Community Engagement Specialist

Location:

Chicago, IL

Work Setting: 100% On-site (In-Person)

Reports To:

Director of Development

Salary Range: $40,000-$45,000 annually

Founded in 1971, Centers for New Horizons is a mission-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering children, youth, and families to become self‑reliant and thrive. With more than 200 employees, many of whom live in or near the communities they serve, Centers delivers high‑quality programs across seven locations throughout the Bronzeville and Riverdale neighborhoods on Chicago’s South Side, reaching more than 1,000 individuals every day.

Through education, workforce development, behavioral health, housing, youth development, and supportive services, Centers is committed to strengthening communities, expanding opportunities, and creating measurable, lasting impact for the families it serves.

The Community Engagement Specialist plays a key role in strengthening Centers for New Horizons’ visibility, relationships, and engagement within the communities we serve. Working in partnership with program teams, development/communications staff, and organizational leadership, this position coordinates community engagement activities, supports outreach and recruitment strategies, develops community partnerships, manages social media engagement, and ensures that community engagement efforts are effectively documented and measured.

This position is designed to be community-facing and relationship‑driven. The Community Engagement Specialist will spend designated days working from both the Effie Ellis Center and CNH's Altgeld Gardens location, allowing the Specialist to build relationships, understand the distinct needs and assets of each community, and ensure CNH's engagement strategies reflect the families and neighborhoods we serve.

The Community Engagement Specialist will help move CNH from simply participating in community activities to implementing a coordinated engagement strategy that builds relationships, increases program participation, strengthens referral networks, and expands CNH's presence and influence within the community.

• Maintain a consistent, visible presence at both the Effie Ellis Center and Altgeld Gardens location.
• Develop an understanding of the unique needs, resources, organizations, schools, businesses, and community stakeholders within each service area.
• Build authentic relationships with residents, families, community leaders, schools, businesses, faith‑based institutions, and community organizations.
• Identify emerging community needs, opportunities, and concerns and communicate relevant information to CNH leadership and program teams.
• Represent CNH at community meetings, events, resource fairs, school functions, and other external activities.

• Partner with program leads and other CNH staff to plan and execute community events, recruitment activities, resource fairs, workshops, family engagement activities, and other outreach opportunities.
• Develop event work plans, timelines, checklists, staffing assignments, registration processes, and logistical requirements.
• Gather event information including dates, locations, program details, partner information, logos, photographs, registration information, and promotional needs.
• Maintain a centralized calendar of CNH community engagement activities and relevant external community events.
• Identify strategic opportunities for CNH to participate in or partner on external events that align with organizational priorities.
• Coordinate post‑event follow‑up, documentation, data collection, and evaluation.

• Identify and cultivate relationships with schools, community‑based organizations, businesses, faith institutions, government agencies, healthcare organizations, and other entities that can support CNH programs and families.
• Conduct outreach to prospective partners and coordinate introductory meetings with appropriate CNH leadership and program staff.
• Support the development, execution, and tracking of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and…