Cultural And Academic Support Specialist

CULTURAL AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT SPECIALIST

About the Role

MIGIZI operates four key programs: First Person Productions, Green Tech, CLAW (Culture, Leadership, Academics and Wellbeing), and our Best Buy Teen Tech Center. This position is focused on our CLAW Program (Culture, Leadership, Academics, and Wellbeing), which provides academic, cultural, and leadership support for Native youth in school, after school, and during the summer.

As a Cultural and Academic Support Specialist, you will plan, coordinate, and facilitate weekly cultural programming for Native youth at MIGIZI partner schools (Westonka, Wayzata, Fridley, Farmington, etc.) as well as our after-school activities at our main facility during the school year and daytime programming during the summer. Your role will involve fostering a supportive and enriching environment that promotes both cultural identity and academic success.

In addition to cultural programming, this position provides direct academic support to youth through tutoring, credit recovery, individualized learning plans, and connections to post-secondary and career opportunities. The Specialist will work closely with school staff, families, cultural knowledge keepers, community partners, and the CLAW team to ensure youth receive consistent support both in and outside of the classroom.

The ideal candidate understands that cultural connection and academic success are closely connected and can create an environment where youth feel supported, challenged, and connected to their community and future goals.

This position reports directly to the CLAW Program Manager.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as an advocate, mentor, and support for American Indian youth, helping them develop academically, culturally, personally, and as future leaders.
• Build strong relationships with youth, families, school staff, teachers, community partners, and cultural knowledge keepers.
• Assist in designing and implementing culturally grounded in-school, after-school, and summer programming in collaboration with the CLAW team and other MIGIZI staff.
• Partner with school staff to identify and address youth academic needs, including tutoring, credit recovery, classroom support, and individualized learning plans.
• Monitor, track, and modify youth individualized learning plans to support academic progress and personal goals.
• Support youth in exploring post-secondary education, career pathways, internships, and other opportunities.
• Organize and facilitate cultural workshops and activities, engaging cultural knowledge keepers and community members as appropriate.
• Assist in developing and implementing an annual work plan based on the MIGIZI logic model and program goals.
• Ensure programming aligns with grant outcomes, objectives, and deliverables.
• Manage day-to-day program activities and coordinate with MIGIZI program staff to ensure effective implementation.
• Engage youth as active partners in developing and participating in programming and communicate with families and guardians as needed.
• Collect data, document youth outcomes and stories, and participate in regular meetings to assess progress and inform program strategy.
• Maintain accurate youth and program records in organizational databases, including Salesforce.
• Assist with monthly project reports and other grant reporting as needed.
• Network within schools, institutions, and community systems to strengthen relationships and create opportunities for youth.
• Support youth transportation, including driving a 15-passenger van.
• Model positive behaviors and expectations for youth and staff and contribute to a positive, collaborative team environment.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the supervisor.