*Hiring* Operation Coordinator

Creative Strategies for Change (CSC) is a small nonprofit organization founded in 2013, in Denver, Colorado, with a mission to mobilize arts and education for social justice. Our programs include consulting and professional development, community and youth programs, and interactive performances and workshop

Job Description

The Operations Coordinator will work closely with staff and the executive team to strengthen the organizational processes, practices, and procedures to ensure compliance with legal, procedural, and funding obligations.

This position coordinates with external vendors, constituents, and community partners which invites  excellent organizational capabilities, effective communication, accounting, and project management  experience. The role will ensure the timely completion of various operational duties, such as process  development and implementation support, account management, change management, equipment  maintenance, and special projects as assigned. The Operations Coordinator will report to the Executive  Director.

Qualifications

● Passionate about Creative Strategies for Change’s mission, vision, and core values.

● Experience/ expertise with restorative justice, restorative practices, restorative circles, and systems preferred.  

● Working knowledge of book-keeping accounts payable, accounts receivable, and end-of-month reconciliation is required.  QuickBooks experience is strongly preferred. 

 One to three years of experience in administrative, operational, or nonprofit management is preferred.

● Excellent proactive planning abilities, attention to detail, large-scale problem-solving skills, and  critical thinking skills to develop strategies that help overcome organizational challenges and  enhance the organization’s growth and alignment with our mission, vision, and values.

● Preference will be given to candidates who identify with the global majority

● Demonstrated strong communication, presentation, and facilitation skills  

● Project planning, change management, and evaluation skills

● Demonstrated proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, and video conferencing tools

 ● Able to self-manage, anticipate problems, recommend solutions, and prioritize multiple projects and competing priorities with little or no supervision.

● Flexible, innovative, highly comfortable with ambiguity, and demonstrated ability to work  independently as well as part of a team

● Undergraduate degree and a minimum of one year of relevant experience preferred; not required

● Reliable form of transportation, vehicle, and updated registration and insurance; required

 ● Ability to lift 25-50 lbs to shoulder height;  required 

Compensation

The salary range is $40,000-$52,500 Salary (based on hours worked and experience). CSC currently offers
the following benefits to all employees.

● Health Care Contributions: $400/month (FTE)

● Accrual of PTO – 2 days per month

COLORADO GIVES DAY

CSC programs are needed more than ever during this time of unprecedented uncertainty, and escalated bias and discrimination. The arts, racial equity, and social-emotional learning are imperative for individual and collective health and wellness.

Every DOLLAR makes a difference!

CSC is looking forward to our 2023 programming in January, stay tuned on the lookout for upcoming dates!

Mental Health Monday’s- Join US to learn from each other how to cope with our Mental Health in a way that is positive and restorative!

About this event

For half an hour, people participating will receive culturally responsive facilitation honing the opportunities available for centering self and others. We are creating a culturally responsive, healing centered space where we can identify and practice utilizing healthy coping mechanisms. By utilizing arts and information, we will celebrate protecting our wellness and strategize our mental safety. This program is supported by wellness advocacy from Check Your Head, hosted by Creative Strategies for Change, and facilitated by Bianca Mikahn. A donation of $5-20 is suggested, all are welcome! Your donations of any size keep this programs open and accessible to all! Our Mental Health Mondays also occur Monthly and are donation based.

Creative Strategies for Change Facilitator Workshop: Experience healing and growth through this amazing workshop!

The Creative Strategies for Change Facilitator Workshop is taking place January 14-22, 2022!

Join us for this immersive workshop building relationships and community rooted in racial equity. Engage with incredible tools for understanding and navigating one’s life experience, and build skills to successfully communicate with others around challenging topics. This interactive and impactful experience will grow participants’ knowledge of self, identity, power, oppression, liberation, and the many factors that make up the context in which we live… and why that all matters. Folks walk away with new creative facilitation techniques, a fresh understanding of oneself within the larger world, knowledge of social justice and restorative practices, new language to use around tough topics, and the confidence to make a unique mark on the world! Our Facilitator Workshops occur quarterly and are registration-based.

What participants are saying:

“With this model, I am better able to serve my community and create opportunities and shape policies and procedures in my workplace and organization.”

