Akwe:kon Coordinator

**Position Title**: Akwe:kon Coordinator
**Organization**: Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest (KNCLN)
**Status**: Full-Time (37.5 hours/week)
**Location**:KNCLN office, schools, and community program sites, with community-based travel and occasional home visits
**Compensation**: $56,000/$60,000/year (based on experience)

**About Us**

The Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest is a Friendship Centre dedicated to supporting Indigenous families and communities through culturally safe programming, language revitalization, and wraparound services rooted in self-determination and community care.

We are currently hiring a Drop-In Support Worker to help ensure the successful delivery of our community-based programs. This role is essential in creating welcoming, organized, and culturally grounded environments for our community.

**About the Role**

The Akwe:kon Coordinator is responsible for the coordination, delivery, and administration of the Akwe:kon Program at KNCLN. This program provides culturally grounded, trauma-informed support, healthy activities, and life skills for Indigenous children ages 7-12 in an urban setting.

The role strengthens children’s wellbeing across the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual domains while fostering resilience, cultural identity, and academic success. The Coordinator works in partnership with families, schools, Elders, and community agencies to deliver wrap-around supports that reduce the risk of child welfare and justice system involvement.

**What You’ll Do**
- Assist with setup, facilitation, and clean-up of daily programs across KNCLN initiatives. 
- Greet and support community members, learners, and participants.
- Assist with supply management, and material preparation for program activities. 
- Maintain safe, organized, clean, and culturally welcoming programming environments. 
- Provide direct support to specific programs areas as assigned.
- Provide hospitality (e.g., offering refreshments, supporting Elders and families) and assist with distribution of materials and information. 
- Support participant registration, attendance tracking, and general engagement. 
- Assist with maintaining inventories and managing program supplies. 
- Carry out light administrative tasks (e.g., photocopying, data entry, reminders).
- Provide transportation support for program materials and supplies when required. 
- Uphold all safety, confidentiality, and institutional protocols.
- Assist with the oversight of the day-to-day tidiness, organization and functionality of the Sharing Centre to support program delivery and community access.
- Carry out additional duties as assigned by the Program Manager or designate.
- Promote cultural safety and respectful conduct at all times. 

**Skills & Strengths**
- Strong knowledge of Indigenous cultures, teachings, and protocols
- Skilled in trauma-informed, strengths-based child and family support
- Excellent facilitation, communication, and advocacy abilities
- Organized, adaptable, and dependable in dynamic community settings
- Ability to manage crisis situations calmly and maintain healthy professional boundaries

**What You Bring**
- Post-secondary education in Child and Youth Work, Social Work, Indigenous Studies, or equivalent lived/community-based experience
- Minimum 3 years of experience working with children or youth in a community setting
- Knowledge of welfare and school systems, including the Child, Youth and Family Services Act
- Demonstrated understanding of intergenerational trauma and urban Indigenous issues
- Satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Check
- Valid First Aid/CPR (preferred)
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and case management tools
- Access to reliable transportation

**Work Expectations**

**Hours**: Full-time hours (37.5). Occasional evening and weekend work required.  

**Environment**: KNCLN office, schools, and community sites, with occasional home visits

**Physical**: Light to moderate lifting, event setup, and active engagement in children’s programming

**Emotional**: Work with children who may be experiencing trauma, systemic involvement, or poverty; requires emotional resilience

**Health & Safety**: Must follow KNCLN safety protocols and comply with OHSA, WHMIS, Violence & Harassment, PHIPA, AODA

**How to Apply**

**Please submit your**:

- Resume
- Cover letter that tells us why this work matters to you
- Names and contact details for two references, including one recent Employer reference

**Job Type**: Part-time

Pay: $52,000.00-$60,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person