of Microsoft Office is required, as well as familiarity with office technology such as computers, cell phones, etc. and social media platforms. Excellent verbal skills are a must. The candidate must be able to prioritize tasks and remain flexible. Candidate must be able to commute within the area. There is a strong preference for candidates with experience in community organizing, canvassing, or event planning. 

Position Type: Full-time, with flexible hours; must be available to work evenings and weekends. 

Position Location: Syracuse, NY. 

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $52,000 - $58,000 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%. 

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and as such, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our aim is to create a supportive and respectful environment where every individual, irrespective of their background or identity, feels valued and included.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the requirement of the COVID-19 vaccination for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. Accordingly, the Center does not require all new hires be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus; however, the Center recommends all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up-to-date on the vaccination.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. Kindly refer to the job posting for the relevant contact information. If the contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from making inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.