Overview:
Restorative Justice Community Action (RJCA) is seeking a Youth Circle Coordinator to support the Youth Restorative Justice Disposition Program and other community-based restorative justice programs in Hennepin and Ramsey County (www.rjca-inc.org). Our programs aim to shift traditional decision-making processes to meaningfully engage participants with dignity, respect and accountability through a Restorative Practices framework. The primary focus is to provide an opportunity for youth, families, and the court to engage in a more proactive way which centers youth, family, and community voice in the decision-making process for repairing harm and building relationships to promote community safety.
The key focus of this position will be the Youth Restorative Justice Disposition Program (YRJDP) which is a Restorative Justice disposition opportunity for youth ages 14-18 who are ordered supervised probation in Hennepin County Juvenile Court. Referred youth, their family, person(s) harmed, and affected community members discuss the impact of referred incidents and engage in a Restorative process using Circles to develop a Restorative Community Commitment Plan that includes reparative agreements and leadership development.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Youth Circle Coordinator is responsible for collaborating with program and community partners to support the coordination, delivery and documentation management of the Youth Restorative Justice Disposition Program (YRJDP). This position will be responsible for programming logistics: maintaining and organizing records, paperwork and reports in a detailed and timely manner; meeting with court, probation officers, youth and families to introduce restorative justice programming; scheduling and facilitating Restorative Practices Circles with participants; and building and maintaining strong relationships with youth, families, courts, community Circle Keepersand community partners. Youth Circles are held virtually and in community depending on the needs of participants and are often scheduled outside of regular business and school hours.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
YJRDP Circle Keeping & Coordination
- Co-facilitate restorative Circles to support participating youth and families
- Maintain positive working relationships with community and systems partners
- Attend court process to explain the YRJDP program to eligible youth and family members
- Assist in matching youth with community Circle Keepers
- Prepare confidential files and provide access to assigned Circle Keepers
- Assist in connecting participating youth, families, Circle Keepers, and Probation Officers
- Assist in documentation and filing of completed case files
- Participate and document YRJDP case review and program planning meetings
- Participate and support program overviews for partners and community as needed
Data Collection
- Actively maintain program database with up-to-date case information
- Provide relevant data to assist with program reports
- Maintain data privacy requirements
Miscellaneous
- Help maintain effective referral systems in partnership with criminal/legal system and other community partners; participate in partner meetings as needed.
- Support additional RJCA Circles and conferences as needed
- Other tasks as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications/Competencies/Experiences:
- Demonstration of Restorative Mindset and practice – understand the principles and purpose of Restorative Justice/Practices
- Understand and possess the ability to work for the mission and purpose of RJCA
- Experience leading Restorative Circles or participating in Restorative Circles
- Experience building trusting relationships with youth and families
- Experience working in cross-cultural and multi-cultural contexts
- Understanding the impacts and disparities of the criminal legal system in our communities
- Ability to work in partnership with criminal legal system and community partners
- Effective written and oral communication skills, including conflict resolution and critical thinking
- Ability to model clear boundaries with all participants
- Strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize, focus on details, implement an effective and timely follow-up process.
- Computer literacy with proficiency in Microsoft Office 365
Preferred Qualifications:
- Relevant degree or equivalent life or work experiences in restorative justice/criminal legal system, sociology, youth development or social work.
- Mentorship and/or training in restorative practices and Circle facilitation
- Ability to work with minimal supervision
- Bi-lingual preferred; Spanish, Somali, Hmong
- Driver’s license, clean driving record, insurance and vehicle for work purposes.
Hours: Full time, 40 hours/week. Office hours and evenings and weekends as necessary.
Salary: $20-$22/hr
To Apply: Email Cynthia Prosek, Executive Director, a cover letter explaining your interest, qualifications, and date you are available to begin, along with a résumé to: cprosek@rjca-inc.org
For More Information: Call Cynthia Prosek, Executive Director at 612-746-0787.
RJCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Deadline: Open until filled; first interviews week of July 21, 2025