Restorative Justice Specialist for Transforming Justice Hub

At CORA Good Shepherd Mediation, we aim to encourage peace, reconciliation, and social justice by equipping communities with the tools to transform cycles of conflict and harm. Our Restorative Justice department offers a range of programs designed to respond to systemic and interpersonal violence, including circle process, victim-offender conferencing, youth diversion models, peer mediation trainings, and other forms of restorative justice education.

The Restorative Justice department of CORA Services is launching the Transforming Justice Hub: a two-tiered program that seeks to empower Philadelphian youth, who are both impacted by and at risk of involvement with neighborhood gun violence, to interrupt cycles of conflict, and the systems of oppression that cause them, through community organizing and community dialogue.

In service of this mission, the hub will host a recurring six-month Popular Education course that trains youth, in neighborhoods most familiar with the conditions of gun violence, to become certified circle keepers, peer mediators, and community organizers. The course consists of 40 hours of facilitation training, 10 hours of political education, and 6 hours of hands-on practice leading restorative justice models. The second component of this program is providing restorative justice services, from de-escalation to healing circles, to our overall community by partnering with the youth apprentices to facilitate these practices in their respective neighborhoods.

The Hub was designed with the understanding that gun violence, and other forms of interpersonal violence, is a symptom of the material conditions that marginalized communities are subjected to, and that "those closest to the 'problem' are closest to the solution". We seek staff who share this analysis and can engage those at the epicenter of our gun violence epidemic to be leaders and experts in this movement.

HOURLY RATE

Starting at $23.60 an hour. Increases based on experience and credentials

DUTIES:

• Assist the Program Manager in developing and facilitating course curriculum on circle keeping, mediation, and community organizing
• Coordinate and facilitate restorative justice processes in accordance with the needs of each case and client(s)
• Support student practitioners in facilitating restorative circles for gun violence cases
• Assist with set up and break down of course site and materials (e.g. preparing conference room, arranging office supplies and tech equipment, procuring food and drink, closing up office space when workshop is concluded)
• Assist Community Coordinator with facilitating outreach presentations and orientations at community partner meetings, coalition meetings, and other events for community engagement
• Perform other duties as assigned, including supporting other GSM programs when needed.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• A combination of education, training, and experience relevant to restorative justice and community organizing.

EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

• 2 years of trained experience facilitating restorative justice
• 2 years of experience facilitating workshops, presentations, or other educational
• Experience working with children and
• Experience with office administration systems and
• Excellent organizational and time management
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication
• Demonstrated understanding and commitment to racial justice and prison abolition, economic justice, disability justice, and gender liberation, with the ability to develop supportive and trusting relationships with people directly impacted by these issues.
• Demonstrated understanding of the systemic causes of gun violence within marginalized communities.
• Candidates with lived experience and direct knowledge of the issues this program seeks to address are preferred.
• Ability to work proficiently in Microsoft Word & Excel; Ability to learn and use new technology tools.
• Bilingual
• Enthusiasm for the mission of CORA GSM and loyalty to the goals and objectives of CORA GSM.

CORA Services Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. People of color, longtime Philadelphians, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people with historically marginalized identities are strongly encouraged to apply.