Character & World-Building Specialist (Volunteer)

Character & World-Building Specialist (Volunteer)

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Division: Storytelling & Media / PromisePress

Location: Remote via Google Meet and/or New York City (as needed)

Type: Volunteer (Unpaid)

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit dedicated to supporting children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability. Through mentorship, literacy development, social-emotional learning, creative expression, and storytelling, MAP creates safe, consistent, and empowering spaces where young people are seen, respected, and valued.

MAP’s publishing and storytelling work under PromisePress centers stories rooted in empathy, resilience, identity, and imagination—designed to grow across mediums while remaining grounded in lived experience.

Purpose of the Role

The Character & World-Building Specialist focuses on depth, continuity, and long-term expansion potential across MAP’s storytelling ecosystem. This role ensures that characters and story worlds are richly developed, emotionally authentic, and capable of translating across formats including books, animation, games, toys, and educational media.

This specialist helps build narrative foundations that feel real, consistent, and meaningful—especially in reflecting the lived experiences, emotions, and realities of MAP youth.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop detailed character bibles, including traits, backstories, motivations, emotional arcs, and growth trajectories
• Design cohesive story worlds with clear rules, settings, histories, and thematic foundations
• Ensure character continuity and consistency across stories, formats, and adaptations
• Ground characters in authentic, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive lived experiences
• Collaborate with writers, editors, illustrators, animators, and game designers
• Support translation of story worlds into animation, games, toys, and other creative formats
• Identify opportunities for narrative expansion while preserving emotional integrity
• Participate in creative reviews, world-building sessions, and team check-ins as needed
• Maintain clear documentation and reference materials for creative teams
• Check and respond to emails daily, with responses within 48 hours
• Take responsibility for continuous improvement by refining frameworks and incorporating feedback

Qualifications

• Experience in character development, world-building, storytelling, writing, or narrative design
• Strong understanding of emotional arcs, identity development, and continuity
• Ability to translate narrative concepts across multiple creative mediums
• Sensitivity to trauma-informed and culturally responsive storytelling
• Strong collaboration, documentation, and communication skills
• Commitment to ethical, inclusive, and mission-driven creative work

Bonus (Not Required)

• Experience in animation, games, toys, or transmedia storytelling
• Familiarity with children’s or youth-focused content
• Background in SEL, education, or youth development
• Bilingual or multilingual abilities (Spanish or Haitian Creole preferred)

Commitment

• Volunteer role, approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred
• Remote collaboration via Google Meet, with optional NYC-based participation
• MAP prioritizes consistency, care, and respect for creative labor

What You’ll Gain

• Hands-on experience building characters and worlds with real social impact
• Portfolio-ready narrative design and world-building materials
• Collaboration with multidisciplinary creative and education teams
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• The opportunity to shape stories that reflect dignity, imagination, and possibility

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist.

Build worlds that last. Create characters that feel real, grow with intention, and carry stories far beyond the page.