“I’ve been in a lot of virtual webinars, classes and meetings and I have to say this was the most engaging, thoughtful and creative experience on Zoom yet!”

“All of the creative practices were meaningful and powerful from the beautiful rituals that were employed to the fun and energizing exercises and games we experienced. The sharing in circles were very meaningful and within this particular group I experienced a wonderful healing energy and beautiful expression of blended peoples voices and hearts.” 

“Something that has had a significant impact on me is being in a space with BIPOC folks in leadership positions and also being in a space where I am not the only or one of few BIPOC people. This has not happened many times in my life. Hearing what the BIPOC folks in this space have experienced makes me feel like what I have experienced as a WOC is real, valid, and relevant.”

To register, please go to our Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/169768579391

Questions? Please contact us at csc@creativestrategiesforchange.com

CSC is hiring a Program Manager!

Background: Creative Strategies for Change (CSC) is a small nonprofit organization founded in 2013, in Denver, Colorado, with a mission to mobilize arts and education for social justice. Our programs include: consulting, leadership and professional development, community and youth programs, and interactive performances and workshops. 

Position Description: The Program Manager (PM) is a full time position and part of CSC’s administrative team. The PM is an administrative support role, reporting to the Co-Director of Arts and Education and Executive Director, and working with the facilitators, artists, consultants, interns, and volunteers to maintain and grow excellent programs aligned with the CSC mission, vision, and values. The PM will be responsible for managing the youth and community streams of CSC programs. This position will also support organizational efforts at generating program income, support with grant management, as well as participation in fundraising campaigns and events. 

CSC is a community partner with Denver Public Schools and works with and a wide range of schools and organizations in Denver and beyond. The PM manages coordination and promotion of programs including calendars, organizational systems, communications, electronic, print and live promotion and provides leadership in maintaining, refining, and developing efficient program related organizational systems and procedures, as well as logistical and administrative aspects of our Denver Public Schools community partnership profile and database and all paperwork required by clients. The PM will be the point person for interns, volunteers, and support team to support their scheduling, substitute, contract, and paperwork needs. 

Schedule: 40 hours / week Start Date: Aug 9, 2021 or ASAP: Training Aug 9-20 M-F 9-5 or 10-6, some flexibility. Currently all administrative staff are working in office following strict public health precautions for Covid 19. Staff are encouraged to remain responsive to changes in health metrics. 

Compensation: $40,000-$50,000 Salary (based on hours worked) 

After 60 days of employment (or the equivalent hours) employee will be eligible for health care contributions and paid time off as follows: 

– Health Care Contributions : $400/month (FTE) 

– Accrual of PTO – 2 days per month: current max total of 2 weeks per year 

Employee will maintain schedule and discuss any schedule changes with the administrative team with as much advance notice as possible. This position also requires occasional work on evenings and weekends. In that case, employees are encouraged to adjust weekly schedules to balance hours. The priority is for the PM schedule to align with the primary program schedules so they can be available and responsive to folks delivering programs. 

Skills and Qualifications | Program Manager 

● Strong commitment to the CSC mission, vision, values, and racial equity imperative*. 

● Alignment with organizational operational scope (goals, mission and vision of CSC), clear understanding of the CSC 3 Model (integrating Social Justice Frameworks, Arts Engagement, and Restorative Practices) and ability to implement it in all programs and operations. 

● Minimum 2+ years experience in an administrative role. Program management, arts and nonprofit administrative experience strongly preferred. 

● Expertise with organizational systems and database management, including Microsoft Office & Excel, Google Drive & Calendar, WordPress, Surveymonkey, Mailchimp, Social Media platforms, and now… zoom. 

● Experience with graphic design, social media, and event planning. 

● Strong leadership skills and flexibility to adjust quickly and creatively navigate multiple projects and the administrative challenges of a grassroots nonprofit organization operating in a variety of sectors. 

● Excellent, culturally responsive interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

● Proactive, self-motivated and able to work independently and interdependently.

● Capacity to provide administrative leadership. 

● Work well / compatible with the diverse CSC administration, board, facilitators, artists, consultants, interns, volunteers, team, and community. 

