Regional Center of the East Bay
Cultural and Community Engagement Specialist- Black Communities
Regional Center of the East Bay, San Leandro, CA, United States
POSITION TITLE: Cultural and Community Engagement Specialist, Black/African American Communities
SALARY RANGE: $2,972.20 - $ 4,391.29 Bi-weekly; $77,277.20 - $ 114,173.54 Annual
New hires with no prior Regional Center work experience will start at the very beginning of this salary scale.
The Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) is one of 21 Regional Centers that are community-based, private non-profit corporations under contract with the California Department of Developmental Services. RCEB provides intake, assessment, diagnosis, and coordinates community-based services for over 25,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
RCEB envisions a future where persons with developmental disabilities are truly a part of the community. Persons with developmental disabilities receive supports and services they need to succeed. The supports and services change as the need changes.
In our dream, children with developmental disabilities live with families in typical communities. Many choose to attend their neighborhood schools and play with neighborhood friends. Adults with developmental disabilities live in the residence of their choice - with family members, with friends, or with their spouse / significant other. They engage in activities of their choice - work, volunteering, education, training, or leisure. They have meaningful relationships with friends and coworkers and are seen as valuable, contributing members of their communities.
DUTIES:
RCEB welcomes applications from a wide spectrum of individuals, and we encourage those who proudly identify as Black/African American. Your connection to Black/African American heritage and the experiences you've lived within this community can uniquely enrich the role we're offering. Join us in our mission for greater community engagement. By bringing your perspectives into our endeavors, you'll play a vital part to engage our Black/African American community to remove barriers/disparities to accessing services and information.
The Cultural and Community Engagement Specialist will drive community engagement efforts focused on Language Access and Cultural Competency (LACC) for the Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB). Under general direction, you'll plan and implement strategies that enhance service experiences and ensure that our multi-lingual, monolingual, and culturally diverse consumers have equitable access to vital information and services.
This role is responsible for delivering community trainings, and offering essential guidance and resources to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families. This specialist represents RCEB at community and agency events, handling inquiries and promoting equitable service access, with a strong focus on reducing disparities within the African American community. By leveraging in-depth cultural knowledge, this role identifies and addresses service gaps, fosters relationships, and collaborates with multiple organizations to respond to emerging community trends.
BENEFITS:
At the Regional Center of the Easy Bay, we offer a full spectrum of competitive benefits including:
*The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is a federal program that forgives student loan debt for nonprofit employees after 120 qualifying payments. Employees who work at least 30 hours per week for a governmental, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, or other qualifying nonprofit organization may apply to have the balance of their student loans forgiven (tax free) after making 120 monthly payments.
Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) does not discriminate against job applicants on account of race, color, creed or religion, national origin including language use restrictions, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition or HIV/AIDS status, political affiliation, military or veteran status, genetic characteristics, or ancestry.
SALARY RANGE: $2,972.20 - $ 4,391.29 Bi-weekly; $77,277.20 - $ 114,173.54 Annual
New hires with no prior Regional Center work experience will start at the very beginning of this salary scale.
The Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) is one of 21 Regional Centers that are community-based, private non-profit corporations under contract with the California Department of Developmental Services. RCEB provides intake, assessment, diagnosis, and coordinates community-based services for over 25,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
RCEB envisions a future where persons with developmental disabilities are truly a part of the community. Persons with developmental disabilities receive supports and services they need to succeed. The supports and services change as the need changes.
In our dream, children with developmental disabilities live with families in typical communities. Many choose to attend their neighborhood schools and play with neighborhood friends. Adults with developmental disabilities live in the residence of their choice - with family members, with friends, or with their spouse / significant other. They engage in activities of their choice - work, volunteering, education, training, or leisure. They have meaningful relationships with friends and coworkers and are seen as valuable, contributing members of their communities.
DUTIES:
RCEB welcomes applications from a wide spectrum of individuals, and we encourage those who proudly identify as Black/African American. Your connection to Black/African American heritage and the experiences you've lived within this community can uniquely enrich the role we're offering. Join us in our mission for greater community engagement. By bringing your perspectives into our endeavors, you'll play a vital part to engage our Black/African American community to remove barriers/disparities to accessing services and information.
