African-American Family Engagement Specialist

Community of Peace Academy is an urban public charter school located on the East Side of Saint Paul, Minnesota serving approximately 850 students in grades PreK to 12. We are seeking an African-American Family Engagement Specialist for the 2024-2025, which will be our 30th anniversary school year. Community of Peace Academy fosters academic excellence and character development through the education of the whole person – mind, body and will. Driven by peace, relationships and academic excellence, CPA strives to create an educated, empowered and ethical community, at school and within the broader society.  
 
The African-American Family Engagement Specialist will engage parents, mentors and family members as strategic partners in support of students’ academic, social and emotional growth and development, and of CPA’s organizational success. In carrying out the position, the African-American Family Engagement Specialist will provide quality service, information and assistance to African-American families and students. The African-American Family Engagement Specialist will support the CPA staff in the growth and development of their cultural competency, with a specific focus on fostering understanding of the culturally specific strengths, values and unique needs of Latino families, in order to promote a strong home/school partnership.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Community/Cultural Liaisons serve as a bridge; student-to-student; student-to-school; student-to-school-to-family and family-to-community.  The focus is on engaging, supporting and empowering students of color, in order to increase and improve communication and cultural understanding, resolve concerns student-student, student to school, and school to family, and increase protective factors for students.  Build long-term, meaningful relationships with diverse families resulting in more parent involvement and student success.  

Qualifications:

1. Minimum of two year College Degree or Equivalent Education 

2. Experience and proven ability to work in collaboration with schools and community resources.

3. Proven ability to work respectfully and responsively with diverse populations of children and youth 

4. Strength-based, Child/Youth-Family centered and child/youth development philosophy

5. Awareness of behaviors of concern that warrant referral to school-based Student Assistance Teams.

Desired Qualifications:

1. Four-year College degree preferred

2. Strong child/youth advocacy and mediation skills

3. Understanding of school policy and best practices in Youth Development, Cultural Competency

4. Excellent interpersonal skills, including strong verbal and written communication skills

5. Experience facilitating and leading groups of educators, children and youth

6. Strong problem solving skills with the ability to successfully manage multiple assignments independently and with high and consistent follow through

7. Proven ability to work in a diverse team environment

8. Knowledge of Suburban Ramsey community resources

9. Ability to work independently and in a self-directed manner.

Job Responsibilities/Principal Duties:

1. Enhance meaningful and authentic youth engagement, involvement and leadership in both school and community. 

2. Utilize culturally competent/relevant and respectful approaches at all levels of service and in all interventions.  

3. Bridge communication and cultural understanding, resolve concerns student-student, student to school, and school to family.

4. Mentor and build positive relationships with African American students and families

5. Promote better communication between schools and families of color

6. Act as a resource to school and community agency staff regarding working with African American students and families.

7. Work to create culturally specific clubs, character building activities, community building activities, service learning projects and cross cultural events. 

8. Other duties as assigned.

   Salary/benefits – > or = $30,000