Program Associate, Community Justice Connect

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community safety and racial justice. Since 1996, we’ve worked alongside communities, courts, and those most directly affected by the justice system to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods. With a team of over 900 staff and an annual budget of $130 million, the Center carries out its mission through three core strategies:

Backed by decades of on-the-ground experience and nationally recognized expertise, we bring innovative, practical, and lasting solutions to justice systems nationwide.

Learn more about our work ovatingjustice.org.

The Center for Justice Innovation is seeking a Program Associate for its Community Justice Connect Storefront site in Crown Heights. Community Justice Connect, operated by the Center for Justice Innovation, is a network of storefront centers that train community volunteers to provide free legal information, assistance, and referrals to people with civil legal problems. The program seeks to solve issues in areas like housing, public benefits, employment, family law, and immigration before they become emergencies that must be litigated in court.

Currently, Community Justice Connect operates in Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens.

Reporting to the Site Manager, the Program Associate will help to oversee the volunteer recruitment, site administration, and outreach to community partners to build a strong network for reaching clients and providing services. The Program Associate must also help to create a warm and welcoming environment for volunteers and visitors to the site.

• Help recruit volunteers to participate in the Community Justice Connect program at least every six months, and on an as‑needed basis;
• Organize volunteer schedules and staffing;
• Provide assistance to the Managers as they supervise volunteers, offer information, and assist clients, including some evening and weekend hours;
• Participate in Housing Justice Initiatives and Working Group meetings and activities;
• Conduct outreach on an ongoing basis for new volunteers and clients;
• Attend local community board meetings and events held by local elected officials;
• Screen cases that are referred to attorneys for legal advice;
• Coordinate with Community Justice Connect team on organizing community clinics and workshops, and establishing policy and procedures for legal referrals;
• Support ongoing volunteer training and appreciation events;
• Provide for data collection, recording and reporting;
• Provide support to all Community Justice Connect offices as needed, including filling in and working from other sites as needed;
• Support Community Justice Connect staff and volunteers in other sites as needed;
• Support Community Justice Connect offices, including, but not limited to, maintaining vendor payments, office supplies, extermination services, office cleaning services, etc;
• Support day‑to‑day operations of programs, including scheduling, relationships with community partners, project implementation, and outreach (including attending community board meetings);
• Manage Social Media page for each location;
• Attend community meetings, stakeholder groups, and community events;
• Other relevant duties, as assigned.

• A high school degree or equivalent, or 1‑2 years of related experience working in at‑risk communities or relevant experience required;
• Knowledge of community base work;
• Experience in non‑profit world is a plus;
• Bilingual (English‑Spanish) preferred;
• Excellent written and verbal skills are a must;
• Candidate must be a skilled communicator, highly organized and detail‑oriented, and able to work in a multi‑disciplinary setting and maintain strong relationships with multiple stakeholders and organizations onsite, in the community and nationally;
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a culturally‑responsive manner;
• Strong commitment to social…