Cultural Recreation Coordinator

**Title**: Cultural Recreation Coordinator

**Department**: Culture**Reporting to**: director of Operations

**Hours**: Full-time, 37.5 hours weekly, one year term with possibility of extension

**Schedule**:Standard hours Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, some evenings and weekends will be required

**Hourly wage**: $23.00 per hour, dependent on qualifications and experienceAbout RaY

**Mission**:To provide youth with what they need, on their terms, to better their lives.

**Vision**:RaY’s vision is that all youth have the opportunity to live a healthy and secure life; that they are given the chance to develop a belief in themselves through tools, information and programs that build personal capacity in order to be self-sufficient and no longer need RaY’s services**.**

About the Role

The Cultural Recreation Coordinator’s goal is to enhance the cultural response to youth homelessness at RaY through a program that provides youth with a safe space to explore their cultural identity and connect to Winnipeg’s vibrant Indigenous community. You will support with the delivery of programs and will support the needs of the individual youth who are accessing those programs through a cultural lens. RaY is a fast-paced environment which depends on reliable, open-minded, flexible and team-oriented individuals _to provide youth with what they need, on their terms, to better their lives_

**Goals**

1. Consistent drop in supports, regular office hours to connect with youth

2. Create a monthly calendar of cultural activities

3. Regular 604 drop in supports for housing

4. Connecting with youth during Mental Health Intakes

5. Providing weekly workshops through an indigenous lens to the Level Up Classrooms

Education and Experience:

- Post-secondary education or equivalent experience in community / social services
- Preferred certification: Level C-CPR, NVCI, ASIST, Stages of Change/Motivational Interviewing
- Minimum of 2 years of experience working in a similar role
- Valid driver’s license
- Criminal Record Check, Child Abuse Check and Driver’s Abstract
- Proficiency in MS Office and general comfort with technology

SKILLS AND ABILITIES Required Assets:

- Experience working with vulnerable youth or other at-risk populations
- Experience in creating programming needs for youth
- Superior cultural competency skills, knowledge, experience and awareness
- Strong working knowledge of harm reduction principles
- Strong communication and documentation skills
- Strong working knowledge of Manitoba’s Indigenous programs, resources and agencies
- Capacity to build and maintain strong relationship with partner agencies
- Strong advocacy skills
- Creative problem solving
- Ability to function independently while also working as part of a frontline team
- Ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities of the Cultural Recreation Coordinator include but are not limited to the following:
Programing and Case Management
- Facilitate workshops and/or activities weekly
- Sewing cultural apparel for ceremonies and the teachings associated with that
- Drum making, beading, ribbon skirts
- Story telling
- Exploring culture training for both staff and youth
- Visiting historical sites and spaces
- Conduct ceremony that youth feel welcome and a part of
- Support cultural based and land based activities and education on a weekly/monthly/seasonal basis
- Attend and support field trips and community activities with an emphasis on culture (i.e. Sweats, Powwows etc.)
- Encourage and support the development of cultural peer-led workshops
- Refer youth participants to Indigenous programming outside RaY
- Assist all programs at RaY with integrating Indigenous teachings and perspectives
- Network with community services that support youth of Indigenous ancestry
- Act as an advocate for Indigenous youth
- Other programming ideas include:

- Organize outings to pick medicines or connect with other agencies/elders that may have medicines for us
- Plan regular movie days to watch indigenous themed films and have a discussion after
- Organize field trips to indigenous installations in or around Winnipeg (local artists, WAG)
- Conduct simple cooking lessons (Bannock/jam, stew)
- Attend home visits, smudge participant units if requested
- Add youth to your RaY Facebook page and connect one on one with them
- Offer smudging during the day or after drop in
- Reach out to other agencies or organizations to attend their events with youth

Program Support
- Create a cooperative and respectful environment that facilitates the success of the Cultural Programming
- Attend regular team meetings (formal and informal)
- Assist with the collection of statistical information, and develop monthly reports
- Ensure program protocols and procedures are followed for the safety of staff and participants
- Advocate on behalf of youth and young adults on a case by case basis with Employment and Inco