Executive Director

Overview:

The youth leaders, staff and board of directors of Youth United For Change are conducting a search for a new Executive Director. We seek a passionate social justice leader invested in building power and developing the leadership of youth of color in Philadelphia. This candidate will help carry forward and build upon an organization with a solid membership of youth, alumni leaders and local community members, a strong history of organizing wins, and a committed, engaged board.   

About YUC:

Youth United for Change (YUC) is a democratic organization primarily made up of working class youth of color, which builds the “people power" necessary to hold school officials and government accountable to guarantee the educational rights of Philadelphia public school students. Additionally, YUC engages with community members in West Kensington and surrounding areas to build up the analysis, skills and power necessary for strategic wins in their communities. Our approach to youth-led advocacy amplifies the voice and impact of young people and the communities that support them towards creating systemic change, and furthers the conditions for youth to simultaneously develop as critically strategic leaders. Our organizing work centers Black Liberation, experiences of women of color and human development.

A personal message to Executive Director candidates from Aniya Timberlake and Uchechi Ezengwa, Alumni Youth Leaders on the Leadership Transition Committee: 

From our first meeting at Youth United for Change, we knew that it was a special place. YUC has always been that safe space for us and it gave us a chance to be a part of a community where we not only build our leadership along the way, but also get the chance to create actual social change in our world. Despite how hard the work may seem in the beginning, every single action taken or speech given never fails to highlight the leadership qualities we all have inside of us. We love how with every YUC meeting or event we attend, there is always something to learn. To us, what’s even more rewarding, beyond building these leadership skills, is being able to use what we learned to give back to the organization that helped us so much. When we were first in YUC, it was hard to see that leadership potential in ourselves and we would have never thought we would be in the leadership positions we have right now. However, being in a proactive space where we work with people whose goal is to prioritize and help establish our leadership allows us to continue building this muscle. This is especially why building leadership is so meaningful to us; we get the chance to be in a position where we can motivate and awaken that leadership potential in younger members who don’t initially see it in themselves, like us. 

Being part of this process to find a new Executive Director means a lot to us. YUC holds a special place in our hearts and having this transition to a new Executive Director is something we know is essential to upholding the holistic space we have right now. While we were high school students in YUC, we had a great experience which was aided by many people we met along our 3-year journey. This includes our outgoing Executive Director who has done a wonderful job of overseeing this organization, connecting with the students and building a safe yet educational environment for us. We want YUC to be that way for the future students who join. That’s why it is so important that we are on this committee to help find that special person who will work to keep YUC the exceptional place that we know it is. With the incoming Executive Director, we are excited to add another person to the family and create a new era for the students and staff of Youth United For Change.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Growing and communicating the strategic vision of YUC in collaboration with youth leaders, board and staff; 
• Providing vision and leadership for YUC’s local and national campaigns; 
• Serving as a public face for YUC, including developing and maintaining relationships with school personnel, government officials, organizational leaders, and Kensington community youth and families;  
• Managing and developing the leadership of the YUC staff team; 
• Ensuring the financial health of the organization; 
• Leading all fundraising activities and events with institutional, individual, and grassroots funders, including managing grant proposals and reports, and donor solicitation; 
• Developing, maintaining, supporting, and engaging a strong board; Acting as ex-officio board member, Supporting board committees, ensuring clear goals and expectations; Providing opportunities for staff, youth and alumni members to interact with the Board members;
• Overseeing the daily operations of the organization; and
• Maintaining a deep understanding of the ever-evolving political climate at local, state, and national levels.

Desired Qualifications and Experience (we recognize candidates will possess some mix of what is listed below): 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; 
• Experience with community organizing and/or youth organizing within Black and Latinx working class communities;  
• Experience with nonprofit management, including fundraising, fiscal management, supervision, and board development;
• Commitment to YUC’s mission, values, and approach; 
• A demonstrated commitment to racial, gender, and economic justice, and dismantling systems of oppression; ability to bring an anti-oppression lens to all of YUC’s work;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; 
• Passionate about working with community residents and an interest in engaging youth and families in the Kensington area;
• Comfort with holding power and authority as a leader, and ability to support and grow collective leadership throughout the organization; 
• Ability to lead in a grassroots, team-oriented, diverse environment; 
• Knowledge of youth development strategies;
• Understanding of political climate and issues at neighborhood, city state, and national levels; 
• Commitment to ongoing learning and political development of self, YUC staff, and chapter youth.
• An enthusiasm for building relationships (i.e. engaging in many meetings, coffees, breakfasts, etc.) across community groups and organizations to advance YUCs mission
• Emotional intelligence and a spirit of self-reflectiveness; 
• Ability to work under pressure and independently; 
• An ability to balance earnestness and levity through the highs and lows of the organization’s life cycle