South Bronx Rising Together (SBRT) is a collective impact partnership of cross-sector community stakeholders focused on changing the odds for each and every child and young person in the heart of the South Bronx, the poorest congressional district in the nation. By building pathways to success from cradle through college and careers, we are working to realize the community’s shared vision of a South Bronx that is once again a vibrant community of infinite opportunity where people aspire to live, work, and raise families.

Children’s Aid provides capacity to this effort by serving as the “backbone” to convene partners and build necessary infrastructure around communications, engagement, measurement, and sustainability. SBRT is guided by a Leadership Council that comprises executives from education, government, health care, nonprofit, and philanthropy that meets bimonthly to provide strategic direction and support.

Overview

In November 2021, NYC will see major changes across the elected positions of government. Two thirds of citywide elected officials—the mayor and the comptroller—will be term-limited out of office, as will four of the five borough presidents, and most of the 51-seat City Council will also be on the ballot. This includes the City Council members for all districts in the Bronx (11-18), and the Bronx Borough President. Bronx residents have the opportunity to help shape the future of city politics and policies by electing officials that truly represent their needs and interests.

There will also be a significant shift in how New Yorkers vote. In 2019, NYC adopted

ranked-choice voting for all city-level political primaries, beginning in 2021.8 There will need to be a broad community education campaign to ensure that voters understand ranked-choice voting and the importance of their participation in primary and general elections.

Through a civic education and engagement program, South Bronx Rising Together (SBRT) will build on the power of youth advocacy that has grown over the last year to equip young Bronxites with political knowledge and community power in the upcoming 2021 election cycle.

Needs Overview

SBRT seeks an experienced consultant to develop and execute an anti-oppressive civic engagement curriculum for 25 students in 11th and 12th grade. This consultant will lead a series of workshops and trainings for students, liaise with SBRT staff to align curriculum with other civic engagement activities, and develop a set of recommendations for continued youth engagement post-program. Additionally, the consultant will work with SBRT staff to ensure curriculum reflects a healing-centered and trauma-informed approach in its design.

Duration

Eight month engagement, March to November 2021.

Responsibilities

● In collaboration with SBRT and a student leader, develop an anti-oppressive civic engagement curriculum for high school students, which supports the NYC Civics for All curriculum.

● Check-in with SBRT staff weekly throughout the process of curriculum development and workshop facilitation.

● Lead eight student workshops between April and July focused on city level legislative bodies and processes, the history of civic engagement and major city policies (particularly those that affect Bronx residents), the role of community organizing and advocacy in the political process, and equitable practices in policy creation.

● Lead four four-hour civic engagement workshops on community education, leadership development, storytelling, and advocacy in preparation for student Get Out the Vote and community education efforts. These workshops may take place on weekends.

● Liaise with non-profits, students, public schools, elected officials, and other stakeholders as needed.

● Create a final report/evaluation that outlines a transition plan for youth engagement

at the conclusion of the program.

● Design and administer an entrance and exit survey for students to assess civic knowledge and responsibility before and after the program.

Deliverables

● Anti-oppressive civic engagement curriculum

● Final report outlining youth engagement transition plan

● Entrance and exit surveys

Qualifications

Minimum

● Commitment to anti-racist and anti-oppressive framework

● 3-5 years training experience, working with young adults

● Understanding of local political environment and community needs in the Bronx

● Experience working with and creating a range of civics curricula for local and state settings and fostering youth civic engagement

Preferred

● Experience designing curriculum that incorporates art, video making, and other creative tools

● Background in community organizing in the Bronx Competitive compensation, based on experience. Contact: christina@risingtogether.org