The Cultural and Community Engagement Specialist will drive community engagement efforts focused on Language Access and Cultural Competency (LACC) for the Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB). Under general direction, you'll plan and implement strategies that enhance service experiences and ensure that our multi-lingual, monolingual, and culturally diverse consumers have equitable access to vital information and services.
This role is responsible for delivering community trainings, and offering essential guidance and resources to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families. This specialist represents RCEB at community and agency events, handling inquiries and promoting equitable service access, with a strong focus on reducing disparities within the African American community. By leveraging in-depth cultural knowledge, this role identifies and addresses service gaps, fosters relationships, and collaborates with multiple organizations to respond to emerging community trends.
- Responsible for LACC activities related to RCEB's implementation of the requirements of Welfare and Institutions Code Section 4519.5 including data analysis, stakeholder meetings, and development of plans to address disparities. Prepares required reports and proposals.
- Actively seek, schedule and attend community outreach and educational events at least once per week in Alameda and Contra Costa service area. Participate in and facilitate parent support groups to help families understand services provided by the regional center and other community agencies/services.
- Participates in the planning and implementation of events designed to educate and support individuals with developmental disabilities and their families that are specifically designed to increase attendance in diverse cultural and linguistic communities . Plans outreach events in the general community in order to ensure that all communities are aware of and appropriately referred for services.
- Collect data that reflects regional center's progress in achieving the purpose of each LACC activity and at minimum, must include the following details: activity status, completed tasks, and quantitative measures (e.g., survey results, funding utilization, and number of impacted staff or consumers/families). Provide written reports of LACC activities to the Cultural and Community Engagement Manager on monthly basis.
- Develops and implements strategies for advancing cultural competency within the regional center including among all staff. Measures and reports progress utilizing data and other methods of feedback. Provides ongoing trainings and coordinates other specialized trainings as needed.
- This specialist will be responsible for regional center's Purchase of Services Disparity Data process, facilitating community input meetings and presenting findings.
- Develops and implements strategies for advancing cultural competency within the service provider community in order to promote equity within the regional center. Provides annual trainings and advises on additional trainings.
- Ensures that regional center communication methods meet the needs of our community culturally. Introduces new methods of communication to address underrepresented groups. Analyzes communication strategies for effectiveness and modifies as needed.
- Identifies, builds and maintains partnerships and collaborations with local community agencies and various stakeholders to assist in outreach efforts designed to identify, educate, and inform clients and families.
- Other related duties as assigned.
- Master's degree in education, social work or a human services field; Bachelor's degree in education, social work, or a human services field and four years of specific community organizing experience with African American community or relevant education and a minimum of eight years of experience in community organizing with underserved communities including in leadership roles.
- Minimum of four years of experience that includes:
- Experience in developing and implementing successful projects that promote community engagement in diverse communities and/or
- Experience in the field of developmental disabilities working clients and families from diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in both verbal and written form.
- Excellent public speaking, presentation, and training skills.
- Ability to analyze data and utilize computer software including but not limited to Excel.
- Excellent organizational skills required. Must be able to develop a course of action and follow through within timeframes.
- Ability to regularly participate in meetings and outreach activities during evenings and weekends.
- Written and oral fluency in English.
- Automobile and valid driver's license.
BENEFITS:
At the Regional Center of the Easy Bay, we offer a full spectrum of competitive benefits including:
- 3 weeks paid vacation + 12 sick days
- 13 paid holidays + 3 floating holidays
- Multiple options for medical care (including Kaiser at 100% employer paid for employee)
- Dental and vision plans
- CalPERs Retirement (pension),
- Student Loan Forgiveness*
- Flex schedule, if applicable
- Work at Home schedules, if applicable
- Employee Assistance Program, including mental health care
*The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is a federal program that forgives student loan debt for nonprofit employees after 120 qualifying payments. Employees who work at least 30 hours per week for a governmental, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, or other qualifying nonprofit organization may apply to have the balance of their student loans forgiven (tax free) after making 120 monthly payments.
Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) does not discriminate against job applicants on account of race, color, creed or religion, national origin including language use restrictions, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition or HIV/AIDS status, political affiliation, military or veteran status, genetic characteristics, or ancestry.