● Critical, strategic thinking and the capacity to manage a variety of projects, priorities, and deadlines.

● Experience with managing budgets and financial components of program operations preferred. 

● Commitment to the CSC Organizational Agreements and Restorative System in principle and practice, willing to have hard conversations, give and receive critical feedback. 

● Experience as a facilitator, educator, artist, and consultant. 

Duties and Responsibilities (Deliverables): Program Manager 

● Provide leadership in the management of all CSC programs and events, and other responsibilities as needed. 

● Currently many CSC programs are being delivered virtually through the zoom platform. The program manager will provide tech support for these programs, as well as working with interns, apprentices, and volunteers in this capacity. 

● Build capacity for greater functionality, sustainability, and scalability of CSC programs. 

● Coordinate, observe, mentor, and evaluate volunteers, and interns. This may include: communications, schedules, observation & visitation, resource kits, paperwork, and other components as needed. 

● Manage organizational communications: including social media, website updates and maintenance, print and web based marketing and promotion, artists, facilitators, consultants, volunteers, admin team, board members, and others as needed. 

● Manage and maintain Denver Public Schools community partnership and contracts, maintaining an active and up to date Civic Canopy and Bidnet profile, and other systems as required. 

● Work with the admin team and board on annual organizational budget and strategic planning.

● Program client development, communications, coordination, engagement, and maintenance. 

● Work with Co-Director of Arts and Education to grow CSC youth programs toward greatest responsiveness, constituent leadership, impact and fiscal stability. 

● Support Development Director with grant writing and management to maintain sufficient funding for all programs. 

● Work with YPD to develop fully funded summer programs with a short term goal of 10 hrs / week over 2 weeks, long term goal of 20-40 hours of programming / week over 2-6 weeks. Fee based, corporate sponsors, and/or grant funded. 

● Consistent and reliable use of CSC systems including work plans, task lists, filing systems (electronic and paper), and calendars. 

● Develop, refine, update, improve, and maintain functional and efficient organizational systems, policies, and procedures including calendars, filing, operations manual, regulations and requirements, documentation, assessment, work plans, handbooks, database, etc. 

● Update work plan daily, in real time with long and short term goals, specific hours and tasks. 

● Regularly reference and update CSC Operations Manual to maintain the most relevant and effective document for step by step functionality and ongoing institutional knowledge. 

● Attend monthly CSC board meetings and support relevant committees. 

● Provide ample notification and coverage for responsibilities during time off. 

● Scan emails and publications in the field for current developments, client and community development, grant and funding opportunities, significant events, and conferences. 

● Represent CSC at community meetings, gatherings, conferences, and events. 

● Support new program opportunities, seek opportunities for greater coordination across program streams (youth & adult, school & community, etc.) 

● Support / participation with fundraising events, donor development. 

● Participate in weekly admin team meetings and update work plans for the following week. 

● Participate in leadership, professional development, consulting, assemblies, etc. as schedule and capacity allows. 

● Knowledge of the principles and methods used in community organizing, social justice and diversity education, arts and arts education, youth leadership development, restorative justice, and nonprofit administration. 

● Additional duties and responsibilities as needed. 

CSC strongly encourages applications from diverse, creative, leaders of color for all listed positions. Creative Strategies for Change is committed to a policy of equitable representation across the organization and will not discriminate on the basis of race, ability status, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnicity, religion, age, socioeconomic status, or other social identities. Please send your resume and cover letter to csc@creativestrategiesforchange.com. 

Love for the Long Haul

A Racial Justice and Mental Health Campaign

At Creative Strategies for Change we know that love is at the core of the ongoing struggle for justice. We honor the legacies, the land, the elders, the ancestors that have led us to this moment. We know the path is long and requires consistent tending. We center individual and collective wellness in our work for social justice and racial equity. This is embedded in our restorative practices and rooted in the arts, which continue to hold our hardships and our celebrations, even through the dual pandemics. 

Our summer fundraising campaign is an invitation to be in community, just as we are. Bring your time, talent, and /or treasures and contribute some love for the long haul. Funds raised directly support community and youth programs centering wellness and integrating: social justice, arts engagement, and restorative practices. 

