Fashion Activity Specialist, Richmond Hill Job at South Asian Youth Action in Ne

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Fashion Activity Specialist for Richmond Hill High School

Elmhurst, NY, US

Salary Range: $30.00 To $45.00 Hourly

Fashion Activity Specialist for Richmond Hill High School (Part-Time, 2-6 hours per week)

South Asian Youth Action (SAYA)

South Asian Youth Action (SAYA) is committed to providing its employees opportunities for growth in a supportive community environment. SAYA provides its employees a healthy work‑life balance in a fast‑growing youth development nonprofit.

SAYA: Belong. Grow. Thrive.

Organization Description:

South Asian Youth Action (SAYA) is an inclusive, South Asian‑focused 501(c)(3) youth development organization. Through our innovative, holistic approach, we work toward educational equity by providing opportunities and resources to less privileged New York City youth, ensuring they are empowered academically, emotionally, and socially to become engaged community members.

Established in 1996, SAYA provides valuable life skills and holistic, impactful programming to underserved New York City youth. As one of the first South Asian organizations created in the United States, SAYA is the only organization of its kind in the NYC metropolitan area providing inclusive and secular comprehensive youth development services while centering our community’s experiences. Today, SAYA provides programming at eleven elementary, middle, and high schools in Queens and Brooklyn, along with our Elmhurst‑based community center – serving a growing number of youths across all sites each year.

A key tenet of our work is cultivating vital social and emotional learning (SEL) skills such as belonging, confidence, and self‑efficacy through intentionally designed, research‑based curricula. Across our organization, services tailored for different age groups include leadership and identity development, academic support that bridges learning gaps, comprehensive college preparation, and activities that nurture creativity and build positive peer connections.

NYC Community Schools Initiative

The NYC Community Schools Initiative is aimed at bridging students, families, and communities with comprehensive social, emotional, and academic support to achieve successful student outcomes. At Richmond Hill High School (RHHS), these desired outcomes include: increased attendance and student engagement; greater connectedness to adults and peers; development of social and emotional skills; greater access to mental health resources; improved academic performance; improved school culture and climate; increased family engagement; and greater collaboration among community partners and school administration.

Position Summary

The Fashion Activity Specialist will provide enriching activities for high school youth. In alignment with the Community School Initiative and Richmond Hill’s Instructional Focus, all activities will support the needs of social emotional learning (SEL) and culturally responsive‑sustaining education (CRSE), attendance intervention, as well as family and community‑building.

The Fashion Activity Specialist would be responsible for supporting the planning and facilitation of sessions that cultivate student experiences in various skillsets in the fashion world, including sewing, embroidery, vision boards, and much more. The facilitator will work with the SAYA team to ensure proper instruction, skills learned, and opportunities for students to practice skills during club sessions and at school events.

Reports to: Community School Director

Compensation: $30‑45 per hour, commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is a school year position through June 2026, with potential rehire for the following school year.

Responsibilities

• Must be available for hours from 2:00 pm–4:00 pm twice a week.
• Design and lead meaningful, engaging, and creative age‑appropriate lesson plans and curriculum, workshops, activities, events, and trips that center Social‑Emotional Learning (SEL) within culturally responsive‑sustaining education and strong social justice frameworks.
• Develop skillsets that include, but are not limited to: embroidery, sewing (hand and machine), crocheting, knitting, alterations, patchwork, creation of fashion clothing, jewelry, and other accessory pieces, dream/vision/sketch boards.
• Prepare and facilitate sessions that work toward an end‑of‑year fashion show.
• Teach the importance of sustainability and combatting the fast‑fashion industry; utilize recycled fabrics and materials for creating fashion pieces.
• Actively recruit, retain club student participants, and support the growth and training of club student leaders.
• Supervise all activities to ensure the health, safety, and well‑being of program participants.
• Build positive relationships with youth and adults and serve as a role model in demeanor, communication, and overall attitude.
• Ensure proper care of all spaces, equipment, and materials; organize the room and report any misused or damaged materials to the Community School Director.
• Complete and submit all program reports relative to this position in a timely manner, including supply requests, session guides, curriculum outlines, incident reports, attendance, and timesheets.
• Actively participate in training sessions, designated meetings, and special events.
• Monitor and support students during field trips and outside activities with adherence to SAYA’s policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with the SAYA team to ensure integration, facilitation, and planning of club activities in connection with wider school events and initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of facilitation experience, or equivalent training with high‑school youth.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in the fashion field or related work.
• Clear understanding of and experience in fashion sustainability initiatives.
• Knowledge and understanding of youth development, after‑school programming, and public education.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and manage multiple priorities, people, and projects effectively.
• Experience providing individualized and group instruction to meet the needs of youth with various skill levels.
• Experience designing and teaching courses to ensure youth success and support youth‑centered learning.

Ideal Candidate

• Excellent communication skills: able to communicate effectively with youth, teachers, school administrations, parents, and other staff; able to work as part of a team with the school community and other SAYA programs; able to consider situations from multiple perspectives to avoid and manage conflict.
• Highly flexible and adaptable, comfortable working with youth of diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.