YOUTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR – POSITION DESCRIPTION

I. SUMMARY:

The Youth Program Coordinator’s central task is to enhance the spiritual development and nurture of our teens and young adults. The Youth Program Coordinator will provide program support and coordination of activities; support for Meetings in engaging their young people; and provide an experienced mentor/advisor grounded in Friends worship and practices.

II. RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Organizes logistics for events, recruits and screens applicants:

1. Service to the PYM annual gathering:
a. Works with the JYM Adult and Teen Committee to implement the JYM program, guidelines and expectations at the annual session.
b. Coordinates with the clerk of the Yearly Meeting and relevant committees.
c. Recruits, trains, screens and nurtures Friendly Adult Presences (FAPs).
d. Works with Children's Program Committee and Young Friends to coordinate activities with their schedules and provide links of communication.

2. Facilitates a pre-PYM immersion gathering (similar to Shalom and Koinonia) which utilizes the help of an ad hoc group of seasoned Friends; emphasizes hands-on exposure to issues of concern to Friends; and organizes worship, worship/sharing group, talks by valued Friends, and fun and games, among other activities.

3. Service to the five Quarterly Meeting gatherings:
The YPC will work with Quarterly Meeting committees to implement programs at the Quarterly Meeting gatherings: two at Southern California and three at College Park.

4. Service to Monthly Meetings:
a. Serves as a link and coordinator between PYM Youth and Monthly Meetings.
b. Identifies, provides tools and resources, and serves as a resource for Monthly
Meetings to stay connected to youth.
c. Facilitates involvement between individuals in Monthly Meetings and PYM
Youth and serves as a link between MMs and PYM.
d. Regularly communicates with MMs regarding PYM youth activities.

5. Additional Gatherings:
Arranges, publicizes, and supports gatherings between PYM sessions for youth twice a year, one in Northern and one in Southern California. These are envisioned as weekend adventures in service, learning, and fun. The coordinator organizes logistics for the event, recruits participants, screens applications, helps design the program, and recruits Friendly Adult Presences (FAPs), including the training and screening of FAPs.

B. Linkage to other Quaker organizations:

1. Coordinates between PYM Youth and the AFSC to organize youth service projects.

2. Helps facilitate year-round networking between youth from pre-teen to young adult, and helps children transition to JYM, and members of JYM transition to Young Friends.

3. Serves as a link between this community and other Quaker organizations, including
Ben Lomond Quaker Center and Sierra Friends Center. Keeps up-to-date on PYM, its two Quarterly Meetings, and developments in the wider Friends’ community.

III. PROGRAM CONTENT:

The YPC will work very closely with JYM and Quarterly Meeting teen committees to develop
Program Content and will develop programs with equal emphasis on:

1. Encourage and support spiritual growth and practices by providing a safe and trusting
community in which youth can seek to find that of God in themselves and in each
other in a joyous and loving environment, grounded in the Religious Society of
Friends history and experience of continuing revelation, discernment and eldering.

2. Nurture and empower decision-making and leadership capacities through Quaker
processes of discernment and reaching “Unity”.

3. Instill a service ethic by organizing service projects that honor and uphold the dignity
of the communities served.

4. Foster a cooperative, inclusive, and safe environment for making and retaining friendships among youth and the rest of PYM.