OWN IT Circle Facilitator - Langley Restorative Action Program

We are looking to hire a dynamic circle-based program facilitator with exceptional youth facilitation skills and experience. This is a recurring seasonal position corresponding with the school year (September-June), and offering up to 30 hours per week during the school year. This role offers the unique opportunity to be part of a long-term innovative partnership between Community Justice Initiatives and the Langley School District in providing a multi-level restorative justice circle-based school program aimed at changing school culture, building community, and providing a broad base of conflict resolution and socio-emotional skills to youth and staff.

OWN-IT is a celebrated classroom circle-based prevention program, honed and developed by educators and practitioners over 25 years, that is based on the 5 restorative principles which aim to prevent and examine harm through focusing on the building of strong peer connections, strengthening communication, listening and conflict resolution skills, practicing perspective taking, as well as building awareness and advocacy of the feelings, needs, and values of self and other. The OWN-IT program also delves into what harm is, what can be done to address harm in a meaningful way, and how to let go of the shame of making mistakes while embracing what has been learned from them.

It is a progressive program, geared to developmental milestones, that starts with creating connection and trust and builds towards the more complex skills, based on the developmental needs of different age groups. Instead of lecture, the program employs experiential activities, generative circle dialogue, and the examination of cultural concepts together, bringing forth the wisdom and voice of youth and growing together as a community.

The OWN IT Circle Facilitator will work in close collaboration with the Restorative Action Program Coordinator and team, and there may be opportunity for growth in the program over time to include student mediations, trainings and other program work.

In the position of OWN IT Circle Facilitator, your primary areas of responsibility include:

Program Delivery & Facilitation

• Facilitating weekly OWN IT Peace Circle sessions in Elementary and Middle school settings.
• Supporting all participants (teachers, school staff, and youth) with follow-up and resources.
• Co-facilitating as part of a team, in larger circle-based training at Secondary, Middle and Elementary school levels to students, staff, and administrators.
• Making short public and private presentations with the team to promote the program and increase awareness and understanding of Restorative Action.

Program Maintenance & Development

• Assisting with the development of curriculum, written materials and workshops suitable for youth.
• Modelling restorative practices for educators, and supporting Restorative Action capacity building at the school staff level.
• Building and maintaining trusting relationships with key program stakeholders to foster and sustain restorative community initiatives. Foster relationships with diverse communities to ensure the program meets their needs.
• Keep track of participants for later reports, and gather feedback from program participants.

The successful applicant should possess a clear, strong and demonstrated personal commitment to the principles and values of restorative justice, and will bring the following experience, knowledge and abilities to the role:

Education and Experience

• A passion for working with youth. Experience with youth work, youth circle-based programs, youth mental health, youth summer camps, or youth and child care an asset.
• Educational background in Restorative Justice, Psychology, Education, Counselling, Criminology, or a related field is a strong asset, but not required.
• Experience (work or volunteer) in circle-based group work, indigenous community or healing circles, or facilitating small groups around a curriculum or topic is an asset.

Knowledge

• Familiarity with restorative justice principles, values, and practices.
• Knowledge and/or experience with trauma-informed practice, preferably as it relates to youth and particularly those facing multiple barriers.
• Experience and/or knowledge in social justice including lived experience, and working to support individuals with marginalized identities (Black, Indigenous, people of colour, trans, non-binary, two-spirited, persons with disabilities, etc.).
• Familiarity with child/youth development and fundamental aspects of social-emotional learning is considered an asset.

Abilities

• Empathetic listening and communication skills, good intuition and discernment.
• Mature self-awareness and ability to acknowledge one’s own biases, prejudices, privileges and triggers.
• Solid interpersonal ethics and accountability, and an ability to work collaboratively as well as independently.
• On-going commitment to personal self-care, transparency and regular debriefing with team members and Program Coordinator.
• A compassionate approach to working with others, and the ability to respond empathetically in unexpected and/or stressful situations.
• Superb organizational and time-management abilities.
• Ability to pass a criminal record check.

Other Qualifications

• Must have access to personal transportation, as travel is required to Langley schools. Mileage is subsidized.

* CJI is an equitable opportunity employer and is interested in broadening the diversity of our organization and practices. We encourage applications from individuals who face systemic barriers to employment including Black, Indigenous, people of colour, trans, non-binary, two-spirited, persons with disabilities, etc. Further, we do not expect all applicants to embody all of the above qualifications or desired experience. Please consider applying if you think your life experiences, education and knowledge would be an asset to this position, regardless of your background. This work takes us beyond textbook, institutional and colonial ways of knowing and doing, and we are grateful to all that consider applying.

* We accommodate people with disabilities throughout the recruitment and selection process. Please indicate your need for accommodation in your application.

Receiving Applications until Position is Filled (no phone calls please)