THE ORGANIZATION
Critical Exposure, a nonprofit founded in 2004, is looking for two full-time Program Staff members to join our dynamic team in Washington, D.C. Critical Exposure teaches youth to use the power of documentary photography and their own voices to become effective advocates for school reform and social change. We work to fulfill our mission through a unique three-pronged approach that blends art and advocacy:
Both Program Staff members will focus primarily on implementing and developing our classes, campaigns, and workshops with D.C. high school-aged youth. Our programs take place at multiple sites: D.C. public high schools, community-based organizations, and our offices. Program Staff will be expected to have experience teaching classes or workshops, facilitating meetings, and/or organizing campaigns alongside youth. Experience facilitating similar projects with low-income youth, youth of color, and/or youth in Washington, D.C. is a major plus.
Our Program Staff will workto develop young people's capacities to advocate for themselves. We believe that for true, long-term, structural change to occur, that those impacted most directly by an issue must be the ones who lead the fight for solutions. This is an essential component to our organization's vision and mission and sharing this philosophy is essential.
POSITION #1 EDUCATOR:
One position will focus on implementing our school-based programs. This means teaching photography and advocacy skills in high school classrooms, generally with a consistent group of youth 2-3 times per week over the course of a semester or year. In addition to teaching basic photography concepts and facilitating political education workshops, this staff member would be expected to help each group of students:
The second position will require expertise in the same capacities but will focus on running our out-of-school programs, including our Fellowship Program. Since our out-of-school programs are not bound by the school year, our students are able to generate longer, city-wide campaigns. Students in our Fellowship Program are currently engaged in a campaign to end the School-to-Prison Pipeline by advocating for Restorative Justice programs in D.C. public schools. While Critical Exposure does not have an official issue-based platform as an organization, the Fellowship students have decided to continue working on this campaign in the 2013-2014 school year. We anticipate that supporting the students' campaign will be a major part of this staff member's role. Support will largely consist of helping students:
QUALIFICATIONS
Both Program Staff members will have the opportunity to take on significant responsibility and will be an integral part of helping to support and strengthen the organization's growth and operations. We are looking for individuals with the following skills/experiences:
We are looking for candidates with the following characteristics:
If you have any questions, please contact us at hiring@criticalexposure.org or 202-745-3745 x20.
To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to hiring@criticalexposure.org.
Hiring immediately.
Critical Exposure, a nonprofit founded in 2004, is looking for two full-time Program Staff members to join our dynamic team in Washington, D.C. Critical Exposure teaches youth to use the power of documentary photography and their own voices to become effective advocates for school reform and social change. We work to fulfill our mission through a unique three-pronged approach that blends art and advocacy:
- Youth Empowerment – Provide students with training in documentary photography, leadership, community organizing, and self-advocacy; support students as they develop their own perspective as photography-based storytellers; and develop students' capacities to lead their own campaigns, using photography as a key tool.
- Public Engagement – Inform and engage the public by using students' photographs and writing to create traveling exhibits that can be shown in galleries, libraries, coffee shops, and other public spaces to increase awareness of the issues facing young people and to build support for youth-led changes.
- Real Change – Partner with advocacy and community organizations to implement creative strategies that use students' photography and voices to support school reform and social change locally and nationally.
Both Program Staff members will focus primarily on implementing and developing our classes, campaigns, and workshops with D.C. high school-aged youth. Our programs take place at multiple sites: D.C. public high schools, community-based organizations, and our offices. Program Staff will be expected to have experience teaching classes or workshops, facilitating meetings, and/or organizing campaigns alongside youth. Experience facilitating similar projects with low-income youth, youth of color, and/or youth in Washington, D.C. is a major plus.
Our Program Staff will workto develop young people's capacities to advocate for themselves. We believe that for true, long-term, structural change to occur, that those impacted most directly by an issue must be the ones who lead the fight for solutions. This is an essential component to our organization's vision and mission and sharing this philosophy is essential.
POSITION #1 EDUCATOR:
One position will focus on implementing our school-based programs. This means teaching photography and advocacy skills in high school classrooms, generally with a consistent group of youth 2-3 times per week over the course of a semester or year. In addition to teaching basic photography concepts and facilitating political education workshops, this staff member would be expected to help each group of students:
- Narrow their advocacy around one local, specific issue impacting their school or community.
- Conduct a power analysis to identify specific decision-makers or targets who can make structural change around this issue.
- Establish concrete demands that will help realize the change they want to see.
- Strategize about how to use photography as a tool to document the issue and realize the goals.
- Connect to resources (allies, experts, other campaigns) that will strengthen their advocacy efforts.
- Schedule, prepare for, and run meetings with relevant decision-makers (principals, superintendents, etc.) in which students advocate for the changes they seek.
- Follow up to ensure that their advocacy results in real change that positively impacts their school or community.
The second position will require expertise in the same capacities but will focus on running our out-of-school programs, including our Fellowship Program. Since our out-of-school programs are not bound by the school year, our students are able to generate longer, city-wide campaigns. Students in our Fellowship Program are currently engaged in a campaign to end the School-to-Prison Pipeline by advocating for Restorative Justice programs in D.C. public schools. While Critical Exposure does not have an official issue-based platform as an organization, the Fellowship students have decided to continue working on this campaign in the 2013-2014 school year. We anticipate that supporting the students' campaign will be a major part of this staff member's role. Support will largely consist of helping students:
- Prepare and facilitate their own meetings.
- Develop campaign strategy and conduct power analyses.
- Connect to local and national partners working on the School-to-Prison Pipeline or other issues as selected by participating youth.
- Prepare for and speak at hearings, rallies, and other public events, as well as meeting with public officials.
- Use photography and multimedia in a creative way to build support for Restorative Justice, the end to suspensions and expulsions, the criminalization of youth, and other issues associated with the School-to-Prison Pipeline.
QUALIFICATIONS
Both Program Staff members will have the opportunity to take on significant responsibility and will be an integral part of helping to support and strengthen the organization's growth and operations. We are looking for individuals with the following skills/experiences:
- 2-3 years of experience working with underserved youth ages 14-21 years old
- Advocacy and/or organizing campaign experience
- Photography skills and knowledge
- Teaching experience, inside or outside of a classroom
- Curriculum development and/or lesson planning experience
- Empowering youth to advocate for social change.
- Developing innovative methods of helping youth to be effective advocates for specific solutions to problems impacting their lives.
- Popular Education and other participant-driven classroom and workshop models.
- Combating internalized, interpersonal, and institutionalized forms of oppression.
- Civic engagement as a key facet of positive youth development.
- The power of photography/art as an effective advocacy tool that can compel decision-makers to take action.
- The need to make public schools and communities more accountable to youth.
We are looking for candidates with the following characteristics:
- Strong social justice analysis and understanding of campaign/movement-building strategies
- Demonstrated leadership capacity
- Problem-solving ability (e.g. ability to recognize opportunities to strengthen the way the organization operates and to create ideas and systems to address those needs)
- Eagerness to learn and commitment to developing new strengths
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships and communicate effectively and professionally with a diverse range of people
- Strong work ethic and sense of responsibility
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a small team
- Creativity
- Sense of humor
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Comfortable doing outreach to new contacts
If you have any questions, please contact us at hiring@criticalexposure.org or 202-745-3745 x20.
To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to hiring@criticalexposure.org.
Hiring immediately.
