Latino Diaspora Affinity Group Facilitator (PT)

The Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth (BBAY) is a joint powers agreement between the City of Brooklyn Center, City of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin County, Osseo Area Schools, Brooklyn Center Community Schools, Robbinsdale Area Schools, Anoka-Hennepin School District, Hennepin Technical College, and North Hennepin Community College. BBAY serves as a backbone organization using a collective impact framework to coordinate partners and systems that address disparities in graduation outcomes, pathways to college and career, and youth safety and wellbeing.

Youth in our community have shared that they struggle with hope, purpose, and self-love. Many report limited opportunities to learn about their cultural identities in school or community programming. BBAY recognizes that positive cultural identity is foundational to mental health and overall wellbeing.

The Latino Diaspora Affinity Group Leader will facilitate virtual and in-person identity-based affinity space for Latino/a/x youth connected to Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center, MN. This role centers youth voice, cultural pride, healing, sharing resources and opportunities and connection across the Latino diaspora. The group will explore shared and diverse cultural experiences, histories, and identities while building belonging, self-efficacy, and wellbeing.

This position is ideal for a trusted community-connected leader who has strong relationships with Latino families, experience supporting youth and families one-on-one, and a grounding in mental health first aid or trauma-informed approaches.

Program Overview

Identity-Based Affinity Spaces are created for individuals who share a specific identity to gather, express themselves authentically, and learn together. Youth participants will guide much of the group’s content, with facilitators supporting discussions around:

Each Affinity group will have 20-25 student participants.

Facilitated collaborative DESIGN: Youth will drive the majority of activities that are supported by adult facilitators and the group’s budget. This includes building consensus with students about their priorities for what they want the Affinity group to be.

Explore topics related to:

• Prepare activities that address identity building, history, diversity within the affinity (diaspora), cultural traditions.
• Intersectionality: intentionally discuss the interconnectedness of different identities and how this shapes their experiences.
• Explore how marginalized groups share experiences and find common ground within groups, and across groups.
• Explore concepts of privilege, where we hold privilege and discuss how we use our power.
• Other topics vital to each cultural identity.

Meetings will generally be held virtually, primarily during evenings and weekends, from March and end of May 2026. The position is supervised by the Youth and Community Engagement Initiatives Coordinator (YCEIC) at BBAY. Facilitators will receive onboarding, training, and program resources.

In-person meetings may be needed to meet youth and family needs.

IMPORTANT NOTES:  

• This is a grant-funded part-time casual position with funding secured through the After-School Community Learning Grant (ACLG) until June 2027. Continued funding beyond that date is not guaranteed.
• Application Deadline: This job posting will be open until positions are filled. If you have interest in this position, it is highly recommended that you apply as soon as possible upon seeing the announcement as the vacancy may close without notice.

• Serve as the primary facilitator for a virtual Latino Diaspora Affinity Group of approximately 20–25 youth.
• Design and facilitate culturally responsive sessions in partnership with youth participants, ensuring the Youth Program Quality (YPQ) framework is applied.
• Create and sustain a safe, welcoming, and affirming virtual space for youth to explore identity, culture, and lived experiences.
• Facilitate conversations related to:
  
  • Latino identity and diaspora (regional, racial, linguistic, and cultural diversity)
  • History, traditions, and intergenerational experiences
  • Intersectionality and shared experiences across marginalized communities
  • Mental health, resilience, coping strategies, and help-seeking
• Provide 1:1 check-ins and support with youth and, when appropriate, families to help identify needs, goals, and connections to resources.
• Utilize Mental Health First Aid skills to recognize signs of distress, provide initial support, and refer youth/families to appropriate resources.
• Coordinate with BBAY staff to track attendance and document program activities.
• Collaborate with co-facilitators or peer facilitators, when applicable.
• Partner with BBAY staff to collect evaluation data required by the Minnesota Department of Education.
• Participate in facilitator trainings related to identity development, mental health, youth engagement, and consensus-building.
• Coordinate with other affinity group facilitators to participate in a year-end Affinity Group Summit (virtual or hybrid).
• Other duties as assigned.

Education

College education or equivalency

• Demonstrated ability to facilitate conversations about identity, culture, and lived experience.
• Experience in engaging students in cultural identity development

• Experience supporting Latino youth and families, particularly within diaspora communities.
• Bilingual in one of the languages of the Identity based Affinity group
• Strong connection to the Brooklyn Park and/or Brooklyn Center Latino community.
• Bilingual or multilingual (Spanish preferred; other languages welcome).
• Experience with virtual facilitation.
• Technology of Participation (TOP) certification.
• Trauma-informed or healing-centered practice experience.

• Part-time Casual, grant-funded position subject to a flexible schedule hours between 10-20 hours per week that will include evening and weekend hours. Facilitation shifts will begin at approximately 6:00 p.m. on school weekdays and between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekends and school release days. Four 2-hour meetings per week for a total of 8 student facing hours per week minimum. Student support, preparation and administrative reporting hours are flexible
• Work is primarily performed virtually, also occasionally in- community spaces (BBAY service area) and in school settings. 
• Ability to meet physical demands of the job, including but not limited to extended periods of speaking, hearing, sitting, standing, moving about, and facilitating a variety of activities.
• May need to be able to lift objects weighing up to 20 lbs.
• Ability to handle or navigate difficult or emotionally charged interactions with individuals or groups.

Background Check 
The City has determined that a criminal background check and/or qualifications check are necessary for this job title. Applicants are required to sign an informed consent form allowing the City to obtain their criminal history and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.

• Each affinity group will include 20–25 youth participants for each High School - Cooper, Champlin, & Brooklyn Center Community Schools.
• Sessions will be held virtually, primarily on the weekends, evening after 6pm and school release days.
• Zoom account will be provided, and some in-person activities may occur based on youth input. 
• Youth will drive much of the program design, including activities, priorities, and group norms.
• Facilitators will support youth in creating a group charter (purpose, values, expectations).
• Facilitators will collaborate with BBAY staff and other affinity leaders throughout the year.
• BBAY welcomes applications from individuals of all abilities, people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and women.