Community Building Assistant

About Red Hook Initiative (RHI)

Red Hook Initiative (RHI) is a community-based nonprofit working to improve the lives of more than 6,500 residents of Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn's largest public housing complex. RHI believes that social change to overcome systemic inequities begins with empowered youth, and that change in communities should come from within. In partnership with community adults, we nurture young people in Red Hook to be inspired, resilient, and healthy, and to envision themselves as co‑creators of their lives, community, and society.

Youth development, community building, and community hiring are at the core of RHI's approach to strengthen Red Hook's future. Our model gives young people and residents the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to interrupt the systems and barriers that perpetuate historic inequities for the community. Residents lead the way toward a more equitable, hopeful future. Over our 20‑year history, RHI's model and dedicated team have been nationally recognized for its innovative, place‑based approach to social change.

• Youth Development
  : RHI engages over 450 adolescents each year, from middle school through young adulthood, endeavoring to interrupt cycles of injustice and to build hope.
• Building Community
  :
  Working with Red Hook youth and adults to organize, exercise leadership to drive positive change for the community, and increase social cohesion to build a more resilient neighborhood.
• Investing in Residents
  : RHI hires locally and invests in residents who will improve their lives and the community in which they live. More than $1.1M was earned in the last year by people from Red Hook.
• Red Hook Farms
  : A youth-centered urban agriculture and food justice program operating one of Brooklyn's original and largest farms. Red Hook Farms cultivates affordable, fresh produce and provides STEM and nutrition education, leadership development, and employment opportunities for local youth and residents.

The Community Building Assistant will work alongside the Community Building Team at RHI to support the team's community organizing efforts as well as the 529 Community Scholarship project. Current organizing campaigns include public housing organizing, engaging residents in the Brooklyn Marine Terminal development, and educational organizing within Red Hook's public schools. The CB Assistant will work for the first half of Program Year 2026 (January to June 2026).

They will participate in relevant campaign meetings, support the Community Building Team by co-hosting community events, individual outreach as well as data entry, and support the 2026 Organizing Academy. Additionally the CB Assistant will support the launch of RHI's Community Scholarship fund and engage with parents whose children will be receiving funds to activate and set up accounts.

• Outreach and Community Engagement
  • Support outreach efforts for Community Building events
    • Team events and collaborations
    • Flyer distribution
    • Tabling at community events and community partner events
    • Managing a sign in sheet and table
• Support of the Organizing Academy Program
  • Recruitment support
  • Follow up with applicants
  • Support with ordering snacks/food
  • Room set up & breakdown
  • Co-facilitation
• 529 Community Scholarship Engagement
  • Support eligible parents 1:1 and in a group setting with enrolling in the Community Scholarship program, recently launched by RHI and NYC Kids Rise
  • Educating parents at P.S. 15 and PAVE about the 529 scholarship
  • Tabling at school events, dismissal, and making announcements as needed
• Database Management
  • Updating database with information collected at tabling events
  • Creating/updating Google Spreadsheets with sign in sheets from CB events/event collaborations
• Event Support and Coordination
  • Support with event set up and break down
  • Ability to delegate light tasks to any volunteers and or youth leaders

• Deep connection to and knowledge of the Red Hook community.
• Able to work as part of a team, yet take initiative and work independently.
• Able to work outdoors and in inclement weather, and willing to be on their feet…