Our campaign culminates at the July Community Cypher Open Mic, July 15 6:30-9 PM (MST), always full of love! All ages/all identities welcome! Hosted by our own Bianca Mikahn; featuring recording and spoken word artist Xavier Hadley. In addition to the performances, there will be fun silent auction items, fantastic vendors, yummy food and drinks, and more!

Support Creative Strategies for Change with:

A silent AUCTION ITEM or SERVICE

A VENDOR TABLE at the event to sell your art, items or services.

A monthly or one-time DONATION in any amount.

ATTEND. Share your ART and bring a FRIEND to our Community Cypher on July 15, 6:30 – 9 PM (MST)

ACT Youth Music Institute: March 8th-March 19th

Youth ages 13-18 are invited to join a two week long institute focused on arts & social justice. We will meet online from 4:00pm-6:00pm MST Monday-Friday from March 8th-March 19th. Here, youth get to connect, explore where we fit into current events and create music based upon our experiences and hopes for the future.

Youth who complete the institute will be paid a stipend and invited to perform or present at Community Cypher, our monthly open mic. Join us for this amazing opportunity to engage community!

For more information contact our Program Team at csc@creativestrategiesforchange.com!

Saturday Writer’s Collective

Check out our newest program, designed and facilitated by our own Justy Robinson (Facilitating Artist and Board Member!)

Be in community with a range of different writers who all gather for the same goal: to enrich the community with the craft of writing and giving space for community to be heard. Join this group virtually for two hours each Saturday morning from the comfort of your own zoom! During this program, each participant spends the first portion of the session exploring a new medium of writing and experimenting in that writing style. The second portion allows for the sharing of works and for feedback.

This program is completely free, however donations are always welcomed and accepted.

To register, please check out our Eventbrite Page or check it out below.

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/creative-strategies-for-change-10780897692

Have Questions? Email us at csc@creativestrategiesforchange.com

CSC Call For Artists

CSC Facilitating Artist Positions

Part Time | Independent Contractor | 1-5 hours / week

**Required orientation and training Via ZOOM**

Compensation: $30-$60 /hr starting (based on training & experience)

CSC is hiring facilitating artists in all genres; dance, music, elements of hip-hop, spoken word, social imagination, digital storytelling, visual arts, etc. to provide enrichment programs for K-12 students. Seeking candidates who are committed to providing artistic and educational excellence in alignment with the CSC mission, vision, and values.

At CSC, we teach practical frameworks of Social Justice through Arts Engagement and Restorative practices. As a facilitating artist, you will be given the tools to teach an understanding of systems of oppression, social identities, community engagement and more to all school levels. As a facilitating artist, you will have a tremendously positive effect on your community through relationships with youth.  

Responsibilities: 

Facilitating Artists are responsible for independently planning and teaching weekly classes utilizing the CSC Curriculum and Model – integrating social justice frameworks and restorative practices, with arts education. Classes follow a specific structure and allow room for creative liberty, while working with students to develop a culminating presentation or performance. Facilitating Artists are responsible for administering post student assessments, as well as completing weekly planning documents. 

Skills and Qualifications:

  • Commitment to the CSC mission, vision, and values.
  • Commitment to the CSC Organizational Agreements and Restorative System in principle and practice.
  • 2 years experience as a teaching artist in the specified art form, with clear understanding of youth arts education, development, and engagement.
  • Proactive, self-motivated, positive attitude, able to work independently and interdependently with the diverse CSC Team, students, and community.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • A passion to learn social, racial, and restorative justice.
  • Critical, strategic thinking and the capacity to manage multiple priorities.
  • Flexibility to adjust and creatively navigate unforeseen challenges.
  • Working knowledge of Google Drive and Surveymonkey preferred.
  • CSC team members are required to participate in the facilitator training once each year. 

To apply for a Facilitating Artist position, please send a cover letter stating your interest in working with CSC and specifying your art forms, along with a resume, references, and 2 examples of your work to csc@creativestrategiesforchange.com. 

CSC strongly encourages applications from diverse, creative, leaders of color for all listed positions. Creative Strategies for Change is committed to a policy of equitable representation across the organization and will not discriminate on the basis of race, ability status, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnicity, religion, age, socioeconomic status, or other social identities.