Fashion & Sewing Mentor - Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota

Fashion & Sewing Mentor

Work Schedule: Part-time 20 – 29 hours per week with a  flexible schedule three days per week during Club operating hours
School year:  1 – 7 p.m. Monday – Friday; summer: 12 – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday

Job Description Summary:
Under general supervision of the Club’s senior site manager, the fashion & sewing mentor will design and implement a rich program focused on youth-designed fashion and costuming, technical illustration, draping, pattern-making, construction, sewing and computer-aided design. Programming must incorporate youth voice, hold youth to high expectations, provide hands-on skill building with current, professional technology, engage key stakeholders and culminate with high-profile public events.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Provide arts instruction to youth in grades K -12
  • Establish and maintain, in collaboration with youth, an environment of physical and emotional safety based on respect at all levels.
  • Implement fashion design programming through the 10 Success Principles maintaining the integrity of each Principle as detailed in the Something to Say research report.
  • Provide hands-on, experiential learning through fashion design based upon results of Club implemented youth surveys and focus groups.
  • Lead 6-week arts programming blocks throughout the year: Two in the fall semester, two in the spring semester, and two-week camps in the summer.
  • Each program session should consist of skill development classes at least twice a week for two hours and at least one 3-hour open studio time.
  • In collaboration with youth artists and supported by other Club staff, organize and implement at least three high profile public culminating events for programs.
  • Adhere to all requested program evaluation and documentation protocol detailed by Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota, BGCA and Research for Action Evaluation Consultants (RFA).

Develop and deliver high quality fashion & sewing program

  • Provide youth participants skills and guidance for designing their own unique fashion centered on relevant issues in which they are personally interested.
  • Design and facilitate skill development and open studio classes for ALL skill levels (non-designers, beginner, intermediate and advanced designers).
  • Establish and maintain a physically and emotionally safe space for young designers to create.
  • Include training in fashion/costuming by providing a fundamental grounding in creative design, technical illustration, draping, pattern-making, construction and sewing, computer-aided design, and build entrepreneurship skills.
  • Lead skill development/open studio time, time for peer to peer learning.
  • Expose youth to diverse styles and culture surrounding fashion design.
  • Educate young designers about technology and equipment, responsible usage and the studio space.

Serve as a Part-Time Club Staff, Youth Mentor and Youth Arts Initiative Team Member

  • Participate in all required and recommended Club trainings and staff meetings.
  • Serve as an adult mentor to all Club youth.
  • Serve as a champion for high quality arts making and lead professional development workshops/trainings in the arts and the 10 Success Principles for other Club staff across the organization.
  • Actively collaborate, provide support and resources to the Youth Arts Initiative team, board members and other organizational leadership.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Demonstrates commitment and dedication to fashion/costuming.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with youth in a Boys & Girls Club environment.
  • Ability to work in a team environment.
  • Ability to build community partnerships to support the program.

Education and Work Experience
Education Bachelor’s degree in fine arts, specifically related to fashion; or equivalent experience

*** Boys & Girls Club is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

Learn more about the Youth Arts Initiative.