Part-Time
Activity Specialist
Harlem Children's Zone
1,001-5,000 employees
Breaks poverty cycle through on-the-ground programs
Compensation Overview
$25 - $30/hr
No H1B Sponsorship
New York, NY, USA
In Person
On-site Monday through Friday; summer hours are on-site five days per week.
Bachelor's
 Education |
|---|
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- A high school diploma or GED is required; a degree is preferred.
- At least one year of teaching experience is required.
- Commitment to youth development and the organization's mission and programs.
- Ability to create lesson plans related to the class subject matter and implement project-based learning in the curriculum.
- Passion and experience with arts education involving youth.
- Flexibility, creativity, and enthusiasm for working with young people.
- Planning, organization, communication, and time management skills.
- Ability to provide consistent and positive instruction and receive constructive criticism.
- Experience working in youth development and teaching enrichment courses, social consciousness, self-identity, and efficacy.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively with staff and students on projects and curriculum.
- Specialty experience in one or more of the following areas: cosmetology, vocal, culinary, fashion, music, multi-sports, gaming, coding, STEM, dance, theater or acting, videography, photography, DIY, marketing or content creation, fine arts, events, or civic engagement.
- Must be able to work on-site according to the applicable program schedule.
- Prepare and develop age- and skill-appropriate curriculum, lesson plans, activities, and special projects that combine arts and academic competencies for supervisor review before instruction.
- Plan and facilitate a project-based unit and attend weekly meetings.
- Work with program participants to develop their artistic, educational, and leadership potential.
- Engage youth through the arts in critical thinking, evaluation, risk-taking, rehearsals, hands-on project-based learning, documentation of work, community-building, and activism.
- Coordinate subject-related trips, guest speakers, special events, student exhibitions, and college trips.
- Share knowledge of the history and current state of African, African-American, and Latino issues and interpret it into diverse learning opportunities.
- Communicate student progress and share insights with team members regularly.
- Act as a role model for all students.
- Perform other duties as assigned by management.
- Conservatory training and/or university-level education and practical experience in the content area is preferred.
- College students currently pursuing degree-level work are encouraged to apply.
Harlem Children’s Zone coordinates a place-based set of programs across early childhood through adulthood in Harlem to help children and families thrive. It operates directly through schools, community centers, and outreach to deliver education, career pathways, health and wellness, and family supports. Programs are integrated, meaning services at different stages coordinate for each family, rather than one-off initiatives. This approach distinguishes HCZ from peers by offering a wraparound, long-term support system in a single community, focusing on mobility and prosperity rather than only schooling. The goal is to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by creating opportunities in education, work, and life for residents of Harlem.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
New York City, New York
Founded
1970
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- HCZ updated Wealth Builds July 15, 2026, signaling active program growth.
- 2026 Executive Team additions, including Sean Sullivan, strengthen governance and operations.
- Regents extended Promise Academy charters through June 2029, preserving HCZ schooling capacity.
What critics are saying
- Regents renewed Promise Academy II through June 2029, conditioned on disability enrollment.
- July 7, 2026 indictments alleged $288,529 theft from HCZ through check fraud.
- Wealth Builds needs $300 million; funding shortfalls delay expansion to ten cities.
What makes Harlem Children's Zone unique
- HCZ combines charter schools, social services, and Wealth Builds asset accounts.
- Wealth Builds seeds $500 CSAs and $10,000 Youth Opportunity Funds.
- HCZ National Impact launched in 2026, exporting its model nationwide.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave
Commuter Benefits
Employee Referral Bonus
Wellness Program
Hybrid Work Options
Employee Discounts
Company News
The New York Times: New hire in Newsroom Operations. Posted Monday, July 27, 2026 2:00 pm Juanita Powell-Brunson | The New York Times I am excited to share that Aubrey Armstrong has joined Newsroom Operations as an executive assistant. In this critical role, she will support Solana Pyne and Charlotte Greensit as the newsroom's video expansion continues to scale in complexity and output. Most recently Aubrey was an operations and project manager at Harlem Children's Zone in New York. She holds a B.A. in anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin and a master's in sociology from Arizona State University. She is endlessly curious and considers learning a lifelong pursuit. Outside of work, Aubrey enjoys baking and sharing the results with friends, running, walking outdoors, and taking barre pilates classes. She also loves getting creative through sewing, jewelry-making, photography and floral design, and is always working on a handmade gift for someone. She is an avid reader, a fan of live performances, a board game enthusiast, and loves hunting down the city's best bakeries - always accompanied by her Australian shepherd. Please join me in welcoming Aubrey to the team. She starts today. Juanita Powell-Brunson is director of Newsroom Operations at The New York Times.
William Julius Wilson Institute and EdRedesign host fourth annual Summer Institute.
The Harlem Children's Zone, an influential anti-poverty organization, said it is raising $300 million for an initiative called Wealth Builds that will launch in Upper Manhattan, where the group operates, and expand to 10 other cities, including Atlanta and Minneapolis.
Additive Agency LLC is proud to have partnered with Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ) to develop the name and visual identity for Wealth Builds, an innovative initiative designed to close the racial wealth gap and open pathways to social and economic mobility for more young people in more communities.
The Harlem Children's Zone, an influential anti-poverty organization, said it is raising $300 million for an initiative called Wealth Builds that will launch in Upper Manhattan, where the group operates, and expand to 10 other cities, including Atlanta and Minneapolis.